AMS Ocean is a module of the Automated Manifest System (AMS) that is used by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency to track the movement of vessels and cargo in the international trade system. AMS Ocean is used to transmit electronic data to the CBP on incoming and outgoing vessel manifests, container status messages, and other information related to the movement of cargo by ocean carrier.

The Manifest Documentation required for AMS Ocean includes electronic data on the vessel, the voyage, the cargo, and the parties involved in the shipment. This may include information such as the vessel name and voyage number, the port of loading and discharge, the shipper and consignee, the nature and quantity of the cargo, and other details.

To use AMS Ocean, an import business or its agent must be registered with the CBP and must have a valid Customs bond on file. In addition, the import business or its agent must have the necessary systems and processes in place to transmit electronic data to the CBP in accordance with the AMS requirements. AMS Ocean data must be transmitted to the CBP prior to the arrival of the vessel at the U.S. port of arrival or the departure of the vessel from a U.S. port.