ISF 10+2 for Indonesian Seafood: A First-Time Importer Guide

A practical, bookmarkable walkthrough to file ISF 10+2 correctly for Indonesian seafood. We cover the exact data elements, who files, feeder vs mother vessel deadlines via Singapore/Port Klang, FCL vs LCL stuffing locations, amending after a roll, and how to avoid $5,000 penalties.

If you’re importing Indonesian seafood to the U.S. for the first time, ISF 10+2 can feel like an unnecessary hurdle. We get it. We’ve moved thousands of tons of grouper, tuna, snapper and shrimp through Singapore and Port Klang with zero ISF penalties by following the same playbook you’ll read below. It’s simple, repeatable and friendly to reefer timelines.

The three pillars of a clean ISF 10+2 (especially for reefer)

1. Ownership of the filing. ISF is the importer’s responsibility regardless of Incoterms. You can appoint a customs broker or NVOCC to file, but you own the outcome. Have one accountable filer and a backup.
2. Complete, verifiable data. The 10 importer data elements must be accurate enough for CBP risk screening. Use the 6-digit HTS at minimum and the actual stuffing location. Don’t guess.
3. Deadline discipline. The ISF must be accepted by CBP at least 24 hours before lading on the mother vessel bound to the U.S. For transshipments, that usually means Singapore or Port Klang, not the Indonesian feeder.

Here’s the thing. Reefer cargo adds operational pressure. Cutoffs are tight, and a late or inaccurate ISF can trigger a $5,000 penalty and holds that ruin shelf life. We recommend filing early with best-available data, then amending once the final bill of lading and transshipment details are confirmed.

What exactly do I have to file? The 10 + 2, clarified

Your filer submits 10 importer elements. The ocean carrier submits the “+2” (vessel stow plan and container status messages). You focus on these 10:

• Seller
• Buyer
• Importer of record number (IRS/FEIN) and Consignee number(s)
• Manufacturer or supplier
• Ship-to party
• Country of origin
• HTSUS number (at least 6 digits)
• Container stuffing location
• Consolidator (stuffer)

Actionable tip: For seafood, we see two avoidable mistakes. Importers listing the fishing vessel as the manufacturer, and putting the port CFS as the stuffing location for a factory-loaded FCL. Both get flagged.

Do reefer seafood shipments have different ISF rules than dry cargo?

No. The legal requirements are identical. What changes is operational risk. Reefer holds mean power plug fees, higher demurrage, and temperature exposure. File early, confirm the mother vessel, and keep the bond valid. We also pre-stage the ISF data for recurring SKUs like Yellowfin Saku (Sushi Grade) or Grouper Fillet (IQF) so the only last-mile variable is the bill of lading.

Who counts as the “manufacturer” if multiple vessels supply one processor?

Use the Indonesian processor/exporter who packs and labels the finished goods. In our sector, the processor is the “manufacturer/supplier” for ISF. Fishing vessels feed raw material, but CBP wants the entity that produced the imported article. Example: PT FoodHub Collective Indonesia, full factory address in Indonesia. This also aligns with how we ship finished items like Red Snapper Portion (WGGS / Fillet) and Frozen Shrimp.

What’s the stuffing location for FCL vs LCL in Jakarta or Surabaya?

• FCL factory loads. The stuffing location is the physical factory or 3PL where the container is loaded and sealed. If we load your Grouper WGGS (Whole Cleaned) at our facility, that factory address is your stuffing location.
• LCL consolidations. The stuffing location is the CFS warehouse where cargo is consolidated into the container. Your forwarder provides the exact CFS name and address in Jakarta (Tanjung Priok area) or Surabaya (Tanjung Perak). Use that, not the factory.

Is the ISF deadline tied to the feeder from Indonesia or the mother vessel from Singapore/Port Klang?

The mother vessel. CBP’s deadline is 24 hours before the cargo is loaded on the vessel destined for the U.S. For transshipments, that’s almost always the mother vessel at Singapore or Port Klang. We still aim to file before the feeder departs because forwarders occasionally advance or roll connections and you want time to amend.

Documents and data to collect from your supplier and forwarder

From your Indonesian supplier/processor:

• Legal name and full factory address (manufacturer/supplier)
• Commercial invoice and packing list
• Country of origin confirmation and product description
• HTS code at 6 digits per item (e.g., 0303.75 for tuna loins, 0306.17 for shrimp). You’ll refine to 10 digits at entry, but 6 is enough for ISF.
• Planned stuffing location and date (factory or CFS)

From your forwarder/NVOCC:

• House and master bill of lading numbers (you need the lowest-level bill)
• Consolidator/stuffer name and address (for LCL), or confirmation of factory load (for FCL)
• Transshipment port and intended mother vessel ETD

ISF data elements example for tuna loins

• Manufacturer/Supplier: PT FoodHub Collective Indonesia, [full factory address]
• HTS 6-digit: 0303.75 (tunas, frozen, excluding fillets and other meat)
• Country of origin: Indonesia
• Ship-to party: Your U.S. cold storage or 3PL receiving address
• Container stuffing location: Factory address if FCL. Named CFS address if LCL
• Consolidator: Forwarder’s CFS entity if LCL. For FCL, list the entity that physically stuffed the container
• B/L: House B/L number from your NVOCC

Who files, bonds and authority to act

Can my customs broker or NVOCC file ISF 10+2 without a POA?

