Reports can be produced on a weekly, monthly or quarterly basis. In certain media and degrees of completion, information is available as soon as two weeks after a vessel arrives or leaves a U.S. port. Complete reports for all ports in all media are available approximately four to five weeks after the close of the month. The Freedom of Information Act in conjunction with U.S. Customs Regulations authorize press organizations to copy certain shipping documents and make them available to the public. Data are also collected from U.S. Customs' AMS data tapes.
Information is checked in two ways.
The ship lines are compelled by law to submit documentation for every item on board the vessel. Yes, historical data is available dating back to 1970's. U.S. law prohibits public release of shipping documents for international and domestic truck and rail transactions. However, as of September 1997, U.S. Customs has not completed regulations to disseminate this information. On products exported from the U.S., the shipper name is available, but the name of the consignee is restricted by law.