/ By tjchinafreight ivy / Shipping

What should be paid attention to when shipping chemicals?

What are "hazardous" chemicals?

Homeland Security Presidential Directive 7 (HSPD-7) directs federal homeland security activities to focus on terrorist attacks that could result in "catastrophic health effects or mass casualties compared to the use of weapons of mass destruction." (22) For the purposes of this report, a hazardous chemical cargo is a chemical carried on board a commercial vessel that, if accidentally released or burned, could in certain circumstances cause a catastrophic hazard to the public. Typically, such hazards may include poisoning, suffocation, chemical burns, or thermal burns. In some cases, a single chemical may present these hazards simultaneously. A number of federal standards identify potentially hazardous chemicals. In terms of public safety, standards are issued by the Department of Transportation (DOT), the Coast Guard, and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Comply with dangerous goods transportation regulations and follow the procedures.

In the process of chemical transportation, special attention should be paid to the relevant procedures and regulations. For example, some dangerous goods must be operated in accordance with the relevant regulations for the transportation of dangerous goods. The packaging must be secure and the label must be attached. During the packing process, try to avoid open flame and high temperature, which can effectively prevent the explosion and volatilization of chemicals and ensure the safety and health of personnel. When choosing a container, a special inspection of the container is also required. For example, whether there are cracks, or whether the door of the box can be closed tightly, etc. When carrying out international shipping of chemicals, special attention should be paid to the fact that all the goods must be put into the container, and there should be no situation where the door of the container cannot be closed or sealed.

Frequently Asked Questions about Chemical Shipping

What supporting documents are required for the export of chemicals by sea?

Generally, it is necessary to provide MSDS, shipping power of attorney, and if it is dangerous goods, it is also necessary to provide the dangerous goods packaging performance certificate, the identification report of the Chemical Research Institute, and the normal customs declaration information.

Information required for the export of chemicals (not classified as dangerous goods):

1. Before exporting, a chemical inspection report (certificate of cargo transportation conditions) should be made to prove that the goods are not dangerous goods.
2. FCL - some ships need an appraisal certificate, and some ships do not. In addition, a non-dangerous letter of guarantee and MSDS must be issued, both of which are essential.
3. LCL - non-dangerous letter of guarantee and cargo description (Chinese and English product name, molecular structure, appearance and use) are required.

Information required for export of chemicals as dangerous goods:

1. Before exporting, it is necessary to make a copy of the identification result sheet (dangerous package certificate) for the transportation and packaging of outbound dangerous goods. Of course, MSDS is also required.
2. FCL - before booking, you need to provide the above two documents to apply, and wait for the owner to review. In general, it takes 3-5 days to know whether the ship owner accepts it or not.
this product. Dangerous goods booking should be applied for 10 to 14 days in advance, giving sufficient time to both the consignor and the forwarder.
3. LCL - Dangerous package certificate and MSDS, weight and volume of goods are also required before booking.

/ By tjchinafreight ivy / Shipping

How to Ship Dangerous Goods?

No matter what industry you're in, chances are you'll find yourself shipping something that's classified as a hazardous material. Many products contain elements that can be dangerous if mishandled, and such products are required by law to be transported in a certain way.

But how do you know if these requirements apply to you? What qualifies as a hazardous substance? If you found yourself needing to ship anything, how would you pack and ship them? In this Hazardous Logistics Safety Guide, we provide answers to these questions and some tips for shipping dangerous goods.

Some of the most important safety tips to follow.

1. Get proper training
The Transportation of Dangerous Goods (TDG) Act and Regulations deal with the handling and transportation of dangerous goods, whether by road, air, rail or water. It consists of various elements, focusing on aspects such as the composition of dangerous goods, preparation of relevant documentation, reporting of incidents and incidents, and training required for contacts. A company's first priority should be to ensure that anyone involved in the transport of dangerous goods has the correct training and is kept up to date with that training. There are courses specifically designed to train personnel to handle and transport dangerous goods, but laws may vary by region, so check government advice and local regulations to ensure your employees are properly trained in advance. The TDG certificate is generally valid for 3 years, after which retraining is required. Anyone handling unlicensed dangerous goods must be supervised by a witness.

