Shipping to and from United States of America
Find all you need to ship to and from United States of America. Find the right route, Sealand’s office locations, discover local solutions, payment options and more.
Import
- When the U.S. is the final destination the Consignee details must indicate the actual party name and U.S. address of whom is owner of the goods in the U.S. The only exception is “To Order” TPDocs. If the Consignee is “To Order “ of a bank or “To Order” of a party other than owner of the cargo, then the 1st Notify must be actual owner of cargo with their U.S. address. If neither the Consignee nor 1st Notify is the actual owner of the cargo, then a House TPDoc (NH) needs to be submitted (either by the Shipper if they are automated NVOCC or by Maersk on their behalf if NVOCC is Non Automated) to show the ultimate consignee of the goods. This means that SeaLand would have to create a Master TPDoc (NW\NM).
- P.O. Box address is not acceptable for Shipper, Consignee and Notify Party. It must be a full street address.
- Sealand will not arrange a store door delivery to the personal residence of a private citizen.
- Any Original Bills of Lading that would normally be sent to our 9300 Arrowpoint Blvd office in Charlotte, NC should now be sent by express courier to:
Norton Lilly International
Documentation Department
One St. Louis Centre
Suite 2003
Mobile, AL 36602
- Used tires as a tire are strictly forbidden due to the US EPA (Environmental Protection Agency)
- Hazardous waste shipments, as defined under the Basle convention, are not accepted into the United States.
- Personal Effects or Household Goods CANNOT be railed cross border, either Canada to USA OR USA to Canada. Door deliveries for personal effects or household goods are prohibited in the USA. Personal effects shall only be accepted if cargo owner has an assigned forwarder to assist with the customs clearance at destination.
- All containers in transit to or with final destination UNITED STATES (including San Juan, Puerto Rico) require HIGH SECURITY SEALS (plastic seals are not allowed).
- The U.S. Customs & Border Protection has made it mandatory that a manifest be submitted at least 24 hours prior to vessel arrival for ALL cargo transiting the US, whether cargo is discharging or FROB through the US; this is known as the 24-HR Rule. There are NO EXCEPTIONS to the 24-HR Rule.
- “No acceptance” import U.S. for commodity “Electronic Waste”.
Free time Working Day basis is defined as:
Monday through Friday excluding holidays at ocean terminals, inland CY locations, and inland ports operated by an ocean terminal.
Monday through Saturday excluding holidays at rail ramps.
Demurrage
Demurrage is the daily charge assessed to the shipper for use of the land and equipment services provided at the carrier’s load/discharge port, rail ramp or inland container yard (CY) facility, when the cargo remains in such facilities beyond the permitted free time as stipulated per tariff or contract. Where Carrier allows storage to be paid directly to facilities for land use, demurrage is the daily charge assessed to the shipper for use of equipment only. Working days are used to calculate free time, whereas calendar days are used to calculate days and charges beyond free time.
The purposes of the Carrier’s policies regarding Demurrage include incentivizing shippers and consignees to pick up cargo, offset additional costs that the event has imposed on the carrier that are beyond its reasonable control, covering the additional cost of keeping the cargo safe and secure once free time has expired, incentivizing shippers and consignees to not wait until the last day of free time to pick up cargo, to promote the use of terminal appointments, and other reasons that might be dictated by various factual situations from time.
When a facility is closed for a full working day during the freetime period, the day will not count against the cargo freetime. Partial day closures are considered as a full working day and count towards freetime. When freetime expires, Maersk will bill demurrage for each day irrespective of whether the facility is open or closed, given the full freetime period was given to pickup the cargo.
Carrier will make best efforts to provide an arrival notice to the Consignee and Notify Parties prior to vessel arrival to assist parties with preparing for cargo pickup. Container tracking information is available on maersk.com indicating when a container discharges the vessel, and an online demurrage tool on maersk.com identifies when freetime has started and the last freeday for each container (port CY delivery cargo only). Parties must check with the terminal location for all terminal pickup procedures and to validate cargo is available for pickup. Maersk’s terminal partner websites can be found on our United States webpage: https://www.maersk.com/local-information/north-america/united-states-of-america/import
Freetime:
Freetime will commence the first 0800 on the first business day following discharge of the container at an ocean terminal, or arrival of a container at a rail ramp or an inland CY (owned or contracted by Carrier), except as follows.
