On November 29, 2018, US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) published in the Federal Register a final rule (technical amendment) [CBP Dec. 18–12] amends the CBP regulations to update provisions relating to the declaration, entry and dutiable status of repair expenditures made abroad for certain vessels to reflect the port of New Orleans, Louisiana as the only Vessel Repair Unit (VRU) location. The amendment will improve the efficiency of vessel repair entry processing, ensure the proper assessment and collection of duties, and make the regulations more transparent.
