Cargo manifest

The cargo manifest lists all the goods carried on a vessel or in a container. The carrier or freight forwarder prepares it and files it with customs authorities, who use it to control what enters and leaves each port.

What it contains

It summarizes the bills of lading on the voyage:

Vessel, voyage and ports.
Each bill of lading included, with shipper and consignee.
Containers, seals, packages, weights and description of goods.

Deadlines: the 24-hour rule

Many countries require the manifest before arrival, or even before loading. For ocean cargo bound for the United States, the information must be transmitted at least 24 hours before the container is loaded at the foreign port. That is why the exporter’s data must be ready and correct early.

Why it matters to exporters

Even though the carrier files it, the manifest is built from the data you provide. If the bill of lading is wrong, so is the manifest, and corrections can lead to fines or holds.

How ContainerDocs helps

Some customers also ask for a manifest or cargo summary per container. Add it as a document type and ContainerDocs treats it like any other requirement: visible in the checklist and attached to the email.

General information. Requirements change by country, product and trade agreement; confirm them with your customer or customs broker.