[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 219 (Monday, November 17, 2025)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 51081-51091]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-19983]



========================================================================
Rules and Regulations
                                                Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________

This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains regulatory documents 
having general applicability and legal effect, most of which are keyed 
to and codified in the Code of Federal Regulations, which is published 
under 50 titles pursuant to 44 U.S.C. 1510.

The Code of Federal Regulations is sold by the Superintendent of Documents. 

========================================================================


Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 219 / Monday, November 17, 2025 / 
Rules and Regulations

[[Page 51081]]



DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

8 CFR Parts 251 and 258

U.S. Customs and Border Protection

19 CFR Part 4

[Docket No. USCBP-2021-0046; CBP Dec. No. 2X-XX]
RIN 1651-AB18


Automation of CBP Form I-418 for Vessels

AGENCY: U.S. Customs and Border Protection, DHS.

ACTION: Final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This rule adopts as final, without change, interim amendments 
to title 8 and title 19 of the Code of Federal Regulations published in 
the Federal Register on December 28, 2021, that require commercial 
vessel operators to electronically submit the data elements of Form I-
418 to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in lieu of submitting a 
paper form. This electronic submission streamlines vessel arrival and 
departure processes by eliminating redundant data submissions, 
simplifying vessel inspections, and automating recordkeeping.

DATES: This rule is effective November 17, 2025.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For title 8 of the Code of Federal 
Regulations inquiries, contact Stephen Dearborn, Enforcement Programs 
Division, Admissibility and Passenger Programs, Office of Field 
Operations, [email protected] or (443) 765-9751; for title 
19 of the Code of Federal Regulations inquiries, contact Brian Sale, 
Manifest and Security Division, Cargo and Conveyance Security, Office 
of Field Operations, [email protected] or (202) 325-3338.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), including U.S. Customs 
and Border Protection (CBP) and U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), regulations 
require commercial vessels and their operators \1\ to meet several data 
submission requirements when arriving in the United States from a 
foreign place or outlying possession of the United States and when 
departing the United States for a foreign place or outlying possession 
of the United States. Both CBP and the USCG collect information in 
these contexts, and many of the data elements that the two agencies 
collect overlap.\2\ While some of this data must be submitted 
electronically, CBP previously required certain data to be submitted on 
paper, such as the Form I-418, Passenger List--Crew List (Form I-418). 
DHS and CBP amended the applicable regulations in an interim final rule 
(IFR) published on December 28, 2021 (86 FR 73618). The interim 
regulations require commercial vessel operators to submit the data 
elements of Form I-418 electronically, instead of in a paper format, in 
an effort to streamline the vessel arrival and departure processes, 
simplify vessel inspections, and automate recordkeeping for Form I-418.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ For the purposes of this document, ``operators'' include 
masters or commanding officers, or authorized agents, owners, or 
consignees.
    \2\ The USCG requires commercial vessel operators to submit 
either a Notice of Arrival (NOA) or Notice of Departure (NOD) to the 
National Vessel Movement Center (NVMC) through its electronic Notice 
of Arrival/Departure (eNOA/D) system or via email in advance of U.S. 
arrival or departure. See 33 CFR 160.201-160.216. In addition to 
other data elements, each NOA/NOD must include information on the 
crew and passengers on board the vessel. See 33 CFR 160.206(a). Upon 
satisfactory submission, USCG processes the information via the 
eNOA/D web portal and then the system automatically transmits it to 
CBP as an Advance Passenger Information System (APIS) manifest for 
arrivals. An APIS manifest is a CBP pre-arrival requirement. See 8 
CFR 231.1(a) and 19 CFR 4.7b.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

II. Adoption of the Interim Final Rule

    Although the interim regulations were promulgated as a procedural 
rule, and thus exempt from prior notice and comment requirements, CBP 
provided the public with the opportunity to comment on the rule and 
stated that CBP would consider the comments before adopting the interim 
regulations as a final rule. 86 FR 73624. The prescribed comment period 
closed on February 28, 2022, sixty days after the IFR published in the 
Federal Register. No comments were received in response to the 
solicitation of public comments.
    Accordingly, CBP has decided to adopt the IFR published at 86 FR 
73618 on December 28, 2021, without change.

III. Statutory and Regulatory Reviews

A. Executive Orders 12866, 13563, and 14192

    Executive Orders 12866 (Regulatory Planning and Review) and 13563 
(Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review) direct agencies to assess 
the costs and benefits of available regulatory alternatives and, if 
regulation is necessary, to select regulatory approaches that maximize 
net benefits. Executive Order 13563 emphasizes the importance of 
quantifying both costs and benefits, reducing costs, harmonizing rules, 
and promoting flexibility. Executive Order 14192 (Unleashing Prosperity 
Through Deregulation) directs agencies to significantly reduce the 
private expenditures required to comply with Federal regulations and 
provides that ``any new incremental costs associated with new 
regulations shall, to the extent permitted by law, be offset by the 
elimination of existing costs associated with at least 10 prior 
regulations.''
    The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has not designated this 
rule a ``significant regulatory action,'' under section 3(f) of 
Executive Order 12866. Accordingly, OMB has not reviewed it.
    This final rule is considered a deregulatory action under Executive 
Order 14192. We estimate that this rule generates $18.4 million in net 
annualized cost savings at a 7% discount rate, discounted relative to 
year 2024, over a perpetual time horizon.
1. Purpose of Rule
    Current statutes and regulations require commercial vessels and 
their operators \3\ to meet several data submission requirements for 
arrival at and departure from a U.S. port of entry (POE). The U.S. 
Coast Guard (USCG) requires commercial vessel operators to submit a 
Notice of Arrival (NOA) to the

[[Page 51082]]

