Customs Permits Catch Ferry Users by Surprise
Canadian truckers who use the Blue Water Ferry to cross the St. Clair River from Sombra, Ontario, to Marine City, Mich., reportedly were surprised and upset at the U.S. Customs Service’s sudden enforcement early this year of its permit policy for small ports of entry.
In attempting to get a better grip on low-risk vs. high-risk cargo, the U.S. Customs Service is adamant that shippers that either have a poor compliance record or ship certain commodities, such as textiles, send their trucks to larger commercial centers, such as Detroit and Huron, which are automated and have docks for loading and unloading when needed.
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The federal agency informed Canadian truckers of their inability to use the ferry unless they had a permit — issued annually by customs to shippers — to cross into the United States at that point.
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The Blue Water Ferry crossing has none of these features, said Port Director Russ Day.