Port Location | Free time Start |
---|---|
Port Location
Baltimore
|
Free time Start
first 8:00AM following vessel departure
|
Port Location
Jacksonville
|
Free time Start
first 8:00AM following vessel departure
|
Port Location
Long Beach
|
Free time Start
first 3:00AM following container discharge
|
Port Location
Los Angeles
|
Free time Start
first 3:00AM following container discharge
|
Port Location
Newark
|
Free time Start
first 6:00AM following container discharge
|
Port Location
New Orleans
|
Free time Start
first 8:00AM following vessel departure
|
Port Location
Philadelphia
|
Free time Start
first 8:00AM following vessel departure
|
Port Location
Port Hueneme
|
Free time Start
first 8:00AM following vessel departure
|
Port Location
Port Everglades
|
Free time Start
first 7:00AM following vessel departure
|
Port Location
Tampa
|
Free time Start
first 8:00AM following vessel departure
|
Free time at Ocean Terminals, Inland Ports operated by an Ocean Terminal, and Inland CY locations (except as otherwise noted below and at rail facilities where freetime is according to the rail providers tariff):
Type | Dry/Non-Operating Reef | Special | Operating Reef |
---|---|---|---|
Type
Days
|
Dry/Non-Operating Reef
4
|
Special
2
|
Operating Reef
2
|
Applicable to operating reefer cargo for the commodity meat at all U.S. ocean terminals except: Baltimore, MD, Boston, MA, Jacksonville, FL, Mobile, AL, Newark, NJ, Port Everglades, FL, Staten Island, NY
Days | Operating Reef |
---|---|
Days
Type
|
Operating Reef
4 |
Applicable to CY delivery cargo at rail ramps for equipment use only, where the rail provider collects storage directly from the customer according to their tariff:
CSX Rail Ramps
Type | Dry / Non Operating Reef | Special | Operating Reef |
---|---|---|---|
Type
Days
|
Dry / Non Operating Reef
4 |
Special
4
|
Operating Reef
4
|
Rail Ramps Except CSX
Type | Dry/Non-Operating Reefer | Special | Operating Reef |
---|---|---|---|
Type
Days
|
Dry/Non-Operating Reefer
3
|
Special
3
|
Operating Reef
3 |
Charges per calendar day after free-time except as otherwise noted below:
Days after free time expiration | Dry/Non-Operating Reef |
---|---|
Days after free time expiration
1st Day to 4th Day
|
Dry/Non-Operating Reef
245
|
Days after free time expiration
5th Day to 9th Day
|
Dry/Non-Operating Reef
290
|
Days after free time expiration
Day 10+
|
Dry/Non-Operating Reef
335
|
Days after free time expiration | Special | Operating reefer |
---|---|---|
Days after free time expiration
1st Day to 3rd Day
|
Special
400
|
Operating reefer
410
|
Days after free time expiration
4th Day to 7th Day
|
Special
500
|
Operating reefer
510
|
Days after free time expiration
Day 8+
|
Special
550
|
Operating reefer
560
|
Days after free time expiration | Shipper’s owned |
---|---|
Days after free time expiration
1st Day to 4th Day
|
Shipper’s owned
195
|
Days after free time expiration
5th Day to 9th Day
|
Shipper’s owned
240
|
Days after free time expiration
Day 10+
|
Shipper’s owned
285
|
Exceptions to above: APM Terminal in Port Elizabeth New Jersey, PNCT (Port Newark Container Terminal), Global Terminal Jersey City, Maher Newark Terminal, Global Container Terminal, Bayonne, New Jersey and Howland Hook, Staten Island, New York.
