What is cargo screening?
It is a crucial process that ensures the safety, security and legality of goods being transported across the globe. In most cases, cargo is subject to multiple levels of screening, such as at the point of origin, during transit, and at the destination. The aim is to prevent the transportation of dangerous or illegal goods which could pose a threat to people, property, or even the countries involved.
How can Marcura Compliance help?
We recognize the critical importance of cargo screening and have consequently developed an exhaustive database along with an advanced validation process tailored for trade compliance. Our distinctive procedures encompass the extraction of unstructured commodity descriptions and data from booking files, coupled with a meticulous flagging system to identify missing or incorrect Harmonized System codes. Furthermore, we meticulously match commodity descriptions with the appropriate codes to ensure accuracy and precision.
In our commitment to regulatory compliance, we subject cargo to thorough trade control screening, checking for dual-use items, military goods, luxury goods, commercial controls, embargoes imposed by the US, UN, EU, and other regulatory bodies, as well as any ties to sanctioned parties. By adhering to these stringent measures, we adopt a risk-based approach to ensure compliance with pertinent laws and regulations. This approach triggers alerts to customers, thereby safeguarding the integrity and security of their global trade operations.
What process should you follow to receive cargo screening results?
1. Establish Your Primary Point of Contact with Marcura Compliance
It is imperative to designate reliable points of contact (POCs) within your organization for all your screening needs with Marcura Compliance. These designated individuals should possess the authority to communicate effectively with us and provide necessary clarifications regarding your screening files. Maintaining several POCs ensures seamless communication across multiple time zones and efficient resolution of any queries or concerns that may arise during the screening process.
2. Gather Mandatory Details
When submitting a screening request, Marcura Compliance requires specific mandatory details for both commodities and trading parties.
3. Organize Your Files in Acceptable Formats
To facilitate smooth processing, it's important to structure your booking files in formats that Marcura Compliance can readily work with. We accept files in either xls or csv formats. Ensuring your files are formatted correctly helps streamline the screening process and helps us to efficiently handle your requests.
4. Familiarize Yourself with the Appropriate Communication Channels
You can share the mandatory screening details with Marcura Compliance through multiple communication channels. These include email ([email protected]), file sharing via FTP, or integration through our API*.
Note: If your cargo screening subscription is part of a partnership involving multiple shipping companies providing services along a designated route, please ensure to specify the partner service name in your email when submitting the screening details. This helps us accurately process your request within the context of the partnership.
5. Service Level Agreement (SLA)
The completion timeframe for your screening requests has been pre-agreed with you during the pre-onboarding phase. Marcura Compliance strongly advises submitting your booking files in advance to ensure results are delivered within the agreed SLA. This enables you to obtain your screened files in accordance with your internal procedures. During this time, we conducts data stewardship and below described processes.
For more comprehensive details, kindly refer to your Order Form or reach out to us for support.
6. Process
Our cargo screening process is comprehensive and involves several key steps to ensure accuracy and compliance. Here's an overview:
a) Proprietary Data Stewardship Process:
We address unstructured data, such as counterparty names and locations, through our proprietary data stewardship process.
This helps overcome challenges such as variations in company and individual names, aliases, and inconsistent spellings, which could lead to false alerts or missed hits.
b) Data Cleansing and Validation:
We begin by cleansing and validating the extracted data by relying on verification through multiple data sources.
This meticulous process ensures that the information provided is accurate and complete. We identify and rectify any discrepancies or errors to minimize risks during screening.
c) Screening Against Commodities and Counterparties:
Our screening process involves thorough checks against the commodities and counterparties listed in your shared booking files.
We compare this information against our databases and regulatory lists to identify any potential risks or compliance issues.
d) Cargo Screening Parameters:
During the cargo screening process, Marcura Compliance screens the cargo and its HS code, as well as verifying the ports of loading and discharge (POL and POD) associated with the shipment. Additionally, we verify the names of trading parties (shipper, consignees, and notifying parties) along with their complete addresses and countries.
By employing these rigorous processes and parameters, we ensure thorough and accurate cargo screening, minimizing the risk of compliance issues and safeguarding the integrity of global trade operations.
7. Receive Your Screened Files
Marcura Compliance will promptly deliver the screening results within the agreed SLA, leveraging our comprehensive screening algorithms for accurate interpretation. We highly recommend that our customers thoroughly review the screening outcomes, including any potential alerts categorized as alert orange or alert red.
Subsequently, we advise taking further actions based on your organization's internal risk appetite and compliance protocols. This proactive approach ensures alignment with your risk management strategies and enhances the effectiveness of the screening process.
8. Further support with Cargo Q&A
For comprehensive insights into the Marcura Compliance cargo screening process and specific details, please explore the following articles:
Feel free to reach out to us directly for any additional information regarding our cargo screening process or any other services we offer. We're here to assist you and provide further clarity on our solutions.
Marcura Compliance KYC/KYCC and screening capabilities can effectively handle and link five key due diligence aspects to every maritime operation: Organizations, Corporate Officers, Vessels, Locations, and Cargo.
*Subject to discussion with Marcura Compliance.