agency's National Vessel Movement Center (NVMC) \4\ through its 
electronic Notice of Arrival/Departure (eNOA/D) system or via email in 
advance of U.S. arrival.\5\ Each NOA must include arriving vessel, 
voyage, cargo, crew, longshore work, passenger, operational equipment 
condition, international safety management status, and cargo 
declaration information.\6\ Upon satisfactory submission, USCG 
processes the information via the eNOA/D web portal and then the system 
automatically transmits it to CBP as an Advance Passenger Information 
System (APIS) manifest.\7\ An APIS manifest is a CBP pre-arrival data 
submission requirement.\8\ CBP uses this electronic manifest to assess 
arrivals for security risks and to prepare for inspections.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \3\ For the purposes of this document, commercial vessels 
include cargo vessels, cruise ships, and other vessels used for 
commercial purposes. For the purposes of this analysis, 
``operators'' include masters or commanding officers, or authorized 
agents, owners, or consignees.
    \4\ USCG established the NVMC in 2001 to operate as a single 
clearinghouse for the submission and processing of notice of arrival 
and departure information for vessels entering and departing U.S. 
ports and facilities.
    \5\ See 33 CFR 160.201-160.216. When a vessel operator is in an 
area without internet access or experiences technical difficulties, 
and he or she has no shore-side support available, the vessel 
operator may fax or phone the submission to the NVMC.
    \6\ See 33 CFR 160.206(a).
    \7\ See 70 FR 17820 (Apr. 7, 2005).
    \8\ See 8 CFR 231.1(a) and 19 CFR 4.7b.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Prior to the implementation of the interim final rule (IFR), CBP 
generally required commercial vessel operators to submit paper copies 
of their manifest using Form I-418 at their time of arrival at a U.S. 
POE in addition to providing manifest data electronically prior to 
arrival.\9\ CBP mainly used the paper Form I-418 for crew and passenger 
admissibility inspections and processing. Cruise ship operators 
arriving at some POEs could submit just the two signature pages of 
their paper Form I-418 \10\ and a compact disk (CD) of their passenger 
and crew manifest in lieu of submitting numerous pages of manifest data 
by paper to CBP.\11\ If a manifest has changed during coastwise 
movement, commercial vessel operators must update their APIS manifest 
electronically through the eNOA/D system. A CBP officer at the 
coastwise port would typically update the vessel's original paper Form 
I-418 with any changes. To comply with some customs regulations, 
commercial vessel operators could also submit Form I-418 with CBP Form 
5129: Crew Member's Declaration in lieu of submitting a Crew's Effects 
Declaration on CBP Form 1304 per 19 CFR 4.7a. However, CBP generally 
collects Form 1304 instead to meet the requirements of 19 CFR 4.7.\12\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \9\ 86 FR 73618 (Dec. 28, 2021). Prior to the February 28, 2022 
effective date of the IFR, 8 CFR 251.1 and 8 CFR 251.5 specified 
that ``the master or commanding officer, or authorized agent, owner, 
or consignee, of a commercial vessel or commercial aircraft arriving 
in or departing from the United States must submit arrival and 
departure manifests in a paper format in accordance with Sec. Sec.  
251.1, 251.3, and 251.4.''
    \10\ These two signature pages included the Form I-418 pages 
containing the CBP ``Receipt for Crew List'' and the CBP 
``Certification of Copy of Crew List of United States Flag Vessel.''
    \11\ Cruise ships often have thousands of passengers and 
crewmembers, which cruise ship operators must account for on the 
Form I-418. To avoid submitting numerous pages listing these 
passengers and crewmembers, with CBP approval, cruise ship operators 
at some POEs submitted a CD of their passenger and crew manifest to 
CBP along with the two paper signature pages constituting the 
remainder of the Form I-418 as well as any applicable Form I-418 
supporting documentation. Other cruise ship operators submitted the 
manifest CD as well as the full paper manifest, despite being 
granted a waiver from doing so. Information provided by CBP Office 
of Field Operations subject matter experts on October 7, 2020.
    \12\ Information provided by CBP Office of Field Operations 
subject matter experts on October 23, 2018.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Upon departure from the United States, USCG requires commercial 
vessel operators to submit updated manifest information via a Notice of 
Departure (NOD) to the NVMC through eNOA/D or another electronic 
format.\13\ Also at the time of departure, CBP requires these 
commercial vessel operators to update their APIS manifest 
electronically through the eNOA/D system and update their original 
paper Form I-418 submission to include a list of departing crew, crew 
changes, and trip departure details.\14\ In general, commercial vessel 
operators would then submit the completed Form I-418 or signature pages 
to CBP upon departure from the United States.\15\ A CBP officer at the 
port of departure typically verifies any changes to the Form I-418 
information and sends this departure form, typically via fax or mail, 
to the first port of arrival for final data reconciliation and 
recordkeeping purposes.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \13\ See 33 CFR 160.201-160.216.
    \14\ See 8 CFR 251.3.
    \15\ Upon departure from the United States, cruise ship 
operators generally must submit at least the completed two signature 
pages of their paper Form I-418 as well as an updated manifest, 
which can be provided on a CD.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Despite similarities in the vessel arrival and departure data 
submitted according to Form I-418, APIS, and eNOA/D requirements, 
regulations prior to the promulgation of the IFR did not allow data to 
be transmitted electronically, such as through APIS, eNOA/D, or email, 
to satisfy Form I-418's paper passenger and crew list submission 
requirement.\16\ In fact, failure to submit Form I-418 in paper format 
could have resulted in fines and penalties. To reduce redundant data 
submissions and to ease burdens on commercial vessel operators and the 
agency itself, CBP launched the I-418 Automation test program in 2011. 
This test allowed for the automated, electronic submission of the data 
elements on Form I-418 from test participants using manifest data 
previously submitted electronically to the NVMC through eNOA/D, APIS, 
or other means. Based on the successful operation of the test, CBP 
established the automated, electronic Form I-418 data submission 
process through interim regulation.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \16\ See 8 CFR 251.5.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Through the IFR, DHS and CBP amended the regulations under 8 CFR 
part 251, 8 CFR part 258, and 19 CFR part 4 to require the electronic 
submission of the data elements required from commercial vessel 
operators on Form I-418 in lieu of paper form submissions. CBP 
generally no longer requires the paper Form I-418. The interim 
regulations, which CBP finalizes with this final rule, require 
commercial vessel operators to electronically submit the data elements 
required on Form I-418 via an electronic data interchange system (EDI) 
approved by CBP. CBP continues to use the eNOA/D system as the approved 
EDI. Under this process, the appropriate CBP systems compile eNOA/D, 
APIS, and any other electronic manifest data submitted by commercial 
vessel operators prior to arrival and at departure into a passenger and 
crew list format reflective of an electronic Form I-418.\17\ The 
information already collected through eNOA/D satisfies the required 
data elements for populating the electronic version of the Form I-418 
for CBP's purposes. The act of electronically submitting the data 
elements required on Form I-418 also constitutes the (vessel) Master's 
certification that the manifest information is accurate and that the 
master or operator has taken or will take certain required actions,\18\ 
and eliminates the need to generally collect certification signatures 
on Form I-418 by vessel masters (or operators) and CBP

[[Page 51083]]

officers.\19\ CBP also retains its authority to require paper Form I-
418 submissions in the event of certain technical difficulties, such as 
system outages and disruptions, that make it impossible to submit or 
receive manifest data electronically, and according to CBP 
discretion.\20\ This rulemaking has streamlined vessel arrival and 
departure processes by eliminating redundant data submissions, 
simplifying vessel inspections, and automating recordkeeping.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \17\ The embark date required on Form I-418 is transmitted to 
CBP via eNOA/D. The disembark date/date separated (i.e., the date 
when a crewmember permanently departs the vessel) is calculated by 
the appropriate CBP systems. This rule does not change this 
practice.
    \18\ This includes certifying that CBP baggage declaration 
requirements have been made known to incoming passengers; that any 
required CBP baggage declarations have been or will simultaneously 
be filed as required by law and regulation with the proper CBP 
officer; that the responsibilities of the commercial vessel operator 
have been or will be done as required by law or regulation before 
the proper CBP officer; and that there are no steerage passengers on 
board the vessel.
    \19\ CBP officer signatures are generally dictated on the form 
as a unique receipt number tied to the officer. For the purposes of 
this analysis, CBP refers to these receipt numbers as signatures.
    \20\ The IFR describes particular exceptions to the electronic 
submission requirement. 86 FR 73623. In particular, CBP retains its 
authority to require paper submissions in the event the master or 
agent of the vessel is unable to electronically submit the data 
elements required on Form I-418 via an EDI approved by CBP due to 
technical issues, such as when the onboard computer system is 
malfunctioning or there is no internet access, and there is no 
shore-side support available; CBP is experiencing technical 
difficulties affecting its receipt or processing of electronically 
submitted information; or where CBP, in its discretion, determines 
that a paper Form I-418 is acceptable under the circumstances 
presented by the master or agent of a vessel.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