2. Correctly classify dangerous goods
Dangerous goods is an umbrella term covering many different materials and substances. It is important to remember that not all dangerous goods are created equal, and they should be handled and transported in a manner appropriate to the particular type of hazard. TDG divides different types of dangerous goods into 9 categories. these are:

  • Class 1: Explosives
  • Class 2: Gases
  • Class 3: Flammable Liquids
  • Class 4: Flammable solids; substances liable to spontaneous combustion; substances which, in contact with water, emit flammable gases (water-reactive substances)
  • Class 5: Oxidizing Substances and Organic Peroxides
  • Class 6: Toxic and Infectious Substances
  • Class 7: Radioactive material
  • Class 8: Corrosives
  • Class 9: Miscellaneous products, substances or organisms (including environmentally hazardous substances)

3. Contact your shipper in advance
Different shipping companies may have different requirements and restrictions when it comes to shipping dangerous goods. The TDG outlines the minimum requirements expected by the legislation, but different shipping lines may take other steps. Therefore, it is always recommended that you contact your shipper beforehand to check the details of how your shipment should be prepared for shipping.

4. Make sure your shipment is properly packaged and labeled
Ensuring that shipments are properly packaged and labelled is absolutely critical. Before attempting packaging or labeling, you should take the time to research the various requirements for the specific hazmat you are shipping. Companies shipping in and out of Canada should ensure that labels comply with the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS), an international standard that has been adopted by countries around the world.

How should you package hazardous materials?

Given the wide variety of items that can be considered dangerous, you may find that you sometimes need to ship items in one of the above categories. Even if it's not as dangerous as an explosive, it could still be something like perfume or matches.

What should you do when this happens? How should you wrap it? Here are some basics on how to transport dangerous products.

Safe packaging
A good start is to pack all materials as safely as possible. By locking them as securely as you can, you can minimize the risk of any adverse events. For example, with aerosol cans, you should put lids on and wrap them in bubble wrap or other similar material to keep them from rolling.

Take a similar approach with other hazardous materials, storing them safely with plenty of filling so they get as little jostling and nudge as possible during transport. Also, be careful not to pack incompatible items together, such as explosives and oxidizing substances.

In extreme cases, like nuclear or radioactive waste, the material must be stored in a special type of container designed for the substance, like the familiar yellow drums in various movie images. Hopefully most of your materials will be more common and can be packaged in standard boxes and containers. But they still need to be safe, so make sure they are safe!

Label container
After loading materials into containers, be sure to properly label those containers. You'll want to do everything you can to help supply chain workers understand their content. Use appropriate hazmat stickers on the outside of the container. However, try to keep the number of tags out there so as not to distract anyone with too much information.

In addition to marking what the materials are and the hazards they pose, mark how they should be handled. Make sure the shipper knows what to do with them, either through actions such as marking the container "this side up" or by communicating directly with the shipper.

Record everything
In a similar fashion, record everything about the process. Document everything you ship for yourself and the shipper. Document the materials shipped and how they are packaged and labeled. The more information you keep track of, the easier it is for you to deal with anything that might go wrong. In any case, some documents may be required by law, but even if not, you still need to document everything that happens in the process.

Track your package
It is also important to keep track of the materials you ship. At the very least, take advantage of tracking tags so you can track the progress of materials as they stop and keep track of where they are. Even better, you can use a GPS tracker, which allows you to see where your package is at any time. Tracking your package helps keep you informed and prepared in case something goes wrong.

Abide by the law
Of course, while it's a good idea to do all of these things anyway to be on the safe side, in many cases it's required by law -- especially if your package is being transported by plane. Some materials cannot even be legally transported by plane. For those you can ship to, you may still need to follow a few procedures.

