Transporting the Goods can link you directly to Freight Carriers, Forwarders and Customs Brokers or you can consult the list of U.S.-flag liner services and the corresponding list of U.S. carrier telephone numbers and addresses. The U.S. Customs Service is authorized by the Water Resources Act of 1986 to assess a harbor maintenance fee on the value of commercial cargo loaded on or unloaded from a commercial vessel at ports covered by the Act. Proceeds of the harbor maintenance fee are made available to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for the improvement and maintenance of U.S. ports and harbors. The fee is paid by the importers and exporters of cargoes. The fee is based on .125 percent of the value of the cargo.
Cabotage is the trade or transport of cargo in coastal waters between two points within a country.
U.S. cabotage laws are referred to as the Jones Act. Cabotage laws are common to all countries with waterborne transportation systems. The actual interpretation and enforcement of the Jones Act is the responsibility of the U.S. Customs Service and U.S. Coast Guard. The SGS Government Programs Inc. is an independent service company with offices worldwide. It carries out the majority of preshipment inspections.