2. Population Affected by I-418 Automation Test Program and Rulemaking
    The I-418 Automation rulemaking affects commercial vessel operators 
and CBP, but at different magnitudes according to the arriving vessel 
type and I-418 Automation test program participation. To determine the 
extent of the population affected by this rulemaking, CBP relies on 
historical commercial vessel arrival/departure and test participation 
data.
    From the I-418 Automation test program's launch in FY 2011 to FY 
2021, a total of about 924,000 commercial vessels entered U.S. waters 
from a foreign port or place, including nearly 837,000 cargo and non-
cargo vessels (e.g., tugboats) and 87,000 cruise ships. Of the total 
arrivals, approximately 111,000 corresponded to cargo and non-cargo 
vessels participating in the I-418 Automation test program and an 
estimated 49,000 corresponded to cruise ships participating in the test 
program.\21\ Only a portion of these participants took full advantage 
of the test program's attributes. According to field interviews, the 
majority of commercial vessel operators participating in the I-418 
Automation test program continued to provide a paper Form I-418 upon 
arrival/departure despite having submitted the data elements required 
on Form I-418 electronically to ensure full compliance with DHS and CBP 
regulations.\22\ For the purposes of this analysis, CBP refers to these 
commercial vessel operators as those who partially participated in the 
I-418 Automation test program. Without exact figures on test 
participant arrivals/departures corresponding to commercial vessel 
operators who only partially participated in the program, CBP estimates 
that 50 percent of the test participant arrivals/departures and Form I-
418 submissions corresponded to commercial vessel operators who fully 
participated in the test program, while the remainder corresponded to 
those who only partially participated (see Table 1 and Table 2).\23\ 
Table 1 and Table 2 together summarize the historical U.S. arrival and 
departure statistics for commercial vessels according to I-418 
Automation test program participation. CBP assumes that each of the 
arrivals shown in Table 1 and Table 2 coincided with a Form I-418 
submission and vessel departure.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \21\ The I-418 Automation test program was available to 
commercial vessels, including cruise ships, on a port-by-port basis. 
Data on cruise ship participation in the I-418 Automation test 
program at all POEs nationwide is not readily available; however, 
test program participation information at many large POEs is 
available. Given such data limitations, CBP estimated that the 
historical percentage of cruise ship arrivals/departures not 
participating in the I-418 Automation test program is equal to the 
share of FY 2015 to FY 2019 cruise ship arrivals/departures 
occurring at U.S. sea POEs known not to offer the program. 
Accordingly, CBP estimates that 44 percent of cruise ship arrivals/
departures from FY 2011 to FY 2021 correspond to cruise ships not 
participating in the I-418 Automation test program, while the 
remaining 56 percent of cruise ship arrivals/departures correspond 
to cruise ships participating in the I-418 Automation test program. 
Information regarding POEs offering I-418 Automation test program to 
cruise ships provided by CBP Office of Field Operations subject 
matter experts on November 13, 2020; and November 16, 2020; and data 
from internal databases gathered on November 17, 2020.
    \22\ Although the I-418 Automation test program allowed 
participating commercial vessel operators to transmit required I-418 
data through existing eNOA/D and APIS data submissions rather than 
by the paper Form I-418, certain test participants insisted on 
submitting paper Form I-418s to ensure full compliance with DHS and 
CBP regulations. Information provided by CBP Office of Field 
Operations subject matter experts on February 23, 2016.
    \23\ Information provided by CBP Office of Field Operations 
subject matter experts on February 23, 2016; November 13, 2020; and 
November 6, 2020.

                                                 Table 1--Historical Cruise Ship Arrivals and Departures
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                          Non-former  I-       Former I-418 automation test program         Regulatory      All cruise
                                                                418                        participants                       program          ships
                                                            automation   -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           test program
                       Fiscal year                         participants                       Vessels
                                                         ----------------  Vessels fully     partially     Test program       Vessel          Vessel
                                                              Vessel       participating   participating    participant      arrivals/       arrivals/
                                                             arrivals/        in test         in test          total        departures      departures
                                                            departures
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2011....................................................           3,656           2,327           2,327           4,654  ..............           8,310
2012....................................................           3,651           2,323           2,323           4,646  ..............           8,297
2013....................................................           3,706           2,359           2,359           4,718  ..............           8,424
2014....................................................           3,930           2,501           2,501           5,002  ..............           8,932
2015....................................................           3,957           2,519           2,519           5,038  ..............           8,995
2016....................................................           3,857           2,455           2,455           4,910  ..............           8,767
2017....................................................           3,985           2,536           2,536           5,072  ..............           9,057
2018....................................................           4,088           2,602           2,602           5,204  ..............           9,292
2019....................................................           4,385           2,791           2,791           5,582  ..............           9,967
2020....................................................           1,991           1,267           1,267           2,534  ..............           4,525
2021....................................................           1,018             648             648           1,296  ..............           2,314
2022 \1\................................................  ..............  ..............  ..............  ..............          10,884          10,884
2023....................................................  ..............  ..............  ..............  ..............          12,438          12,438
2024....................................................  ..............  ..............  ..............  ..............          13,402          13,402
                                                         -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 51084]]

 
    Total, 2011-2021....................................          38,224          24,328          24,328          48,656               0          86,880
                                                         -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total, 2022-2024....................................               0               0               0               0          36,724          36,724
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The I-418 Automation test program was ended by the IFR, which became effective on February 28, 2022. As the rule was in effect for more than half of
  FY 2022, this analysis considers FY 2022 as being part of the rule and not part of the I-418 Automation test program period.
\2\ CBP assumes that one I-418 was submitted per vessel arrival. Form I-418s submitted in both electronic and paper format are only counted as one form
  submission.
\3\ Estimates may not sum due to rounding.
\4\ Source: Data pulled from ACE Reports on October 28, 2024, and estimates for full and partial test participation rates provided by CBP Office of
  Field Operations subject matter experts on February 23, 2016; November 6, 2020; and November 13, 2020.


