Trade Facilitation: Port Everglades

Port Everglades: U.S. Customs & Border Protection Unveils New AQUA Lane Pilot Program

Beginning in mid-December, Port Everglades will become one of four seaports nationwide to participate in U.S. Customs and Border Protection's new Advanced Qualified Unlading Approval (AQUA) Lane program to expedite cargo movement.

The AQUA Lane program concept is a "fast lane" for containers. The program will allow C-TPAT qualified ocean carriers and terminal operators to apply for "Advanced Qualified Unlading Approval" a minimum of 24 hours prior to estimated arrival. This amounts to allowing vessel cargoes to be "pre-cleared" by CBP 12 hours prior to estimated arrival, instead of having to wait for a CBP officer to board and clear the ship. Expected benefits include allowing sea carriers to better predict unlading times for labor cost purposes, enabling quicker turnaround time in port, and allowing CBP to better allocate resources and manpower as necessary.

Other seaports participating in the pilot are Baltimore, New Orleans and Oakland.