Cargo Manifest
A Cargo Manifest is a document listing all the cargo carried on a particular vessel, voyage, flight or conveyance — summarising every bill of lading or waybill on board, with the shippers, consignees, goods descriptions, quantities and weights. It is compiled by the carrier or agent as the master record of what a ship or aircraft is carrying.
The manifest is used by many parties: the carrier for stowage and accounting, the terminal for planning discharge, and above all customs, which requires the manifest (often filed electronically and in advance, as with the US Importer Security Filing or EU ENS) to know what cargo is arriving and to target risk and security screening. An Import Cargo Manifest details inbound cargo specifically. Accurate, timely manifests are a legal requirement and the backbone of cargo reporting to authorities.
The manifest is how authorities know what is arriving before it lands — the basis of advance customs and security screening worldwide. Filing it accurately and on time is a legal must, and errors or late filing can hold up a whole vessel's cargo. It is the master cargo record that ports and customs run on.
What is on a cargo manifest?
A summary of every bill of lading on the conveyance — shippers, consignees, goods, quantities and weights for all cargo carried.
Why do customs authorities need the manifest?
To know what cargo is arriving, often in advance, so they can assess risk and target security and inspection screening.