                                         Table 2--Historical Cargo and Non-Cargo Vessel Arrivals and Departures
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                          Non-former  I-       Former I-418 automation test program         Regulatory     All cargo and
                                                          418 automation                   participants                       program        non-cargo
                                                           test program  ----------------------------------------------------------------     vessels
                                                           participants                                                                  ---------------
                       Fiscal year                                                            Vessels
                                                         ----------------  Vessels fully     partially     Test program       Vessel          Vessel
                                                              Vessel       participating   participating    participant      arrivals/       arrivals/
                                                             arrivals/        in test         in test          total        departures      departures
                                                            departures
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2011....................................................          80,426             570             570           1,140  ..............          81,566
2012....................................................          67,443           5,683           5,682          11,365  ..............          78,808
2013....................................................          65,152           5,721           5,721          11,442  ..............          76,594
2014....................................................          66,607           5,247           5,246          10,493  ..............          77,100
2015....................................................          69,034           4,555           4,554           9,109  ..............          78,143
2016....................................................          63,909           5,756           5,755          11,511  ..............          75,420
2017....................................................          62,611           5,674           5,674          11,348  ..............          73,959
2018....................................................          65,866           5,792           5,791          11,583  ..............          77,449
2019....................................................          63,893           5,744           5,743          11,487  ..............          75,380
2020....................................................          59,654           5,631           5,631          11,262  ..............          70,916
2021....................................................          61,344           4,993           4,993           9,986  ..............          71,330
2022 \1\................................................  ..............  ..............  ..............  ..............          70,183          70,183
2023....................................................  ..............  ..............  ..............  ..............          70,109          70,109
2024....................................................  ..............  ..............  ..............  ..............          71,009          71,009
                                                         -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total, 2011-2021....................................         725,939          55,366          55,360         110,726               0         836,665
                                                         -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total, 2022-2024....................................               0               0               0               0         211,471         211,471
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The I-418 Automation test program was ended by the IFR, which became effective on February 28, 2022. As the rule was in effect for more than half of
  FY 2022, this analysis considers FY 2022 as being part of the rule and not part of the I-418 Automation test program period.
\2\ CBP assumes that one I-418 was submitted per vessel arrival. Form I-418s submitted in both electronic and paper format are only counted as one form
  submission.
\3\ Estimates may not sum due to rounding.
\4\ Source: Data pulled from ACE Reports on October 28, 2024. Estimates for full and partial test participation rates from CBP Office of Field
  Operations subject matter experts on February 23, 2016; November 6, 2020; November 13, 2020, and February 17, 2023.

    From FY 2015 to FY 2019, cargo and non-cargo vessel arrivals/
departures of I-418 Automation test program participants grew at a 
compound annual rate of 6.0 percent while non-participant cargo and 
non-cargo vessel arrivals/departures declined at a compound annual rate 
of 1.9 percent (see Table 2). During the same period, participant and 
non-participant cruise ship arrivals/departures both grew at a compound 
annual rate of 2.6 percent (see Table 1). In the future, CBP projects 
that commercial vessel arrivals/departures will remain consistent with 
their more conservative historical trends prior to the COVID-19 
pandemic beginning in 2020 and ending in 2023. Accordingly, CBP 
estimates that future cargo and non-cargo vessel arrivals/departures of 
I-418 Automation test program participants will increase at a rate of 
6.0 percent per year, non-participant cargo and non-cargo vessel 
arrivals/departures will decrease at a rate of 1.9 percent per year, 
and all cruise ship arrivals/departures will increase at a rate of 2.6 
percent per year from their FY 2019 values for FY 2025 and FY 2026.\24\ 
CBP

[[Page 51085]]

believes that these projections best represent the normal, recent 
growth of commercial vessel arrivals/departures while still accounting 
for the economic and travel slowdowns due to the COVID-19 pandemic and 
subsequent recovery. CBP did not use data from FY 2020 to FY 2024 as a 
basis for future growth because these years exhibit abnormal growth 
rates (both positive and negative) in vessel arrivals/departures due to 
the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent recovery. However, CBP recognizes 
the uncertainty in this assumption and that the rate of economic 
recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic depends on many factors, including 
how quickly businesses can recover, rates of infection, and global 
supply chains. CBP does not believe that this rulemaking directly 
affects the volume of commercial vessel arrivals/departures, and thus 
predicts that the projected arrivals/departures will be the same with 
and without the implementation of this rulemaking (i.e., the pre-test 
program baseline).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \24\ Based on historical commercial vessel data and future 
commercial vessel demand outlooks. For future looking cargo and non-
cargo vessel outlook information at the time of the IFR, see United 
Nations Conf. on Trade & Dev. (UNCTAD), COVID-19 and Maritime 
Transport Impact and Responses, Transp. & Trade Facilitation, Series 
No. 15 (2021), https://unctad.org/system/files/official-document/dtltlb2021d1_en.pdf; World Bank, Global Economic Prospects, June 
2021, ch. 1, https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/bitstream/handle/10986/35647/9781464816659-ch01.pdf; Moody's Investors Service, 
Outlook for US public ports revised to stable on strengthening 
economic activity, improving cargo volumes'' (2020), http://www.moodys.com/researchdocumentcontentpage.aspx?docid=PBC_1247050; 
Friedemann Ohse. ``Will 2021 bring about recovery for the global 
maritime industry?'' OceanInsights, September 30, 2020. Available at 
https://www.ocean-insights.com/business-news/will-2021-bring-about-recovery-for-the-global-maritime-industry/?cli_action=1602257398.7141/8. For future looking cruise ship 
outlook information at the time of the IFR, see Monique Giese, 
COVID-19 Impacts on Cruise Industry, KPMG (July 23, 2020), https://home.kpmg/xx/en/blogs/home/posts/2020/07/covid-19-impacts-on-global-cruise-industry.html. (last accessed Oct. 23, 2020); Shannon 
McMahon, 5 takeaways from the cruise industry's report on a return 
to sailing, Wash. Post (Sept. 21, 2020), https://www.washingtonpost.com/travel/2020/09/21/cruise-return-report-covid-19/.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    To estimate future commercial vessel arrivals/departures with and 
without this rulemaking, CBP first applies the projected growth rates 
for cargo and non-cargo vessel arrivals/departures of I-418 Automation 
test program participants and non-participants (6.0 percent and -1.9 
percent, respectively) and cruise ship arrivals/departures (2.6 percent 
for both participants and non-participants) to their respective FY 2019 
values (see Table 1 and Table 2). CBP then projects the estimates 
forward for FY 2025 and FY 2026 while relying on historical data for 
FYs 2022 through 2024. When making such projections, CBP presumes that 
the I-418 Automation test program would have continued to exist during 
the period of analysis in the absence of any rulemaking to automate the 
Form I-418 process. In contrast, the test program transitioned into a 
regulatory program in which all commercial vessel operators participate 
in an automated I-418 process upon implementation of the IFR.
    As previously stated, CBP does not believe this rulemaking directly 
affects the volume of commercial vessel arrivals/departures, and thus 
predicts that future commercial vessel arrivals/departures will be the 
same with and without this rule's implementation (i.e., the baseline). 
As Table 3 and Table 4 show, CBP estimates that almost 416,000 
commercial vessel arrivals/departures will occur between FY 2022 and FY 
2026, including 352,000 cargo and non-cargo vessel arrivals/departures 
and 65,000 cruise ship arrivals/departures. Nearly 87,000 (21 percent) 
of these arrivals/departures correspond to former (or ongoing in the 
absence of this rule) I-418 Automation test program participants, while 
the remaining 329,000 (79 percent) would have corresponded to non-
former I-418 Automation test program participants (or non-test 
participants in the absence of this rule). Of the arrivals/departures 
of former (or ongoing) I-418 Automation test program participants, CBP 
estimates that 50 percent would have corresponded to participants who 
fully participated in the test program and the remainder would have 
corresponded to participants who only partially participated (see Table 
3 and Table 4). Under the baseline, non-I-418 Automation test program 
participants and approximately 50 percent of test program participants 
would have continued to submit paper Form I-418s with each projected 
arrival/departure, while the remaining test participants would have 
submitted only automated versions of Form I-418 with each future 
arrival/departure. Alternatively, with the rule, each arrival/departure 
results in an automated Form I-418 submission.

