Automated Manifest System

The Automated Manifest System (AMS) is a US Customs and Border Protection requirement that carriers (not importers) transmit cargo manifest data electronically at least 24 hours before loading for ocean cargo bound for the US. AMS is the carrier-side counterpart to the importer-side ISF 10+2 filing.

The AMS filing includes vessel, voyage, containers, and the House B/L references for every shipment on board. It's how CBP builds the pre-arrival cargo picture.

Who files

The carrier files AMS for the Master B/L. Consolidators and NVOCCs file AMS for their House B/Ls — sometimes called "House AMS" or "HAMS."

A freight forwarder issuing House B/Ls for consolidated ocean cargo into the US typically needs an AMS SCAC (Standard Carrier Alpha Code) and a direct filing capability, or they file through a third-party AMS service.

AMS vs ISF

Both are 24-hour-before-loading filings. AMS is the carrier's manifest; ISF is the importer's security filing. They reference each other — the ISF cites the Master B/L number that appears on the carrier's AMS. If the two don't match, CBP flags the shipment.

Penalties

AMS fines are structurally similar to ISF — $5,000+ per infraction. Late filings, missing data, or mismatched B/L references all trigger penalties. The carrier bears the direct penalty; in practice, it flows back to the forwarder or consolidator responsible for the House B/L data.