"If cargo were to miss its scheduled vessel, it would have to be re-declared for changing to another vessel and then wait for three or five more days before it could be loaded onto the next vessel. This will all be history from now on. With the new customs procedures, cargo in such cases can be loaded onto another vessel for shipment immediately."

To further streamline clearance procedures, YICT has worked closely with Dapeng Customs to launch a new mode of operation called "Changing Vessels before Declaration" beginning 1 September 2007. This measure will greatly reduce the time needed for changing vessels, allowing shipping lines more flexibility to allocate vessels.

Due to various unexpected factors such as vessel overbooking, vessels arriving ahead of schedule, or delays and cancellations, shippers or shipping lines will have to change vessels for exporting cargo. Under the previous mode of "Declaration before Changing Vessels", applications for changing a vessel should be submitted to the Customs, and cargo could only be loaded subject to three-level approvals from the Customs, which would result in inconvenience and even financial loss to shipping lines and shippers.

The new mode launched by Shenzhen Customs marks two significant improvements: firstly, under the new mode, shipping lines or ship agents are allowed to change vessels for reasons even when customs release has been issued. They are required to apply to the Customs for changing a vessel within 24 hours after such cargo is actually loaded for shipment; secondly, the Customs will generally not inspect such cargo unless a report is received. Compared with the previous inspection rate of 10% for this kind of cargo, the measure will substantially reduce the client's logistics cost.

YICT has been working with Dapeng Customs to carry out numerous reforms, including "Declaration at local Customs, Inspection and Release at Port Customs" since early this year, constantly improving customs clearance control at Yantian port. As export cargo accounts for 80% to 90% of the total volume YICT handles, the new mode will undoubtedly facilitate customs clearance for export cargo, thus sharpening YICT's competitive edge.