                                                 Table 3--Projected Cruise Ship I-418 Test Participation
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            Non-former I-418 automation          Former I-418 automation test program participants          All cruise
                                             test program participants   ----------------------------------------------------------------      ships
                                         --------------------------------                     Vessel          Vessel                     ---------------
                                                                                             arrivals/       arrivals/
               Fiscal year                   Growth in                       Growth in     departures of   departures of   Total vessel
                                              vessel          Vessel          vessel       participants    participants      arrivals/        Vessel
                                             arrivals/       arrivals/       arrivals/         fully         partially      departures       arrivals/
                                            departures      departures    departures (%)   participating   participating                    departures
                                                (%)                                           in test         in test
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2022 \1\................................  ..............           4,789  ..............           3,048           3,047           6,095          10,884
2023 \1\................................  ..............           5,473  ..............           3,483           3,482           6,965          12,438
2024 \1\................................  ..............           5,897  ..............           3,753           3,752           7,505          13,402
2025....................................             2.6           6,050             2.6           3,850           3,850           7,700          13,750
2026....................................             2.6           6,207             2.6           3,950           3,950           7,900          14,107
                                         ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total, 2022-2026....................  ..............          28,416  ..............          18,084          18,081          36,165          64,581
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Historical total arrivals/departures assuming unchanged average test participation rate from '15-'21. Projections used for '22-'24 due to a lack of
  data in those years.
\2\ Estimates may not sum to total due to rounding.


[[Page 51086]]


                                         Table 4--Projected Cargo and Non-Cargo Vessel I-418 Test Participation
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            Non-former I-418 automation          Former I-418 automation test program participants         All cargo and
                                             test program participants   ----------------------------------------------------------------    non-cargo
                                         --------------------------------                     Vessel          Vessel                          vessels
                                                                                             arrivals/       arrivals/                   ---------------
               Fiscal year                   Growth in                       Growth in     departures of   departures of   Total vessel
                                              vessel          Vessel          vessel       participants    participants      arrivals/        Vessel
                                             arrivals/       arrivals/       arrivals/         fully         partially      departures       arrivals/
                                            departures      departures    departures (%)   participating   participating                    departures
                                                (%)                                           in test         in test
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2022 \1\................................  ..............          60,357  ..............           4,913           4,913           9,826          70,183
2023 \1\................................  ..............          60,440  ..............           4,920           4,919           9,839          70,279
2024 \1\................................  ..............          61,068  ..............           4,971           4,970           9,941          71,009
2025....................................           -1.9%          59,907             6.0           5,269           5,269          10,538          70,445
2026....................................           -1.9%          58,769             6.0           5,585           5,585          11,170          69,939
                                         ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total, 2022-2026....................  ..............         300,541  ..............          25,658          25,656          51,314         351,855
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Historical total arrivals/departures assuming unchanged average test participation rate from '15-'21.
\2\ Estimates may not sum to total due to rounding.

3. Costs of I-418 Automation Test Program
    In FY 2011, CBP implemented the I-418 Automation test program 
designed to streamline the commercial vessel arrival and departure 
processes. Since its implementation, the test program has introduced 
costs and benefits (cost savings) to commercial vessel operators and 
CBP. The outcomes in the analysis of the I-418 Automation test program 
are relative to a baseline where I-418 automation did not exist, and 
the test continued in the absence of the I-418 Automation regulatory 
program. The period of analysis spans from FY 2011 to FY 2026 to 
include consideration of the test program's continuation in the absence 
of the I-418 Automation IFR. The effects of the I-418 Automation test 
program can be combined with those of the I-418 Automation regulatory 
program for a full analysis of CBP's I-418 automation efforts. CBP 
provides a combined analysis in a later section.
    Commercial vessel operators and CBP experienced costs from the I-
418 Automation test program related to an added time burden for 
processing of vessels.\25\ Additionally, CBP experienced costs related 
to the purchase and maintenance of mobile devices used in processing 
vessels electronically and printing costs.\26\ Together, the cost of 
the I-418 Automation program totals 2.2 million in present value and 
116,000 when annualized (using a 7 percent discount rate; see Table 5).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \25\ CBP recorded some vessel arrival and departure inspection 
results both on paper and electronically when using mobile devices. 
This resulted in an average of an additional 2 minutes for CBPOs to 
complete some vessels' processing.
    \26\ By requiring CBP to print out the then-required paper Form 
I-418 or signature pages generally for all participant arrivals, the 
test program essentially shifted this burden from commercial vessel 
operators to CBP.

 Table 5--Total Costs of I-418 Automation Test Program, FY 2011-FY 2026
                           [2024 U.S. dollars]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                         Total cost of
                     Fiscal year                          test program
------------------------------------------------------------------------
2011.................................................               $636
2012.................................................              2,169
2013.................................................              2,188
2014.................................................              2,074
2015.................................................            161,496
2016.................................................            974,970
2017.................................................             70,799
2018.................................................             73,624
2019.................................................             72,001
2020.................................................             68,105
2021.................................................             68,125
2022.................................................             67,662
2023.................................................             67,830
2024.................................................             68,478
2025.................................................             68,141
2026.................................................             67,853
                                                      ------------------
    Total: Undiscounted..............................          1,836,153
                                                      ------------------
        Total: Present Value, Discounted at 3 percent          2,205,411
                                                      ------------------
            Total: Annualized Value, Discounted at 3             116,076
             percent.................................
                                                      ------------------
        Total: Present Value, Discounted at 7 percent          2,826,551
                                                      ------------------
            Total: Annualized Value, Discounted at 7             116,040
             percent.................................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ All data is from the I-418 Automation test program years of
  operation.
\2\ Estimates may not sum to total due to rounding.