The exact nature of what you have to do will vary depending on the type of material, whether it is new or reused, and whether you ship in bulk. Different combinations of these factors will result in different requirements. In some cases, you may have to use UN-spec packaging, which must have internal materials tested to ensure it will work properly before it is allowed to ship.

Why is MSDS required when exporting dangerous goods and general chemicals by sea?

MSDS is an important document for conveying chemical hazard information. It briefly describes the hazards of a chemical to human health and the environment and provides information on the safe handling, storage and use of the chemical. Developed countries such as the United States, Japan, and EU countries have generally established and implemented the MSDS system. According to the chemical management regulations of these countries, manufacturers of hazardous chemicals usually provide a safety data sheet for their products when they sell, transport or export their products.
At present, the foreign requirements for MSDS (SDS) have been extended to almost all chemicals. In this regard, chemicals exported to developed countries are now basically required to have MSDS (SDS) in order to be successfully declared. And some foreign buyers will require MSDS (SDS) of items, and some domestic foreign companies or joint ventures will also request this.

/ By tjchinafreight ivy / Cargo • Shipping

What is the LCL loss fee?

Hamburg harbour Cargo terminal.

LCL cargo refers to the small-ticket goods that are not filled with a full box. Usually, the bulk cargo consolidation contractor collects the goods separately, and collects them at the container freight station or inland station, and then assembles two or more tickets. Within a container, it is also required to be unpacked at the destination container freight station or inland station for separate delivery.
For this kind of goods, the carrier is responsible for the packing and unpacking operations, and the packing and unpacking fees are charged to the cargo party.
In international trade, companies often fail to ship the goods due to various reasons, so they have to bear the corresponding loss of LCL costs. The most important thing is that many shippers are not very aware of these costs, so they are hard to guard against.

What is the LCL loss fee?

In the process of LCL export by sea, after 11:00 noon on the working day before the cut-off date of the order, the goods could not be shipped in time due to the reasons of the booker, resulting in the vacancy of the LCL company's space, and the LCL company sent the booking company accordingly. The fee charged by the cabin crew to make up for the loss.

How is the loss fee calculated?

Forklift handling container box loading to freight train

(1) Algorithm based on full load (standard cubic number): The calculation of the deficit fee is based on the cost of vacant space.
The specific calculation formula is: difference fee u003d booking billing cubic x (full container freight + full container shipping port cost) / standard cubic number. For example, the FCL is 2000usd (the freight paid by the LCL company to the shipping company), the port miscellaneous fee is 800usd, the container type is 20GP, the number of defective products is 8CBM, and then: (2000+800)/25x8u003d896usd.
(2) When quoting customers, it is charged according to the simple calculation rate: loss fee u003d price per cubic meter x number of invoicers of lost goods.
For example, if you quote 50usd/cbm to the customer and 5cbm to the lost cargo, you will lose the cabin fee u003d50x5u003d250usd
(3) Lost Cabin feeu003d (FCL fee/number of billing parties in the cabinet) x number of billing parties Lost goods
For example: if the cost of the whole box is 2000usd, the chargeable amount of the goods in the container is 20cbm, and the chargeable amount of the out of stock is 8cbm, then: the loss fee u003d 2000/20x8u003d800usd. The calculation results of the above three methods are different. Usually the third method calculates the least freight loss, but few LCL companies will calculate the freight loss according to the first method. Unless it is an important customer with good cooperation, the LCL company may consider the third type, or even a reduction. Lost Cabin Fee

