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Shipping Business HMC / ICS Greek Branch

Lecture Notes

LESSON 4 PRACTIONERS IN THE SHIPPING BUSINESS (CONTINUED)

PORT AGENTS (as TRAMP SHIP AGENTS)

Agents duty is to look after ships, her owners /managers and her crews needs

whilst at their port.Agent always has a principal. Disburses funds. Funds come from the principal.

Principal is usually the owner.

If ship is time chartered, principal is the disponent owner (the time charterer)

If owner time charterers his ship and needs:

little done in port, the time charterers agent attend without a fee.

much done in port (overhaul), he may appoint his own agent to arrange

Often two agents needed to avoid a conflict of interest

Charterers agents are agents nominated by the charterer and paid by time charterer

or owner.

Charterers, if nominating the agent, will usually demand a slice of the agents fee

from the time charterer (disponent owner)

Port agent always works for the time charterer disponent owner (or actual owner).

Charterers like to nominate agents to ensure :-

Their interests will be well handled by agents experienced and familiar to port and

trade.

Confidentiality of the business (Charterers agents often a part of charterers

organisation)

If the time charterer is unhappy with the charterers nominated agent to protect his

interest, he can appoint another agent as Protecting Agent (or Supervisory Agent)

to supervise and ensure correct handling of the agency.

Protecting Agent (or Supervisory Agent) will now handle the owners /

time charterers exclusive requirements

AGENTS FEE

Agency fees agreed on nomination well in advance of ships call.

Scale of fees usually related to a national institute scale.

But national fees unacceptable in law as hinders competition (USA, UK, EU).

Agents have tariffs of fees for ship sizes, trades, employment.

Agents fees will be basic with a surcharge for expenses - messages, phone, cars,

AGENTS DUTIES

PRIOR ARRIVAL

Acknowledge appointment

Check who pays for the ships port disbursements

Provide principal with pro forma disbursement account broken down into

main charges and including agency fee and charges

Determine berth with cargo interests / port

Have labour ready - pilots, line men, tugs, stevedores, surveyors etc

Determine owners special needs on arrival cash to master

Obtain ETA from ship. Inform concerned people ashore

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Shipping Business HMC / ICS Greek Branch

Lecture Notes

Inform ship, charterers and owners of her port ETA and prospects.

ON ARRIVAL

Meet the ship board when in free pratique and cleared by customs

Discuss requirements cargo, ship, crew, repairs, deliver cash, mail

Complete formalities customs, port.

Tender Notice of ReadinessReport to managers arrival details and prospects. Keep informed.

ON DEPARTURE

Complete record of events, progress, details of weather, stoppages, delays, strikes etc.

Complete Statement of Facts and have it signed By master and shippers/receivers

Arrange pilots, tugs, linemen, Inform managers and next port

AFTER DEPARTURE

Despatch port papers Notice of Readiness. Statement of Facts.

Prepare invoices. Collect vouchers. Complete disbursement account.

Settle account.

LINER AGENCYTakes team work many skills involved to deal with the ship:

THE SHIP

Attend to health, customs, port authorities, stevedores

List booked cargo.

Arrange and book suitable berth

OUTWARD CARGO MARKETING - Finding the cargo:

Inform shippers / forwarding agents of schedule

Advertise schedule

Organise sale of ships capacity salesmen canvassersConsideration of conflicts of interest

Collate cargo bookings

Arrange delivery to correct berth by correct date

Calculate freights per tariff

Separate dangerous cargo

OUTWARD CARGO DOCUMENTATION (Break bulk)

Prepare Dangerous Goods Note

Mate Receipt - description of goods as on board

Bill of Lading serves

- evidence of contract of affreightment

- state of goods on loading- receipt of goods /document of title

Manifest

- cargo list

Freight Account

- statement of freight

Much simplified by computerisation

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Shipping Business HMC / ICS Greek Branch

Lecture Notes

OUTWARD CARGO CONTAINERS

Accept cargo booking

Arrange container

Co-ordinate supply of container through Container Control

Arrange movement of container through Transport Control

Arrange LCL (Less than container load) at Container Depot

Prepare container packing lists.

INWARD CARGO

Notify receivers from manifest

Bills of Lading (B/L) presented to agent

Collect freight if due on delivery

Issue Delivery Order in exchange for B/L

Arrange unloading / depot - storage space

Recovery of empty container.

Container survey repair

Cargo claims

PRINCIPAL

Financial reckoning

Ships disbursements

Cargo charges stevedoring, tallying, depot charges, local trucking, surveys,

container repairs

Remittance of the balance of the freight income

INLAND LINER AGENT

Liner company with a sales organisation inland

Serves as a booking agent on commission

AGENCY CONTRACT

Tramp agency one telex line contract

Liner agency detailed agreement (MoA)

FONASBA has a General Agency Agreement form

Clauses act as a guideline

Prepared by: Captain Malcolm MacKenzie