[[Page 51087]]

 
\3\ The estimates in this table are contingent upon the discount rates
  applied.

4. Benefits of I-418 Automation Test Program
    As previously mentioned, in place of submitting required I-418 
information on the paper Form I-418 upon arrival and departure, the I-
418 Automation test program allowed participating commercial vessel 
operators to transmit the I-418 data through existing eNOA/D and APIS 
data submissions. This automated, electronic submission process offered 
time and resource savings to commercial vessel operators who fully 
participated in the test program and submitted the data elements 
required on Form I-418 to CBP through electronic means only, which was 
only a portion of participants.
    Commercial vessel operators who fully participated in the I-418 
Automation test program saved 60 minutes (1 hour) per arrival/departure 
from not submitting paper Form I-418.\27\ Additionally, commercial 
vessel operators who fully participated in the I-418 Automation test 
program experienced printing cost savings from largely paperless 
passenger and crew list processing. Instead of requiring cargo and non-
cargo vessel operators to submit two paper copies of their Form I-418 
upon arrival/departure, a CBP officer processed the arrivals/departures 
of these participants using a copy of the generated form that the 
officer printed. After processing, the CBP officer asked the commercial 
vessel operator to make a copy of the signed, stamped, and annotated 
paper Form I-418 for use during further coastwise travel or departure. 
Commercial vessel operators and CBP typically incurred a negligible 
time cost from this request for a copy of the Form I-418.\28\ CBP 
officers at participating POEs generally processed the vessel arrivals/
departures of cruise ship operators who fully participated in the I-418 
Automation test program using the electronic Form I-418 data in the 
appropriate CBP systems and the two signature pages of the form that 
they printed.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \27\ CBP, Supporting Statement for Paperwork Reduction Act 
Submission OMB Number 1651-0103: Passenger List, Crew List (Form I-
418) (2020), https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAViewDocument?ref_nbr=202004-1651-001.
    \28\ Information provided by CBP Office of Field Operations 
subject matter experts on May 15, 2024.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Under this process, cargo and non-cargo commercial vessel operators 
fully participating in the test program were able to forgo submitting 
an average of three pages constituting one copy of their Form I-418 per 
arrival/departure.\29\ With typically lengthier paper Form I-418 
submissions, the I-418 Automation test program allowed participating 
cruise ship operators to forgo submitting an average of 600 pages 
constituting their Form I-418 package and copies per arrival/
departure.\30\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \29\ Average 3-page length of Form I-418 submitted by cargo or 
non-cargo commercial vessel operator x 1 Form I-418 copy no longer 
submitted to CBP = 3 Form I-418 pages no longer submitted per cargo 
and non-cargo vessel arrival/departure. As previously mentioned, an 
unknown number of cargo and non-cargo vessels arriving/departing at 
some POEs may have provided additional copies of the Form I-418 to 
CBP during each arrival/departure, meaning that their number of Form 
I-418 pages forgone would be more than three. Information provided 
by CBP Office of Field Operations subject matter experts on December 
16, 2016 and November 18, 2020.
    \30\ Average 300-page length of Form I-418 submitted by cruise 
ship operator x 2 Form I-418 copies no longer submitted to CBP = 600 
Form I-418 pages no longer submitted per cruise ship arrival/
departure. As previously mentioned, an unknown number of cruise 
ships arriving/departing at some POEs may have provided additional 
copies of the Form I-418 to CBP during each arrival/departure, 
meaning that their number of Form I-418 pages forgone would be more 
than 600. Some cruise ship operators may have provided just two 
copies of the two signature pages of the Form I-418 and/or a 
manifest CD, though the number of these submissions is unknown. 
Information provided by CBP Office of Field Operations subject 
matter experts on November 12, 2020, and November 18, 2020.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    CBP experienced time savings from processing cargo and non-cargo 
vessel arrivals with mobile devices. As previously mentioned, CBP began 
using mobile devices in FY 2015 to process some cargo and non-cargo 
vessel arrivals/departures remotely. During arrival/departure 
processing with mobile devices, CBP officers directly recorded the 
inspection results and related actions into the appropriate CBP systems 
at the time of the vessel, crew, and passenger inspections and 
processing. CBP officers also continued to record cargo and non-cargo 
vessel arrival/departure inspection results on paper to meet the 
regulatory guidelines in place regarding the submission and retention 
of paper Form I-418s. By recording the inspection results in real time 
electronically with mobile devices, CBP officers did not need to 
perform such manual data input later at the port office during post-
inspection processing.
    The total cost savings of the I-418 Automation test program would 
equal 16.7 million in present value and 685,000 on an annualized basis 
from FY 2011 to FY 2026 (using a 7 percent discount rate; see Table 6). 
To the extent that commercial vessel operators and CBP experienced 
other savings from the I-418 Automation test program not captured, the 
benefits of the test program would differ.

 Table 6--Total Benefit (Cost Savings) of I-418 Automation Test Program,
                             FY 2011-FY 2026
                           [2024 U.S. dollars]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                       Total benefit  of
                     Fiscal year                         test  program
------------------------------------------------------------------------
2011.................................................           $243,339
2012.................................................            549,862
2013.................................................            555,378
2014.................................................            539,690
2015.................................................            596,784
2016.................................................            847,008
2017.................................................            843,928
2018.................................................            869,928
2019.................................................            876,335
2020.................................................            715,955
2021.................................................            623,597
2022.................................................            830,187
2023.................................................            870,073
2024.................................................            900,106

[[Page 51088]]

 
2025.................................................            924,623
2026.................................................            950,690
                                                      ------------------
    Total: Undiscounted..............................         11,737,482
                                                      ------------------
        Total: Present Value, Discounted at 3 percent         13,537,672
                                                      ------------------
            Total: Annualized Value, Discounted at 3             712,517
             percent.................................
                                                      ------------------
        Total: Present Value, Discounted at 7 percent         16,676,191
                                                      ------------------
            Total: Annualized Value, Discounted at 7             684,615
             percent.................................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ All data are from I-418 Automation test program years of operation.
\2\ Estimates may not sum to total due to rounding.
\3\ The estimates in this table are contingent upon the discount rates
  applied.

5. Net Benefit of I-418 Automation Test Program
    Table 7 summarizes the discounted, monetized costs and benefits 
(cost savings) of the I-418 Automation test program. As shown, the 
total present value net benefit (net cost saving) of the test is $13.8 
million, while its annualized net benefit (net cost saving) totals 
$569,000 from FY 2011 to FY 2026 (using a 7 percent discount rate).

