A few Step Stones of Sea Freight Clearance Procedure

Transportation of cargo and shipment through sea freight services plays an important role for businesses which involve long distance deliveries mostly under the category of export and imports. Every country follows some procedure when allowing cargoes to use their sea ports for this purpose which vary accordingly; although in this blog we have tried to mention some general and pre-requisite step stones which are followed by all means in every country with some region specific modifications.

Customs Clearance of export

A custom clearance agent is an important loop of this custom clearance process which is required by the authorities of the country from the shipment is being dispatched. A custom broker who also has to hold a broker license is required to prepare and submit some detailed declaration documentation in regard to the cargo along with the supporting documents for example export licenses. Although the supporting documents vary from one country to other country but forwarder agent is bound to keep you informed of the exact documentation required by the respective country’s law.

The process of handling and taking responsibility of the entire transfer of cargo from the exporter to the importer is an agreement between the two. It is all stipulated in the agreement between both parties for about who is in charge and responsible for custom clearance. For clearance of export customs, normally it will be the exporter who would either appoint a house broker or a forwarder who has been selected for international transportation. 

In case where the importer has to arrange for the clearance of customs, normally he would request the forwarder for the task unless the importer has strong contacts in the market origin to the job done without much hassle.

Handling of origin

Handling of origin encapsulates numerous activities which are carried out by the forwarder or his appointed agent. The process begins where the cargo receiving starts with unloading it from the truck and placed in an assembling area where it is checked and numbered. Validation of cargo is cross checked against the booking details and the forwarder issues a cargo receipt to the exporter confirming and documenting that the cargo has been set received for shipping purpose..

LCL container origin handling

All the shipment will be put together in a batch in the warehouse of origin for consolidation along with other shipments which are loaded with all the batch of containers for the same destination port.

The cargo shipment is then loaded into container of the shipping line and then transported to the port, all this happens a few days before the vessel leaves for shipment delivery. The container is then loaded after being stacked altogether to load on the same vessel or ship.

For international shipping it is the forwarder who is contracted and is held responsible for undertaking the origin handling. It is between the forwarder and the consignee, either of them can make the payment of origin handling depending on their agreement. See top six trek in nepal.

When the shipment is sold on any of these modes as of free on board or on cost and freight or on delivery duty unpaid would be all normally in shippers account for origin handling. Origin handling if not charged with sea freight it will be charged when at the time of shipment receipt but must be settled before loading the cargo at origin port.

Transportation through sea Freight

The contract of carriage with the freight forwarder governs the sea freight which is undertaken by the shipping line. The shipment containers sometimes make use of numerous sea vessels when being transported over long distances through one port to another, just like a passenger changing one bus to another the same route. The freight forwarder states the voyage and vessel the cargo is to be loaded on in the bill of lading. If a shipment contains a container or less cargo it is generally not necessary for the exporter or consignee to know which vessel or ship the cargo is using although if you are interested you can always track down your shipment through the website connection. The freight forwarder is liable and is charged with the charges relating to the sea freight by the shipping company. These charges in total are then split up in costs and freight charges along with surplus charges, passed on to the customer by the freight forwarder. The rule of thumb here when assessing the rate quote from the forwarder is to see that all kinds freight charges are included at the time you accept it.