Charges per calendar day after free-time
Days after free time expiration | Dry/Non-Operating Reefer | Shipper's Owned (Excluding Tanks) |
---|---|---|
Days after free time expiration
1st Day to 4th Day
|
Dry/Non-Operating Reefer
295
|
Shipper's Owned (Excluding Tanks)
295
|
Days after free time expiration
5th Day to 9th Day
|
Dry/Non-Operating Reefer
400
|
Shipper's Owned (Excluding Tanks)
400
|
Days after free time expiration
10th Day to 29th Day
|
Dry/Non-Operating Reefer
525
|
Shipper's Owned (Excluding Tanks)
525 |
Days after free time expiration
Day 30+
|
Dry/Non-Operating Reefer
650
|
Shipper's Owned (Excluding Tanks)
650 |
Days after free time expiration | Special | Operating Reef | Tanks |
---|---|---|---|
Days after free time expiration
1st Day to 3rd Day
|
Special
515
|
Operating Reef
575
|
Tanks
375
|
Days after free time expiration
4th Day to 6th Day
|
Special
670
|
Operating Reef
720
|
Tanks
530
|
Days after free time expiration
Day 7+
|
Special
770
|
Operating Reef
950
|
Tanks
630
|
Charges per calendar day for use of equipment at rail ramps, applicable to CY delivery cargo, where the rail provider collects storage directly from the customer according to their tariff:
Days after free time expiration | Dry/Non Operating Reef |
---|---|
Days after free time expiration
1st Day to 4th Day
|
Dry/Non Operating Reef
150
|
Days after free time expiration
5th Day to 8th Day
|
Dry/Non Operating Reef
210
|
Days after free time expiration
Day 9+
|
Dry/Non Operating Reef
240
|
Days after free time expiration | Special | Operating Reef |
---|---|---|
Days after free time expiration
1st Day to 3rd Day
|
Special
310
|
Operating Reef
330
|
Days after free time expiration
Day 4+
|
Special
415
|
Operating Reef
435
|
- 4 working days freetime
Applicable to operating reefer cargo for the commodity meat at all U.S. ocean terminals except: Baltimore, MD, Boston, MA, Jacksonville, FL, Mobile, AL, Newark, NJ, Port Everglades, FL, Staten Island, NY.
Notes:
- Dispute Procedures
- Demurrage disputes for U.S. shipments can be raised by:
● For cargo prior to pickup, contact AMRNAMRELEASE@sealandmaersk.com
● For cargo after pickup, through our website maersk.com in the MyFinance section. - In the event you wish to change the party invoiced, please e-mail disputes@maersk.com for assistance.
- When registering a dispute, you must include the invoice number, shipment number, container number, and a detailed description of the dispute including the applicable service contract number if pertinent to the claim. Specifically for the below dispute types, please include the following:
- Disputes due to inability to secure a terminal appointment: A screenshot indicating no appointments were available for each day of the freetime period and up to day of return or pickup. Each daily screenshot must show no appointments were available for all shifts and as far into the future as the terminal system allows.
- Disputes due to inability to secure a rail reservation for export shipments: A screenshot indicating no reservations were available for each day of the receiving window as indicated on the booking confirmation. Each daily screenshot must show no reservations were available for that day and as far into the future the rail reservation system allows, or up to the end of the receiving window whichever is sooner
- Disputes due to containers associated with Government holds: A statement validating the customs hold was not a result of any action by the shipper, their agent, or any party to the bill of lading.
- For disputes involving a change of paying party, written confirmation from the party who will pay is needed.
- Disputes must be submitted to Maersk within 30 days of the invoice date. We will provide feedback on your dispute within 5 business days of receipt.
- Demurrage disputes for U.S. shipments can be raised by:
- Shipper shall be responsible for any demurrage charges due for store door moves except where delay to pickup is caused by the Carrier or Carrier’s selected truck provider (does not apply when Shipper selects trucker). In addition, the below must be in place by noon two business days prior to the expiration of free time:
- Shipper must satisfy all freight charges and secure all U.S. Customs or other Government Agency releases.
- Shipper must submit properly endorsed original bills of lading to the Carrier when negotiable bills of lading are involved.
- Shipper must provide a complete delivery order to the Carrier.
- Government inspections and quarantine are not the responsibility of the Carrier, however such acts impose costs on the Carrier including equipment cost and may include storage costs. For cargo in containers removed from the carrier's terminal or container yard for governmental inspection or quarantine at an off-site location, cargo freetime and demurrage, as applicable, will cease on the day the container is removed from the carrier's terminal or container yard, and equipment free time and detention provisions, otherwise applicable to the equipment, shall commence. Equipment freetime and detention rules shall continue to apply until the empty carrier’s equipment is returned to carrier. Shipper shall be responsible for any demurrage charges accrued prior to the removal of the cargo from the carrier's terminal or container yard.
In the event that cargo in containers is returned to the carrier's terminal or container yard subsequent to an off-site governmental inspection or quarantine, equipment freetime and detention shall cease, and a new cargo freetime shall commence, the applicable demurrage provisions shall apply thereafter. Any detention charges accrued prior to the return of the cargo to the carrier's terminal or container yard shall be for the account of cargo. - Shipments not removed from carrier's terminal within the free time period may, at any time thereafter at the option of the carrier or governmental agency, be placed in public storage at the full risk and expense to the consignee. All demurrage charges which may have accrued prior to removal from carrier's terminal shall be assessed and collected from the consignee.