              Table 7--Net Benefit (Cost Saving) of I-418 Automation Test Program, FY 2011-FY 2026
                                               [2024 U.S. dollars]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                         3% Discount rate                7% Discount rate
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                    Annualized                      Annualized
                                                  Present values      values      Present values      values
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Cost......................................      $2,205,411        $116,076      $2,826,551        $116,040
Total Benefit...................................      13,537,672         712,517      16,676,191         684,615
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Total Net Benefit...........................      11,332,261         596,441      13,849,640         568,575
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Estimates may not sum to total due to rounding.
\2\ The estimates in this table are contingent upon CBP's vessel arrival/departure projections as well as the
  discount rates applied.

6. Costs of I-418 Automation Rulemaking
    This rulemaking automated the Form I-418 process for all commercial 
vessel operators and eliminated the regulatory guidelines in place 
regarding the retention of paper Form I-418s. These changes did not 
introduce costs to commercial vessel operators. If commercial vessel 
operators request a copy of their annotated electronic Form I-418, 
which they received by paper after CBP processing, they will incur 
negligible costs to do so.\31\ Based on experience with the I-418 
Automation test and regulatory programs, CBP believes only a minimal 
number of commercial vessel operators will request such copies over the 
period of analysis because they already have access to the information 
on the form.\32\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \31\ Information provided by CBP Office of Field Operations 
subject matter experts on November 24, 2020.
    \32\ Information provided by CBP Office of Field Operations 
subject matter experts on May 16, 2024.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

7. Benefits (Cost Savings) of I-418 Automation Rulemaking
    The I-418 Automation regulatory program provided benefits (cost 
savings) in the form of time to commercial vessel operators not 
participating and partially participating in the I-418 Automation test 
program. Commercial vessel operators fully participating in the I-418 
Automation test program did not experience added benefits as a result 
of this rulemaking but continue to experience the benefits they 
experienced during the test program. Their experience is fully 
accounted for in the analysis of the test program so are not included 
in the analysis of the effects of the rule.
    As a result of this rulemaking, vessel operators enjoy cost savings 
from forgone paper Form I-418 submissions, form printing, and duplicate 
processing. These cost savings will total $24.5 million in present 
value from FY 2022 to FY 2026 (using a 7 percent discount rate). During 
the same period, CBP will experience an overall present value cost 
saving of $59.4 million from the rule's avoided printing, streamlined 
mobile and post-inspection processing, and electronic recordkeeping 
(using a 7 percent discount rate). CBP may dedicate some of these 
savings to other agency mission areas, such as improving border 
security or facilitating trade. Altogether, the total cost saving of 
this rulemaking over the period of analysis will measure $84.0 million 
in present value and $16.7 million when annualized, as Table 8 shows 
(using a 7 percent discount rate). To the extent that commercial vessel 
operators and CBP enjoy other savings from the I-418 Automation 
regulatory program not captured, the benefits of this rulemaking would 
differ.

[[Page 51089]]



   Table 8--Total Benefit (Cost Saving) of I-418 Automation Regulatory
                         Program FY 2022-FY 2026
                           [2024 U.S. dollars]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                        Total benefit of
                     Fiscal year                           regulatory
                                                            program
------------------------------------------------------------------------
2022.................................................        $16,530,040
2023.................................................         16,703,200
2024.................................................         16,958,165
2025.................................................         16,788,695
2026.................................................         16,629,536
                                                      ------------------
    Total: Undiscounted..............................         83,609,636
                                                      ------------------
        Total: Present Value, Discounted at 3 percent         83,673,816
                                                      ------------------
            Total: Annualized Value, Discounted at 3          16,720,151
             percent.................................
                                                      ------------------
        Total: Present Value, Discounted at 7 percent         83,971,081
                                                      ------------------
            Total: Annualized Value, Discounted at 7          16,717,589
             percent.................................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Estimates may not sum to total due to rounding.
\2\ The estimates in this table are contingent upon CBP's vessel arrival/
  departure projections as well as the discount rates applied.

8. Net Impact of I-418 Automation Regulatory Rulemaking
    Table 9 outlines the monetized costs and benefits (cost savings) of 
the I-418 Automation regulatory program from FY 2022 to FY 2026. As 
illustrated, the benefits (cost savings) of this rulemaking outweigh 
its costs, with the total monetized net benefit (net cost saving) of 
the regulatory program measuring $84.0 million in present value and 
$16.7 million on an annualized basis (using a 7 percent discount rate).

           Table 9--Net Benefit (Cost Saving) of I-418 Automation Regulatory Program, FY 2022-FY 2026
                                               [2024 U.S. dollars]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                         3% Discount rate                7% Discount rate
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                    Annualized                      Annualized
                                                  Present values      values      Present values      values
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Cost......................................              $0              $0              $0              $0
Total Benefit...................................      83,673,816      16,720,151      83,971,081      16,717,589
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Total Net Benefit...........................      83,673,816      16,720,151      83,971,081      16,717,589
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notes: The estimates in this table are contingent upon CBP's vessel arrival/departure projections as well as the
  discount rates applied.
Estimates may not sum to total due to rounding.

9. Combined Net Benefits of I-418 Automation Test and Regulatory 
Programs
    In FY 2011, CBP implemented the I-418 Automation test program 
designed to streamline the commercial vessel arrival and departure 
processes. Since its implementation, the test program has introduced 
costs and benefits (cost savings) to commercial vessel operators and 
CBP. Based on the success of the I-418 Automation test program, CBP 
formalized the test program by establishing the I-418 Automation 
regulatory program through the Automation of CBP Form I-418 for Vessels 
Interim Final Rule, which is made final by this Final Rule. Like the 
test program, the I-418 Automation regulatory program affects both 
commercial vessel operators and CBP.
    To give the public a full understanding of the impacts of the I-418 
Automation test and regulatory program, CBP provides the following 
analysis which combines the effects of the I-418 Automation test and 
regulatory programs. The outcomes in this analysis are relative to a 
baseline scenario absent the I-418 Automation test and regulatory 
programs. This analysis relies upon the information earlier in the 
report and does not go into detail with the individual effects. The 
period of analysis is from FY 2011 to FY 2026.
    The combined net benefits from FY 2011 to FY 2026 of the I-418 
Automation test and regulatory programs to commercial vessel operators 
and CBP are $97.8 million in present value and $4.0 million annually 
(using a 7 percent discount rate) and are shown in Table 10.

[[Page 51090]]



                 Table 10--Combined Net Benefit of I-418 Automation Test and Regulatory Programs
                                               [2024 U.S. dollars]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                         3% Discount rate                7% Discount rate
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                    Annualized                      Annualized
                                                  Present values      values      Present values      values
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Cost......................................      $2,205,411        $116,076      $2,826,551        $116,040
Total Benefit...................................      97,211,489       5,116,450     100,647,273       4,131,915
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Total Net Benefit...........................      95,006,078       5,000,374      97,820,722       4,015,875
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Estimates may not sum to total due to rounding.
\2\ The estimates in this table are contingent upon CBP's vessel arrival/departure projections as well as the
  discount rates applied.

