100 – 1111 West Hastings Street
Vancouver, B.C. V6E 2J3
Phone: 604 681 2351
Fax:
604 681 4364
www.cosbc.ca
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs) ON
THE NEW CARRIER CODE POLICY FOR MARINE CARRIERS
As of July 24, 2014
Q1:
Who is eligible to have a CBSA issued carrier code?
A carrier is a person involved in international commercial transportation who operates a conveyance
used to transport specified goods to or from Canada. To operate a conveyance means to have legal
custody and control of the conveyance.
To have legal custody means to be:
a) an owner,
b) a lessee under a lease or agreement of hire,
c) a charterer under an agreement of hire,
d) a purchaser under a conditional sale or hire purchase agreement that reserves to the vendor
the title to the conveyance until the purchase price is paid or certain conditions are
performed, or
e) a mortgagor.
Control is defined as the person responsible for the decisions concerning the employment of the
conveyance, and therefore the person who decides how and where that conveyance is employed. It
must be the legal entity who has the closest control of the conveyance that must obtain and use
their carrier code.
The following entities are not eligible for a carrier code:
 Marine agents
 Subsidiaries of foreign companies who represent their shipping lines in Canada
 Management companies responsible for the day to day running of a vessel
 Vessel owners who do not play a role in the employment of the vessel (e.g. banks)
Q2:
What vessels do not require a carrier code
Cruise vessels, fishing vessels and all cargo vessels arriving in ballast are exempt from reporting to
CBSA via EDI and may use the generic “9ITN” carrier code for paper reporting to CBSA. However, if
a carrier has received a carrier code or chooses to report via EDI, then a valid carrier code must be
used.
Serving the interests of the marine community in Western Canada since 1923
Chamber of Shipping of BC
CBSA Carrier Code – Frequently Asked Questions
as of July 28, 2014
Q3:
Is the “carrier code” intended to be vessel specific or owner/operator specific?
A vessel operator should have one carrier code to represent vessels under its custody and control.
One operator may have multiple carrier codes to represent different business segments, as it is the
legal entity closest to the vessel operations under the criteria established that must hold the carrier
code.
Q4:
Can consortium partners apply for a carrier code when they are not operating the master
conveyance?
Yes
Q5:
Can a vessel charterer that does not currently have any vessels destined for Canada apply for a
carrier code?
Yes. CBSA encourages all potential vessel operators to be prepared and have the carrier code in
place in the event that a vessel is chartered and destined for Canada.
Q6:
What forms must be completed to apply for a carrier code and to be approved to transact EDI
data with CBSA’s Electronic Commerce Unit?


Q7:
Application to Transact Marine Operations with Canada Border Services Agency (BSF329-4)
Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) Application for Advance Commercial Information (BSF691)
What documents will CBSA accept as proof of company ownership on the Application to Transact
Marine Operations with Canada Border Services Agency (BSF329-4)?
CBSA will accept the IMO Unique Company and Registered Owner Identification Number
(http://www.imonumbers.lrfairplay.com/). In the absence of the IMO number, a photocopy of
Articles of Incorporation, business registration documents notarized by a province, state or country
is required. If the company is a sole proprietorship, a photocopy of government issued photo
identification of the proprietor is required. Non-incorporated partnership must provide their
business registration listing all partners. All documents must be provided in English or French.
Q8:
As a dedicated subsidiary company of a foreign vessel operator, can I retain my carrier code, and if
so, how?
CBSA has agreed to allow companies that are wholly owned by a foreign vessel operator to transfer
their existing carrier code to avoid the expense of modifying corporate information systems and
documents. The process requires foreign operator to submit a completed Application to Transact
Marine Operations with Canada Border Services Agency (BSF329-4) – sections 16 (conveyance
listing) and 17 (ports of discharge) do not have to be completed when updating the registration
details only. Any existing bond held by the Canadian company must be discontinued and if required
a new bond must be established.
If the existing carrier code had been used for multiple operators (for example, a container operation
and a bulk operation) then the existing code can be transferred to one operator and a new
application and bond must be submitted for the second operator.
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Chamber of Shipping of BC
CBSA Carrier Code – Frequently Asked Questions
as of July 28, 2014
If it is easier for a dedicated agency office in Canada to complete and sign the required forms and
bonds on behalf of the operating carrier(s), a Power of Attorney can be completed and submitted to
CBSA at time of application. CBSA has provided a template Power of Attorney at:
http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/services/carrier-transporteur/poa-procuration-eng.html
Q9:
What obligation is there to update information contained in the original application?
Carrier code holder must advise CBSA of any changes to the legal name and/or address. There is no
requirement to update changes to the ports of call or the list of vessels contained in the original
application.
Q10:
Is there a renewal process or a fee to obtain a carrier code from CBSA?
Currently there is no renewal process and CBSA does not charge any fees for processing carrier code
applications. However, for a bonded carrier code there is a premium to acquire a bond from a
surety company.
Q11:
Should I apply for a non-bonded or bonded carrier code?
A bonded carrier code is required when unreleased goods are moving past the first port of arrival
(FPOA) in Canada. Unreleased goods include the movement of any freight remaining on board
(FROB). This includes the following examples provided in Customs Notice 13-020:

(a) The port of report (FPOA) is different from the port of destination for unreleased cargo on
board – A carrier will be discharging cargo in Prince Rupert and in Vancouver. The port of report
is Prince Rupert, but the port of destination for some of the cargo is Vancouver. In order for the
vessel to be authorized to move from Prince Rupert to Vancouver the carrier must be bonded.

