CSMS Message: 96-000669

TO : ALL ABI BROKERS.

FROM : DALE H WILSON

SUBJECT : AES EXPANSION TO ALL VESSEL PORTS, OCT 1, 1996

DATE : 08/14/96

AUTOMATED EXPORT SYSTEM ALIVE, WELL AND READY TO EXPAND PORTS

THE U.S. CUSTOMS AUTOMATED EXPORT SYSTEM - AES - WENT "LIVE" IN FIVE (5)
VESSEL PORTS IN JULY, 1995. EXPERIENCE IN BALTIMORE (MD), NORFOLK (VA),
CHARLESTON (SC), HOUSTON (TX) AND LA/LONG BEACH (CA) HAS BEEN VERY
POSITIVE ACCORDING TO THE FIRST EVALUATIONS BY BOTH THE BUREAU OF CENSUS
AND AN INDEPENDENT GROUP OF TRADE AND GOVERNMENT USERS.

WHAT IS IT? AES IS AN EXPORT INFORMATION GATHERING AND PROCESSING SYSTEM
DEVELOPED THROUGH COOPERATIVE EFFORTS BETWEEN THE U. S. CUSTOMS SERVICE,
THE BUREAU OF THE CENSUS, OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES, AND THE EXPORT TRADE
COMMUNITY. IT IS THE CENTRAL POINT THROUGH WHICH EXPORT SHIPMENT DATA
REQUIRED BY MULTIPLE AGENCIES IS FILED ELECTRONICALLY WITH U.S. CUSTOMS.
FOUR KEY AES BENEFITS OF INTEREST TO OUR COMMERCIAL CUSTOMERS ARE THE
ONE-STOP EXPORT SHIPMENT FILING, THE SAVINGS INHERENT IN THE PAPERLESS
SYSTEM, THE IMPROVED ACCURACY OF TRADE STATISTICS (50% OF ALL PAPER
SHIPPERS EXPORT DECLARATIONS CONTAIN ERRORS), AND THE AES POST-DEPARTURE
AUTHORIZED SPECIAL STATUS (AES-PASS).

ON OCTOBER 1, 1996 AES WILL EXPAND TO ALL VESSEL PORTS, ACCEPTING BOTH
EXPORT COMMODITY SHIPMENT DATA AND VESSEL TRANSPORTATION DATA
ELECTRONICALLY. IN JANUARY 1997 AES WILL ALSO BEGIN ELECTRONICALLY
ACCEPTING THE EXPORTER/FORWARDER EXPORT COMMODITY SHIPMENT DATA FOR ALL
OTHER MODES OF TRANSPORTATION.

DURING 1997 THE STRATEGIC PLAN IS TO DEVELOP THE REQUIREMENTS FOR
ELECTRONIC ACCEPTANCE OF TRANSPORTATION DATA FOR NON-VESSEL MODES OF
TRANSPORTATION AND TO DEVELOP THE ENABLING SOFTWARE PROGRAMS SO
IMPLEMENTATION AT ALL PORTS CAN TAKE PLACE IN DECEMBER 1997 FOR ALL
MODES OF TRANSPORTATION.

QUESTIONS? FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO GET STARTED, PLEASE CALL THE AES
TEAM AT (202) 927-1210 OR YOUR CLIENT REPRESENTATIVE.