19 CFR 103.31(d)
Keep your company name out of public vessel manifest data
CBP releases vessel manifest data to the public, and data vendors sell it. An importer, consignee or shipper can ask CBP to keep its name and address confidential. Allied files the request as your agent and tracks the renewal date.
- Our fee
- $150
- For a two-year filing
- CBP fee
- None
- Valid
- 2 years
- All U.S. ports of entry
- Covers
- Vessel manifests
- Ocean shipments only
What manifest data does CBP release?
CBP also sells the daily data from its Automated Manifest System. Data vendors buy it and sell search tools. With them, anyone can see who ships to your company, what you buy and how often.
When CBP grants confidentiality, it leaves the protected names and addresses out of that data (19 CFR 103.31(e)).
| Data element | With confidentiality |
|---|---|
| Consignee name and address | Removed |
| Notify party name and address | Removed |
| Shipper name and address | Removed on inward manifests if you also ask to protect your shippers |
| Bill of lading number, carrier, vessel, voyage and ports | Still released |
| Quantity, weight, container and seal numbers, description of goods | Still released |
Who can ask for confidentiality?
Importer or consignee
Its own name and address on inward manifests, with marks and numbers that show them. It can also protect the names and addresses of all its shippers (19 CFR 103.31(d)(1)).Shipper (exporter)
Its own name and address on outward manifests (19 CFR 103.31(d)(2)).An authorized agent
The regulation lets an authorized employee, attorney or official file. The CBP online application accepts a duly authorized broker or attorney as agent.
What goes into the request?
- The requester's name, email and address, and the relationship to the company: the company itself, or its agent.
- The company name, exactly as carriers and filers enter it in ACE.
- Each name variation that your shippers or carriers use, for example with and without "Inc.", or a former name.
- The company's IRS employer identification number (EIN), if available, and its U.S. mailing address.
- The manifest type: import, export or both. For imports, say if the names of your shippers must be protected too.
You do not have to show that disclosure would harm your competitive position (19 CFR 103.31(d)(1)(ii)).
The name must match ACE exactly
Confidentiality works only when the name matches the consignee name that the carrier or filer enters in ACE. CBP enters each name exactly as you give it. Do not use accents or other marks above letters. Each name or variation can have 35 characters at most.
How long does it last?
CBP grants confidentiality for two years, and the grant covers all U.S. ports of entry. The CBP acknowledgment shows the date it takes effect.
Renew before it expires. The regulation says to send the renewal at least 60 days before the expiry date. The CBP page says 60 to 90 days before. We contact you 90 days before.
CBP says its online application can process a request in as little as 24 hours. Before CBP automated the process in 2020, mail and email requests typically took 60 to 90 days.
Does it cover air, truck or rail shipments?
What does confidentiality not do?
- CBP states that it cannot guarantee that names will never be published. It protects names as far as its computer programs allow.
- A name that does not match the name in ACE is not protected, for example a shipper's misspelling. List each variation.
- Protection starts on the effective date in the CBP acknowledgment. It does not reach data released before that date.
- The shipment details stay public: vessel, ports, weight, container and the description of the goods.
- It covers vessel manifests only.
How does Allied file it?
- You
Send your company details
Legal name, trade names, former names and U.S. address. Tell us if you import, export or both. We ask for the EIN securely.
- You
Authorize Allied
Authorize Allied in writing to request confidentiality for your company as your agent.
- Allied
Check the names
We compare your names with your bills of lading and entry records, and add the variations that carriers use. We remove accents and keep each name to 35 characters.
- Allied
File with CBP
We file through the CBP Vessel Manifest Confidentiality online application, as your agent.
- Allied
Send the CBP acknowledgment
You get the CBP acknowledgment with the effective date, and the date the two years end.
- Allied
Track the renewal
We record the expiry date and contact you 90 days before it, so that the renewal goes in on time.
Request: Vessel manifest confidentiality filing
$150 for a two-year filing
Manifest confidentiality: common questions
Does CBP charge a fee for manifest confidentiality?
No. CBP charges no fee. Our $150 covers the name check, the filing as your agent, the CBP acknowledgment and the renewal reminder for the two years.
Can I file the request myself?
Yes. The importer, consignee or shipper can file through the CBP online application, or by email to vesselmanifestconfidentiality@cbp.dhs.gov. We file as your agent if you prefer that we do the work and track the renewal.
Do I have to prove that publication harms my business?
No. The regulation says that you do not have to show that disclosure would harm your competitive position (19 CFR 103.31(d)(1)(ii)).
Can I hide the names of my suppliers?
Yes, on inward manifests. An importer or consignee can ask for confidential treatment of the names and addresses of all its shippers (19 CFR 103.31(d)(1)).
Does it cover air, truck or rail shipments?
No. The regulation and the CBP program cover vessel manifests. The CBP page offers the request to parties that use ocean transportation. It offers no request for air, truck or rail manifests.
When does protection start, and how long does it last?
It starts on the effective date in the CBP acknowledgment. It lasts two years and covers all U.S. ports of entry. CBP says its online application can process a request in as little as 24 hours.
What if our group has several companies?
Each company goes into the request as its own entity, with its own name variations. The $150 covers one company. Ask us for a quote for a group.
Keep your supplier list private
Call (908) 291-8001 or email info@alliedchb.com
Last reviewed September 26, 2026. This page explains customs rules in general terms. It is not legal advice. Duty rates and CBP procedures change often, and we confirm the figures for your shipment in writing before you commit.