10. Summary
    In accordance with the Office of Management and Budget's Circular 
A-4 requirements, Accounting Statement 1 outlines the annualized costs 
and benefits (including cost savings) of this rulemaking while 
Accounting Statement 2 outlines the combined annualized costs and 
benefits (including cost savings) of the regulatory program and test 
program. CBP estimates that the projected monetized impacts of this 
rulemaking on commercial vessel operators, which represent both U.S. 
and foreign entities, is $4.9 million in annualized, monetized cost 
savings (using a 7 percent discount rate). CBP will experience $11.8 
million in annualized, monetized cost savings from this rulemaking 
between FY 2022 and FY 2026 (using a 7 percent discount rate). In 
total, the annualized, monetized cost saving will equal $16.7 million.

   Accounting Statement 1--Classification of Expenditures of the I-418
             Automation Regulatory Program, FY 2022-FY 2026
                           [2024 U.S. dollars]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            3% Discount     7% Discount
                                               rate            rate
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Cost:
    Annualized, Monetized...............              $0              $0
    Annualized, Non-Monetized, but        ..............  ..............
     Quantified.........................
    Non-Monetized, Non-Quantified.......  ..............  ..............
Total Benefit:
    Annualized, Monetized...............      16,720,151      16,717,589
    Annualized, Non-Monetized, but        ..............  ..............
     Quantified.........................
    Non-Monetized, Non-Quantified.......  ..............  ..............
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: The cost and benefit estimates in this table are contingent upon
  CBP expectations of future vessel arrivals and the discount rates
  applied for monetized values.

    For informational purposes, CBP presents Accounting Statement 2 
below which summarizes the combined impact of the I-418 Automation test 
and regulatory program on commercial vessel operators, which represent 
both U.S. and foreign entities, and CBP. Commercial vessel operators 
and CBP will experience $4.1 million in annualized, monetized cost 
savings between FY 2022 and FY 2026 (using a 7 percent discount rate). 
The I-418 Automation test and regulatory programs will also generate 
$116,000 in annualized, monetized costs (using a 7 percent discount 
rate).

   Accounting Statement 2--Classification of Expenditures of the I-418
        Automation Test and Regulatory Programs, FY 2011-FY 2026
                           [2024 U.S. dollars]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            3% Discount     7% Discount
                                               rate            rate
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Cost:
    Annualized, Monetized...............        $116,076        $116,040
    Annualized, Non-Monetized, but        ..............  ..............
     Quantified.........................
    Non-Monetized, Non-Quantified.......  ..............  ..............
Total Benefit:
    Annualized, Monetized...............       5,116,450       4,131,915
    Annualized, Non-Monetized, but        ..............  ..............
     Quantified.........................
    Non-Monetized, Non-Quantified.......  ..............  ..............
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: The cost and benefit estimates in this table are contingent upon
  CBP expectations of future vessel arrivals and the discount rates
  applied for monetized values.


[[Page 51091]]

    In summary, the findings in this analysis demonstrate that the 
Automation of CBP Form I-418 for Vessels Rulemaking provides an overall 
net benefit (cost saving) to commercial vessel operators and CBP.

B. Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.), as amended 
by the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996, 
requires an agency to prepare and make available to the public a 
regulatory flexibility analysis that describes the effect of a proposed 
rule on small entities (i.e., small businesses, small organizations, 
and small governmental jurisdictions) when the agency is required to 
publish a general notice of proposed rulemaking for a rule. Since a 
general notice of proposed rulemaking was not necessary for this rule, 
CBP is not required to prepare a regulatory flexibility analysis for 
this rule.

C. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995

    This rule will not result in the expenditure by State, local, and 
tribal governments, in the aggregate, or by the private sector, of $100 
million or more in any one year, and it will not significantly or 
uniquely affect small governments. Therefore, no actions were deemed 
necessary under the provisions of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 
1995.

D. Executive Order 13132

    This rule will not have substantial direct effects on the States, 
on the relationship between the National Government and the States, or 
on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the various 
levels of government. Therefore, in accordance with section 6 of 
Executive Order 13132, DHS has determined that this final rule does not 
have sufficient federalism implications to warrant the preparation of a 
federalism summary impact statement.

E. Paperwork Reduction Act

    In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 
3507), an agency may not conduct, and a person is not required to 
respond to, a collection of information unless the collection of 
information displays a valid control number assigned by OMB. The Form 
I-418 information collected under 8 CFR 251.1 and 251.3 was included 
under OMB control number 1651-0103. As a result of the Automation of 
CBP Form I-418 for Vessels rulemaking, CBP systems automatically 
reconcile eNOA/D, APIS, and any other manifest data submitted 
electronically by commercial vessel operators prior to arrival and at 
departure to create an electronic version of Form I-418. CBP uses the 
automated, electronic Form I-418 for all commercial vessel crew and 
passenger admissibility inspections and processing, and thus generally 
establishes a completely paperless Form I-418 process for all 
commercial vessel arrivals and departures. CBP retains the paper Form 
I-418 and conducts paper Form I-418 processing only when the master or 
agent of the vessel is unable to electronically submit the data 
elements required on Form I-418 via an EDI approved by CBP due to 
technical issues, such as when the onboard computer system is 
malfunctioning or there is no internet access, and there is no shore-
side support available; CBP is experiencing technical difficulties 
affecting its receipt or processing of electronically submitted 
information; or where CBP, in its discretion, determines that a paper 
Form I-418 is acceptable under the circumstances presented by the 
master or agent of a vessel. CBP conducts such processing to not 
hinder, stop, or otherwise penalize maritime traffic. CBP has 
discontinued the information collection covered by OMB control number 
1651-0103 because this information collection was duplicative.

F. Privacy Interests

    DHS will ensure that all Privacy Act requirements and policies are 
adhered to in the implementation of this rule and will issue or update 
any necessary Privacy Impact Assessment and/or Privacy Act System of 
Records notice to fully outline processes that will ensure compliance 
with Privacy Act protections.

List of Subjects

8 CFR Part 251

    Air carriers, Airmen, Aliens, Maritime carriers, Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements, Seamen.

8 CFR Part 258

    Aliens, Longshore and harbor workers, Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements, Seamen.

19 CFR Part 4

    Exports, Freight, Harbors, Maritime carriers, Oil pollution, 
Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Vessels.

TITLE 8--ALIENS AND NATIONALITY

PART 251--ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE MANIFESTS AND LISTS: SUPPORTING 
DOCUMENTS

PART 258--LIMITATIONS ON PERFORMANCE OF LONGSHORE WORK BY ALIEN 
CREWMEN

TITLE 19--CUSTOMS DUTIES

PART 4--VESSELS IN FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC TRADES

    Accordingly, the interim final rule amending 8 CFR parts 251 and 
258, and 19 CFR part 4, which was published at 86 FR 73618 on December 
28, 2021, is adopted as final without change.

Kristi Noem,
Secretary of Homeland Security.
[FR Doc. 2025-19983 Filed 11-14-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9111-14-P