ECAS - The Bahamas Customs Department

Overview of ECAS

What is ECAS?

Electronic Customs Automated Services or eCAS is a web-based application that accepts data electronically via a web browser or file submission to the Customs Automated System (CAS) through a secured website.

The objective of this application is to increase the efficiency in the process of clearing goods for the importer by allowing the air/sea manifests to be entered into CAS upon the ship/aircraft leaving the port of departure and the checking and approving of the entry declaration while the importer is in the comfort of his office or home.

Benefits

Some major benefits for the importing stakeholders are:-

  • The wait time at the Customs premises is reduced considerably
  • All documents will be completed at the Legal standard
  • The entry checking processing of documents can take place at anytime
  • There will be no bias in the checking process
  • Validation of data received and return of error messages so users are aware, in a timely manner of inconsistencies of their data
  • The status of the submitted document can be viewed online
  • An eCAS window for the verification approval at Customs Headquarters is setup
  • Increased accuracy of data entered into CAS, as it is either being entered at the source or extracted from the shipping agents/brokers automated system.
  • Reduction in the amount of keying required of Customs Officers

Method of Submissions

The Broker/Shipping agent will have two methods of electronically submitting documents:-

  1. Entering data into the web application
  2. Extracting data files from their existing systems to be uploaded to the CAS system via email with attachments or File Transfer Protocol, FTP.

Form Types

The forms that will be submitted via this application are:-

Broker – C13, C14, C16, C19, C24, C29, C30, C35, C41, C43. The C43 is electronically generated in a PDF format from the information provided when filling out the other entry declarations.

Shipping – C2, C2S, C2A, C6, C7, C7A, C7S, C8, MDH. The C6, C8 and MDH are electronically generated in a PDF format from the information provided when filling out the other vessel or aircraft declarations. At present very little data is listed on some of the produced document as the data required is not being input.

ECAS Process

The Shipping Agent submits air/sea declarations and manifests online via the web browser or FTP/Email.

The Broker submits entry declaration via the web browser or FTP/Email transmission. Scanned copies of supporting documentation such as invoices, bills of lading, airway bills, permits, etc – can be uploaded and attached to an entry or sent along with an e-mail/FTP entry as an additional attachment.

Please note that all declarations, entered via browser e-mail or FTP are available for viewing, processing and deletion. Browser declarations can be modified if not yet processed or processing failed. E-Mail/FTP entries cannot be modified. The shipping agent or broker is responsible for submitting the declaration for processing to CAS. IF the entry is processed without errors into CAS, PDFs of the appropriate Customs forms will be generated and be available for viewing and/or printing. IF the entry generated errors in CAS, an error message will be generated and the entry set to an error status.

Correctly processed entries are available for examination by entry checkers. The entry checker will have access to the entry declaration data, the generated PDFs as well as any supporting documentation submitted. The entry checker will either approve or reject the declaration. The status of the entry such as rejections, approval, request for additional information, etc, will be posted on the website.

For rejected entries, the broker will take the appropriate action – correct data (browser entries) or resend the corrected entry (email/FTP entries) then reprocess into CAS.

Once the entry is approved, the Broker will print the generated declarations (C13, C43, etc) and bring them along with the other supporting documents to the Customs Department. The printed documents will be required until the legal requirements for the acceptance of electronic signature have been addressed.

The Broker proceeds to Customs EDI window for a cursory check, signing, and stamping of the entry.

The Broker proceeds to Cashier to pay for entry.