Shipping Business

Lecture Notes

HMC / ICS Greek Branch

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

Shipping Business
Lecture Notes

HMC / ICS Greek Branch

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 Readiness
Report 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 AGENCY
Takes 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 canvassers
Consideration 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

Shipping Business
Lecture Notes

HMC / ICS Greek Branch

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