Vessel Services

A vessel’s exposure in U.S. waters begins long before the gangway is lowered.

Arrival notifications, cargo declarations, and regulatory filings set the tone for everything that follows, including the likelihood, scope, and intensity of Port State Control inspection.
Errors, inconsistencies, or late submissions can elevate scrutiny before the vessel even reaches its berth.

ShorelineHudson helps owners and managers take control of this process early, ensuring vessels arrive prepared, compliant, and supported, whilst remaining so throughout their time in U.S. waters.

The Challenge

Vessels calling at U.S. ports are subject to multiple overlapping notification and reporting requirements.

Failure to submit accurate information, or to update it as voyages evolve, can result in delays, heightened inspection focus, or enforcement action.

What’s Required

Prior to arrival, vessels must submit mandatory notifications to both the U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, including:

• Initial electronic Notice of Arrival at least 96 or 24 hours before arrival (depending on voyage duration)
• Ongoing updates for schedule, crew, or voyage changes
• Notice of Departure (NOD) upon leaving U.S. waters
• Cargo reporting through the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) / Automated Manifest System (AMS), each with specific submission timelines

Collectively, these requirements are referred to as NOA/D and form the foundation of regulatory oversight for the vessel’s U.S. call.

ShorelineHudson has developed a proprietary, integrated submission system that allows arrival and cargo data to be critically reviewed before it is submitted to U.S. authorities.

This pre-submission validation helps identify discrepancies, omissions, or red flags that could otherwise trigger additional scrutiny.

Our pre-arrival services include:

• Electronic Notice of Arrival / Departure (eNOA/D) submissions
• Review and validation of voyage, vessel, and crew data prior to filing
• ACE / AMS cargo submission services with critical review before transmission
• Ongoing updates to reflect voyage or operational changes

The result: fewer surprises, cleaner data, and a lower inspection risk profile on arrival.

Real-Time Support When It Matters Most

Even with perfect pre-arrival reporting, vessels may still be selected for inspection. When that happens, preparation alone is not enough, experience has shown that onboard attendance and support changes outcomes for the better.

ShorelineHudson’s Vessel Attendance Service

ShorelineHudson provides experienced personnel to attend vessels on arrival and during regulatory engagement, including Port State Control inspections.

Our team includes former regulators and senior maritime professionals who understand how inspections are conducted, when they can escalate, and how to manage them calmly and professionally.

Attendance services include:

• Onboard support during U.S. Port State Control examinations
• Facilitation of inspector interaction while protecting the vessel’s interests
• Support to the Master and crew during questioning and document review
• Real-time issue identification to prevent escalation

By anticipating issues and supporting the Master and crew in real time, we help ensure inspections are conducted efficiently, proportionately, and without unnecessary disruption.

Prevention rather than cure

The most effective way to manage inspections is to reduce the likelihood of deficiencies being found in the first place.

ShorelineHudson supports owners and managers with a wide range of inspections, audits, and quality assurance services designed to strengthen compliance and inspection readiness across the fleet.

PSC & Compliance Support

• Pre-USCG Port State Control readiness inspections
• Pre-Certificate of Compliance (COC) inspections
• Deficiency assessment and clearance support
• Crew inspection-readiness coaching

Audits & Specialist Inspections

• ISM, ISPS, and MLC Code audits
• Oil Spill Removal Organization (OSRO) capability audits
• Navigational audits
• Pre-RightShip inspections
• Hire and purchase inspections with comprehensive reporting
• Incident investigation and root cause analysis

Our inspectors are fully accredited and have completed hundreds of surveys, inspections, and audits, delivering some of the most rigorous and practical assessments in the industry.

Control the Arrival. Manage the Inspection. Avoid Business Disruption.

U.S. port calls can be high-stakes events, but they do not need to be high-risk.

By combining pre-arrival validation, on-arrival attendance, and robust inspection and audit capability, ShorelineHudson helps vessels move through U.S. ports with confidence, control, and minimal disruption.
This is not about more process.

It’s about anticipating scrutiny, managing engagement, and protecting your vessel’s ability to trade.