They need authority. A U.S. customs broker files in ACE and needs your importer POA and an ISF bond. An NVOCC can file as agent, but in practice they’ll still require written authorization because you’re liable for penalties. Don’t skip this step.

ISF bond vs continuous bond for seafood importers

• Single ISF bond. Sensible for one-off shipments. Typical broker pass-through costs are modest per filing.
• Continuous bond. Cost-effective if you import regularly and want one bond to cover ISF and entries for 12 months. We see many seafood importers choose a continuous bond to avoid lapses between containers.

Tip: File your ISF as soon as you have the house B/L number and core data. Waiting for final grades or exact weights is a common delay that doesn’t help the filing.

Timeline we actually use for transshipment via Singapore/Port Klang

• T-10 to T-7 days. Collect manufacturer address, 6-digit HTS, country of origin, ship-to, and expected stuffing location/date. Ask your forwarder for a provisional house B/L number and the planned mother vessel.
• T-5 to T-4 days. Confirm house B/L and CFS details for LCL. For FCL, confirm factory stuffing appointment.
• T-3 days. File ISF with best-available data. Yes, it’s okay to file before weights are final. You can amend.
• T-2 to T-1 days. Verify mother vessel ETD from Singapore/Port Klang. If the container rolls to a different mother vessel, amend the ISF. You must be accepted 24 hours before the new lading.

If your situation isn’t textbook or you’re juggling multiple SKUs like Mahi Mahi Fillet and Pinjalo Fillet (IQF) across FCL and LCL, we can help map a filing checklist to your flow. Need a second set of eyes on your first filing? Contact us on whatsapp.

Rolls, amendments and LCL wrinkles

What happens if my container rolls and I already filed ISF?

Amend it. Update the bill of lading number if it changes, and confirm the new mother vessel connection. If you amend before the new lading, you’re typically fine. If you do nothing and the original data no longer matches, you’re risking a late/invalid ISF penalty.

ISF for LCL seafood from Jakarta

You need the CFS name/address as the stuffing location and the consolidator’s legal name. Push your forwarder for these early. LCL is the number one reason we see last-minute filings because the CFS details surface late in the game.

Under FOB or CIF, who is responsible and how do I get consolidator details?

• Responsibility. Always the U.S. importer for ISF. Incoterms don’t transfer this obligation.
• Getting the data. Under FOB, your nominated forwarder must provide the consolidator/stuffer and B/L early. Under CIF, insist your supplier introduces their forwarder to you at booking so you can pull the house B/L and CFS details directly.

Five mistakes that trigger $5,000 penalties and how to avoid them

1. Filing to the feeder deadline instead of the mother vessel. Clarify the transshipment plan and add 24 hours buffer.
2. Listing the fishing vessel as manufacturer. Use the Indonesian processor/exporter address.
3. Wrong stuffing location for FCL. If we load your Grouper Wing (Portion Cut, IQF) at our plant, that factory is the stuffing location.
4. Waiting for final weights or labels. File with best-available data and amend. CBP allows updates.
5. Not amending after a roll. Monitor EDI from your forwarder and update B/L and vessel details promptly.

Quick answers to frequent asks

• ISF deadline. 24 hours before loading on the mother vessel bound for the U.S.
• HTS requirement. 6-digit per product line is acceptable at ISF. You’ll classify to 10 digits at entry.
• Bill of lading level. Use the lowest-level bill, typically the house B/L from your NVOCC.
• Difference between ISF and Customs Entry. ISF is pre-loading security data. Entry is post-arrival clearance with duty, FDA and other requirements. Separate processes, different timelines.
• Reefer container ISF. Same rulebook as dry. Higher operational stakes. File early and keep a clean amendment trail.

Resources and next steps

If you’re building out a repeatable program, standardize your ISF data by SKU and by load type. We maintain templates for common Indonesian items like Kingfish Fillet (Portion Cut / IQF) and Red Snapper (Snapper Bites) so importers can file within minutes once the house B/L drops. Browse our range if you want consistent specs that simplify 6-digit HTS mapping. View our products. Questions about a live booking or a rolled container that needs an amendment plan today? Contact us on email and we’ll share the exact checklist we use to keep reefer cargo moving.

The reality is simple. If you own the filing, get the data early, and align your deadline to the mother vessel, ISF 10+2 stops being a risk and starts being just another line on your SOP. That’s how we keep Indonesian seafood moving on time, at quality, week after week.