This document, as a primary focus, amends the Customs Regulations regarding the boarding of vessels arriving in ports of the United States. These amendments are made to implement amendments to the underlying statutory authority enacted as part of the Customs Modernization Act, as well as to reflect policy determinations necessitated as a result of those amendments. To this same end, certain general amendments are made to the regulations concerning vessel entry and clearance as well as the issuance of permits to lade and unlade merchandise.