On 27 February 2004, 11 more shipping lines signed a "Vessel Pre-inspection Agreement" with Yantian Frontier Inspection. All international line-haul vessels are now permitted to implement pre-inspection procedures. In terms of benefits, this service reduces operation costs for shipping lines, increases terminal berth availability and simplifies declaration procedures.
According to pre-inspection procedures, shipping agents apply to Yantian Frontier Inspection before a vessel's arrival. Yantian Frontier Inspection then processes the relevant pre-inspection formalities based on information provided. This allows the terminal to start operations immediately upon a vessel's arrival.
Previously, when a vessel arrived, an application for declaration had to be made prior to loading and unloading. On average, this was a one hour process. However, since the introduction of pre-inspection procedures, operation time has been substantially decreased for both shipping lines and the terminal, resulting in significant economic benefits for both parties.
Since March 2001, the number of participating shipping lines has grown considerably. Currently, there is a total of 27 shipping lines using the pre-inspection service.