Four days notice is needed for import destination changes

IMPORTERS WOULD do well to remember the time restraints that revolve around changing the manifested destination of incoming containers.
Too many people are still unaware of the difficulties in making any last-minute changes, according to a recent Safcor newsletter.
Goods must be cleared through customs at the place to which they were manifested. In turn, the shipping lines have to provide customs with detailed manifests 72 hours before the scheduled arrival of the ship.
After that they cannot alter the inland destinations.
It follows from this, says Safcor, that an importer who wishes to change the destination of full containers of goods destined to him must do so in good time.
Given the lines' 72-hour deadline, importers are asked to think in terms of four or five days notice.
Manifest details of groupage or lcl (less than container load) cargoes cannot be changed as this would also affect other consignments packed in the same box.