[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 19, Volume 1]
[Revised as of April 1, 2002]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 19CFR4.3]

[Page 9]
 
                        TITLE 19--CUSTOMS DUTIES
 
  CHAPTER I--UNITED STATES CUSTOMS SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
 
PART 4--VESSELS IN FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC TRADES--Table of Contents
 
Sec. 4.3  Vessels required to enter; place of entry.

    (a) Formal entry required. Unless specifically excepted by law, 
within 48 hours after the arrival at any port or place in the United 
States, the following vessels are required to make formal entry:
    (1) Any vessel from a foreign port or place;
    (2) Any foreign vessel from a domestic port;
    (3) Any vessel of the United States having merchandise on board 
which is being transported in-bond (not including bonded ship's stores 
or supplies), or foreign merchandise for which entry has not been made; 
or
    (4) Any vessel which has visited a hovering vessel as defined in 19 
U.S.C. 1401(k), or has delivered or received merchandise or passengers 
while outside the territorial sea.
    (b) Completion of entry. (1) When vessel entry is to be made at the 
customhouse, either the master, licensed deck officer, or purser may 
appear in person during regular working hours to complete preliminary or 
formal vessel entry; or necessary documents properly executed by the 
master or other authorized officer may be delivered at the customhouse 
by the vessel agent or other personal representative of the master.
    (2) The appropriate Customs port director may permit the entry of 
vessels to be accomplished at locations other than the customhouse, and 
services may be requested outside of normal business hours. Customs may 
take local resources into consideration in allowing formal entry to be 
transacted on board vessels or at other mutually convenient approved 
sites and times within or outside of port limits. When services are 
requested to be provided outside the limits of a Customs port, the 
appropriate port director to whom an application must be submitted is 
the director of the port located nearest to the point where the proposed 
services would be provided. That port director must be satisfied that 
the place designated for formal entry will be sufficiently under Customs 
control at the time of entry, and that the expenses incurred by Customs 
will be reimbursed as authorized. It may be required that advance notice 
of vessel arrival be given as a condition for granting requests for 
optional entry locations. A master, owner, or agent of a vessel who 
desires that entry be made at an optional location will file with the 
appropriate port director an application on Customs Form 3171 and a 
single entry or continuous bond on Customs Form 301 containing the bond 
conditions set forth in Sec. 113.64 of this chapter, in such amount as 
that port director deems appropriate but not less than $1,000. If the 
application is approved, the port director or a designated Customs 
officer will formally enter the vessel. Nothing in this paragraph 
relieves any person or vessel from any requirement as to how, when and 
where they are to report, be inspected or receive clearance from other 
Federal agencies upon arrival in the United States.

[T.D. 00-4, 65 FR 2872, Jan. 19, 2000]