(b) Unforeseen Diversions – A vessel has indicated the port of Montréal as the FPOA but is then
diverted to the port of Halifax by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency for an Asian gypsy moth
inspection. In this scenario, the carrier is required to send an amendment to their “Advance
Commercial Information” indicating the new port of report (port of Halifax). Should the vessel
continue on to the port of Montréal with unreleased cargo, the carrier must be bonded.
Another example where a bonded carrier code is required would be for vessels with US or foreign
FROB that arrives at a Nanaimo anchorage to wait for a berth in Vancouver.
For the above reasons, the CBSA strongly recommends all marine carriers obtain a bonded carrier
code. Carriers who do not have a bond in such scenarios will be unable to proceed until they have
obtained a bond and completed the process of converting their carrier code from non-bonded to
bonded status. This process can take up to three days following the receipt by CBSA of the complete
bonded status change application form and bond.
Q12:
What bond amount must be in place for a bonded carrier code?
$25,000
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Chamber of Shipping of BC
CBSA Carrier Code – Frequently Asked Questions
as of July 28, 2014
Q13:
How do I apply for a bond for a foreign operator?
Marsh Canada and Trisura have developed an on-line portal for our members to obtain a Customs
Bond on behalf of their principals.
To sign up for the portal go to:
https://secure.trisura.com/cos/signup.aspx?AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1 and once you have
responded to an email confirmation, log-on to: https://secure.trisura.com/cos/login.aspx. Agents
applying for a bond on behalf of their principal will need to complete Trisura’s Power of Attorney.
The bond can be up to a period of three years.
Once the application and payment are received on-line, Marsh will issue the completed Form D120
Customs Bond from their Vancouver office for original signatures.
If the principal operator has also completed CBSA’s Power of Attorney form authorizing a third
party/agent to sign the D120 then the bond can be signed and submitted directly to CBSA’s
commercial registration unit.
In the absence of a completed CBSA’s Power of Attorney, the original D120 must be sent to the
principal for original signature before filing the D120 with CBSA.
Q14:
What is the difference between the CBSA and Trisura Power of Attorney (POA)?
The CBSA POA is given to a port agent so they can apply for a Carrier Code and sign the bond on
behalf of the marine carrier. The language specifically reads: “for the purpose of applying for a
CBSA carrier code on behalf of the Principal, and to sign the Customs Bond to secure bonded carrier
operations on behalf of the Principal.”
The Trisura POA is given to a port agent so they can bind the marine carrier to the contract of
indemnity between Trisura and the bond principal (i.e. the marine carrier). This Indemnity
Agreement is in place so if there is a claim on a bond Trisura can make themselves whole by
demanding payment from the bond principal/marine carrier.
The Chamber of Shipping is working with Trisura to develop a POA that will satisfy both
requirements.
Q15:
What is the estimated costs for the bond?
The bond issued by Marsh Canada and Trisura is $350 for a one-year bond and $875 for a three-year
bond.
Q16:
Can a non-bonded carrier code be converted to a bonded carrier code?
Yes, CBSA has established a process to enable carrier codes to be converted from non-bonded to
bonded status for a specified period of time. Once the bond is in place, the BSF722 Changing
Bonded Status form specifying the dates when the bond is in effect must be completed and
submitted to CBSA.
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Chamber of Shipping of BC
CBSA Carrier Code – Frequently Asked Questions
as of July 28, 2014
Q17:
Can the agent still report to CBSA on behalf of the operator – using the carrier code issued to the
vessel operator?
Yes, the agent can be authorized when completing the Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) Application
for Advance Commercial Information (BSF691) form or later by completing the Authorize/Remove an
Agent or Service Provider for Advance Commercial Information (BSF692) form and filing it with CBSA
by fax to: 613-952-9979 or by email to: [email protected].
Q18:
Can a vessel operator continue to appoint multiple agents within Canada to report to CBSA?
Yes, provided that Authorize/Remove an Agent or Service Provider for Advance Commercial
Information (BSF692) authorization form is valid and on file with CBSA.
Q19:
Will the carrier codes be published? If not, what process is in place to check if a carrier code has
already been issued to the vessel operator?
The carrier codes will not be published and there is currently no process to check if a carrier code
has been issued.
Q20:
A vessel arrives in ballast and uses the 9ITN carrier code. What carrier code should the vessel use
if it moves to a second Canadian port to complete loading?
The generic 9ITN carrier code if the operator does not have a valid carrier code.
Q21:
What procedures should be followed if a vessel is due to arrive in Canada without a carrier code
following the elimination of the marine agents’ carrier code?
Contact CBSA’s commercial registration unit as soon as possible.
E-mail: Marine_Carrier_Code-Code_du_transporteur_maritime@cbsa-asfc.gc.ca
Telephone: 1-866-749-6623 (toll free in North America)
Telephone: 1-613-960-1702
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