- In the event that shipper or its agent instructs carrier to divert and re-consign the shipment to a port or point, or to a consignee other than shown on the original bill of lading, diversion rules and charges shall apply. All demurrage charges which may have accrued prior to such instructions shall be assessed and collected from the party who instructs the carrier.
- Carrier reserves the right to move equipment from the rail ramp or ocean terminal to a container yard within the same geographic area at the carrier's discretion. If carrier elects to perform this dray, it will not charge the merchant for such dray. Regardless of whether carrier makes this election, free time shall still be calculated based on the original start date of the equipment at the rail ramp or ocean terminal.
- Demurrage will not be assessed on shipments if incurred due to carrier's error.
- When shipments are delayed by reason of any government agency requirements, including but not limited to, delays in processing documentation, inspections as required by Customs or any other government or federal agency, or any other issue that may arise beyond the control of the carrier, all accrued demurrage/detention/per-diem charges will for the account of the cargo.
Detention
- Free time for carrier’s equipment commences on the day equipment departs from carrier’s container yard.
- Business days are defined as Monday – Friday, excluding holidays at ocean terminals, and Monday
- Friday, excluding holidays at rail ramps.
Detention Freetime
Type | Business Days |
---|---|
Type
DRY
|
Business Days
4
|
Type
REEFER, Non-Operating Reefer and Special Equipment
|
Business Days
3
|
Detention charges per calendar days after freetime
Days | Dry & non-operating reefer equipment | Days | Operating Reefer | Special Equipment |
---|---|---|---|---|
Days
1 – 4
|
Dry & non-operating reefer equipment
140 USD per day
|
Days
1 – 3
|
Operating Reefer
330 USD per day
|
Special Equipment
310 USD per day
|
Days
5 – 8
|
Dry & non-operating reefer equipment
190 USD per day
|
Days
4 +
|
Operating Reefer
435 USD per day
|
Special Equipment
415 USD per day
|
Days
9 +
|
Dry & non-operating reefer equipment
220 USD per day
|
Days
-
|
Operating Reefer
-
|
Special Equipment
-
|
Exception to Above:
- 5 working days freetime
Applicable to operating reefer cargo for the commodity meat at all U.S. ocean terminals except: Baltimore, MD, Boston, MA, Jacksonville, FL, Mobile, AL, Newark, NJ, Port Everglades, FL, Staten Island, NY.
Demurrage & detention disputes
- Demurrage and Detention disputes for U.S. shipments can be raised through our website Sealand in the MyFinance section. In the event you wish to change the party invoiced, please e-mail disputes.AMR@sealandmaersk.com for assistance.
- When registering a dispute, you must include the invoice number, shipment number, container number, and a detailed description of the dispute including the applicable service contract number if pertinent to the claim.
Detention Important Notes:
hen registering a dispute, please include the shipment- Equipment must be returned to the receipt location as designated by carrier.
Detention is the daily charge against the ocean carrier's equipment, for the use of the equipment beyond allowed free time, as stipulated per tariff or contract. For carrier arranged haulage on a Store Door (SD) billing lading, detention will be assessed to the shipper/consignee. For merchant arranged haulage on a Container Yard (CY) bill of lading, detention will be assessed to the drayman, or at the carrier’s option to the shipper or consignee. Working days are used to calculate free time, whereas calendar days are used to calculate detention charges beyond free time.
- Store Door Delivery
1. Live Load/Unload Service - A live load/unload occurs when the driver waits with the tractor for the container to be loaded/unloaded. Free time for loading/unloading is 2 hours. Consignee will be assessed usd 125 per hour or portion thereof for trucker's waiting time beyond the 2 hours.
2. Store Door Detention Free time Privileges for Drop and Pick activities
a) Consignees may at their own discretion notify carrier when the container is empty and available for pick-up from the consignee's designated delivery facility. Notifications must be sent via the website: http://namemptymaersk.com
Carrier will stop the detention clock effective the next business day after the notification is received.
b) Additional Drays - If in the event carrier is instructed to drop the import load by the consignee, their agent or warehouse and a return unit is not available for immediate return carrier shall bill consignee for an additional round trip drayage charge as per carrier's inland tariff. Consignee will have the option to return the empty equipment within 7 calendar days at their cost once notified by carrier.