Manifest (transportation)

Amanifest,customs manifestorcargo documentis adocumentlisting thecargo,passengers,andcrewof aship,aircraft,orvehicle,for the use ofcustomsand other officials.Where such a list is limited to identifying passengers, it is apassenger manifestorpassenger listorbag manifest;conversely, a list limited to identifying cargo is acargo manifestorcargo list,or acontainer manifestfor cargo in acontainer.The manifest may be used by people having an interest in the transport to ensure that passengers and cargo listed as having been placed on board the transport at the beginning of its passage continue to be on board when it arrives at its destination.

This document, made up generally by the ship's broker, from the contents of thebills of lading,contains a specification of the nature and quantity of the cargo laden, and is generally attested officially, and in some countries notarially. The prize laws seldom mention this paper; nor is it general; but yet of essential importance in case of search, as well for belligerents, as for neutrals in procuring a speedy dismissal. It is usual to require it at thecustomhouse. (p301)

In this way, a cargo manifest is like apassportexcept that it is used forgoodsinstead of (or in addition to)persons;the manifest is evidence to thenationalityof the goods, the absence ofcontraband,and that property belonging tobelligerentsis not laden on board of the vessel.

Vessels are under no legal obligation to carry a manifest and, indeed, it is only necessary for neutral vessels in a time of war.

Cargo manifest versus bill of lading

A cargo manifest and abill of ladingmay carry similar information and the concepts are not always clearly distinguished. In some cases, a single document may serve both purposes. In general, a bill of lading serves as alegal instrumentfocusing on and documenting such issues asownership,whereas a cargo manifest is often more concerned with physical aspects of the cargo, such asweightandsize.When the cargo is being shipped by several different shipping companies on the same vessel, there will usually be separate bills of lading for each company, but only a single consolidated cargo manifest. On the other hand, if the cargo containsdangerous goods,there may be a separate dangerous cargo manifest. A manifest can be exchanged for commercial purposes, for example the freight manifest exchanged between two liner agents in the departure and the arrival ports. The manifest can also be prepared for regulatory purposes, specifically the customs manifest which needs to be sent to customs when arriving in the first port in a country. The difference in information on the customs manifest and the freight manifest is usually marginal, but the legal status of the two documents is completely different.

Uses

Customs and excise

Customs authoritiesmay require cargo-carrying vessels or vehicles to provide information on the cargo manifest such as its consignor, consignee, quantity of goods, origin, destination and value.

International travel

Immigration authorities may require passenger-carrying vessels or vehicles to provide a passenger manifest listing information such as names and ports of embarkation and disembarkation.

Disasters

In case ofdisasters,passenger manifests may be helpful in identifying casualties and notifying families of passengers.Cargo manifests can supportinsurance claimsfor lost goods.

Archaeology

Manifests can be useful tools forarchaeology.For example, researchers used old ship's manifests to recreate the available amenities in their restoration of the historicCustom House PlazainMonterey, California,which was built in 1821 and remains the oldest public building inCalifornia.

See also

• Passenger name record,a document recording the transit of an individual passenger (computer reservation system for air travel)
• Shipping list,a document accompanying an individual package