SUBJECT: Vessel Diversion and Non-U.S. Clearance Procedures
A vessel which is granted a permit-to-proceed from one U.S. port to another U.S. port, or a vessel cleared to a foreign port or place, may divert to another U.S. port to which it was not originally cleared. The diversion notification must be made to the CBP port which granted the permit-to-proceed or foreign clearance using CBP Form 26 (Report of Diversion).
Note: A vessel cannot be diverted to a foreign port.
If a vessel has arrived at the diversion port prior to CBP receiving diversion notification, the diversion will not be approved, and appropriate penalty action may be initiated.
When making formal entrance of a diverted vessel, a copy of the approved Report of Diversion from the port of clearance, and the CBP Form 1300 from the previous port, must be included in the entrance packet. Failure to provide these documents at entrance may result in penalty action.
A vessel that arrives in the U.S. without a clearance to the U.S. due to itinerary changes while at sea (no foreign clearance to the U.S.) must present the foreign clearance with a declaration signed and stamped by the master of the vessel stating that the vessel received orders at sea to proceed to the U.S. For example:
- I, Captain Captains name, master of name of vessel hereby declare that I received orders while at sea to proceed to the port of Baton Rouge/Gramercy/New Orleans while in transit from departure port of foreign port that cleared vessel.
Any questions regarding this notice should be directed to the supervisor or port director of the ports below.
Supervisor/Port Director Phone Numbers:
- New Orleans, LA (504) 670-2057
- Gramercy, LA (225) 869-3765 x 105
- Baton Rouge, LA (225) 389-0261 x 111
