FSMC Vessel Inspection Business in Korea

Applied Flighted Spongy Moth Complex(FSMC) inspection regulation for ships arriving in North America since March 2012.

Introduction to FSMC Vessel Inspection Regulation in USA

Mandatory FSMC inspection period for ships from Far East Russia, Japan, Korea and Northern China at American harbors (in accordance with APTL and APHIS policies)

High Risk Vessel

• The regulation decides which vessel shall be deemed as high risk vessel. If there is information in advance that a vessel is suspected of FSMC infection before arrival, it shall be deemed as a high risk vessel. Such high risk vessel shall be prohibited of port arrival, and the inspector reserves the right to be on board prior to port arrival or at the remote place approved in advance.
• A vessel arriving in the harbors within the US continent during the high risk season, or a vessel corresponding any of conditions as follows shall be deemed as a high risk vessel:
  • A vessel on the FSMCvessel x-x-x-x-x-x-alert list
  • A vessel visited far east Russian ports between July 15 and September 30 in this year or the year before or a vessel visited ports in Japan, Korea or northern China during the period identified as the FSMC flying period. Any vessel areas that FSMC is widely distributed shall be included in this category.
  • A vessel without proper proof where they visited between May 15 and October 15 the year before.

Low Risk Vessel

• The regulation decides which vessel shall be deemed as a low risk vessel. The regulation allows to perform the first FSMC inspection on the designated ship and shall determine whether to conduct post inspection if necessary.
• Any vessel arriving in the harbors within the US continent during the low risk season corresponding any of followings shall be deemed as a low risk vessel.
  • A vessel not on the FSMC vessel x-x-x-x-x-x-alert list, or from those areas not defined as FSMC is widely distributed.
  • If holding the free of FSMC certificate, for a vessel visited far east Russian ports between July 15 and September 30 in this year or the year before or a vessel visited ports in Japan, Korea or northern China during the period identified as the FSMC flying period.
  • A vessel with proper proof where they visited between May 15 and October 15 the year before.

Custom Clearance Procedure If Found FSMC by Vessel Inspection at Destination Ports in USA (Summarized from the Material Provided by US Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)).

• If US Customs and Border Protection of the Department of Homeland Security (CBP) finds suspicious FSMC egg masses from a vessel, such egg masses shall be sent to the entomologist of US Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS/PPQ). (It takes approximately 4~24 hours depending on the place where egg masses are sent.)
• If sent egg masses are considered able to grow and lots of egg masses were found within the corresponding vessel, that is the vessel is highly infected, CBP shall reserve the right to order the ship to leave the inner harbor.
  • It takes up to 12 hours to actually go to the outer harbor upon CBP's leave order depending on situations (such as call for sailors, waterway conditions, tidal currents and other conditions).
• The vessel that left the inner harbor shall remove FSMC egg masses and clean the vessel at the outer harbor. (The lead time varies depending on sailors' working speed.)
• Before re-entering the inner harbor, the corresponding vessel shall notify will to re-enter the inner harbor to CBP.
  • CBP may or may not visit the berth far way for vessel inspection under escort of the coast guard.
  • The lead time from re-enter notification to decision on CBP re-inspection varies depending on FSMC infection status. In general, it takes longer lead time for the bigger vessel than smaller vessel. (The lead time expected is approximately 1~3 days.)
• The lead time of reentry from the outer harbor to the inner harbor varies depending on factors including available terminal and waterway passing time. (Usually approximately 6~24 hours)
• Upon return of the vessel to the inner harbor, CBP shall re-inspect the vessel to verify removal of FSMC egg masses prior to unloading freights from the vessel. (Approximately 2~5 hours required)
• If a vessel is required to leave the inner harbor to the outer harbor, the lead time for the whole procedure from hiring a disinfection service company and a cleaning company for disinfection and cleaning to CBP's re-inspection depends on various factors including FSMC infection status and weather conditions, that CBP cannot control.
  • It may vary depending on given situations and factors, but the lead time for the entire custom clearance may be '2.5~7 days or more'.
  • CBP shall not be responsible for any delay or rescheduling due to discovery of foreign pest inflow on the vessel (including the situation unusable of the secured terminal due to rescheduling).
• CBP conducts FSMC  vessel inspection in accordance with the law enacted by US Department of Agriculture.
  • The low of US Department of Agriculture mandates every conveyance arrives in US in the state uninfected by concerned phytosanitary pests and specifies the ocean carrier including the ship owner, captain and sailors shall be responsible for its compliance.

Canada

Port Entry Quarantine Requirements

Quarantine Measures for the Ship Entering Harbor during the High Risk Season

• Every ocean carrier visited any harbor in the control areas should submit the Plant Quarantine Certificate or other approved certificate that certifies free of FSMC.
• Every vessel should be inspected of FSMC infection immediately upon arrival in Canada.
• The vessel without the valid certificate will be deemed in compliance of regulation and shall stay in the berth away from the designated coast for CFIA inspection. If verified free of FSMC, the vessel will be allowed to enter the port, but if not, the vessel shall be subject to surveillance of movement within Canada.

Quarantine Measures for the Ship Entering Harbor during the Low Risk Season

• The vessel visited any port in the controlled areas may enter a port in Canada, but may be subject to inspection for FSMC inspection. If the inspection detects FSMC, the vessel shall be deemed incompliance of regulation. However, the Plant Quarantine Certificate or other approved certificate is not required.

All Year Round at Every Port

• The vessel not visited any port in the controlled areas may be subject to inspection for FSMC inspection. If the inspection detects FSMC, the vessel shall be deemed incompliance of regulation.