Common reasons and preventive measures

(1) The owner of the cargo is too late to enter the warehouse or the person who temporarily cancels the shipment, but the booking person fails to cancel the booking in time. Precautions: Please keep the freight forwarder regularly in communication with the owner before the customs cut-off date and provide timely feedback. And inform the cargo owner that he has the responsibility to notify, otherwise it will incur loss of shipping charges.
(2) A larger proportion of super square/reduced square/overweight. Precaution: Please ask the freight forwarder to ask the owner of the consignment to be consistent with the actual cargo as much as possible, and notify in time if there is any change .
(3) After the goods have entered the warehouse, it is found that the characteristics or specifications of the goods cannot be carried, such as "liquid/dangerous goods/oversized and overweight items". Precautions: Please inform the freight forwarder not to accept liquid/dangerous goods/semi-dangerous goods, and oversize and overweight items must be confirmed in advance.
(4) The customs inspection resulted in the inability to ship in time. Precautions: Please ask the freight forwarder to require the owner of the declaration to be consistent with the bill, the documents and the goods. If the customs has any questions, please cooperate with the customs broker of the freight forwarding company to reply to the customs in time and clearly. What are the requirements of the customs to cooperate as far as possible to ensure timely shipment of the goods.

Prevention: Please ask the freight forwarder to require the owner to declare the same documents, documents, and goods. If the customs has any questions, please cooperate with the customs declarers of the freight forwarding company to reply to the customs in a timely and clear manner. What are the requirements of the customs to cooperate as much as possible to ensure that the goods are shipped in time.​​

In a nutshell, the most important thing for the prevention of LCL loss is to maintain close and good communication between the cargo owner and the freight forwarder. At the same time, the freight forwarder is dedicated to solving problems for the owner in a timely manner, and the owner should also trust the forwarder and meet each other frankly.

/ By tjchinafreight ivy / Shipping

Packing List Guide

What is a packing list?

A packing slip is a document that describes the contents of the shipment to the customer. A packing slip contains separate line items for each shipped item. Each line item describes the product number, product description, and quantity of units shipped. Weight can also be stated. This document is printed by the seller, who either includes it in the package or attaches it to the outside of the package in a sealed bag.
The consignee can use the packing slip to verify the contents of the delivery.

 What is the difference between a packing list and an invoice?

While similar in nature (almost identical at first glance), packing slips and invoices serve different purposes for purchase orders. A packing slip is used to represent physical goods received, where an invoice is a financial document for an order that contains information such as the selling price of each product, payment terms, payment method, and date.

In some cases, packing lists and invoices are for different people. An invoice is a bill sent to the person responsible for payment, and a packing list is sent to the consignee. If you order something for yourself, both documents will appear in front of you. However, if you buy something for someone else, you get an invoice, but the recipient gets a packing slip.

While both documents start with an e-commerce store, invoices are triggered by payment platforms, while packing slips are triggered by shipping or fulfillment technology.

Also, all businesses use invoices, but not all businesses use packing lists.

Why is the packing list important?

1.Make sure the right item is shipped to the right customer

One of the most frustrating experiences for customers is missing items from their order or not receiving the product they purchased. This negative customer experience reduces the likelihood of a business getting repeat customers. After all, no one likes receiving parts or orders or the wrong product. The cost of shipping lost or correct items eats into profits. If left unchecked, these can hinder the company's growth.
There are some great ways to help improve accuracy when picking. However, implementing a technically superior picking solution is worthless if the items are still not packaged correctly. A printed packing slip can be used as a basic but effective check during the packing process to ensure that all the correct items have been placed in the pack.

2.Items put in the package

Often, warehouse pickers collect items from multiple orders at the same time. During the packaging process, products need to be packaged for each customer. The packer will use the product list to determine which items should be packed together.

3.Identify damaged items

Packing lists help identify and organize damaged items—whether a fragile item was damaged in transit or an entire package was damaged in transit. Delivery exceptions like this will happen, but having a packing slip as a backup can help expedite refunds or resending of packages

4.Confirm receipt of all items

Packing slips are used to identify lost items and ensure receipt of all items ordered. You can think of it as a written record or record that should be included with the shipment. If your order is delivered in multiple packages, you can more easily keep an eye out for any inaccuracies if the e-commerce order tracking shows that all packages were delivered.

5.Streamline returns and refunds

Returns and refunds are sometimes unavoidable in e-commerce. But a packing list can stop this little headache from turning into a migraine. Having a packing slip can help expedite the process of refunding a customer or sending a new package if an item is damaged in transit.

Likewise, having a packing list can help customers quickly identify if a product that should be in the package is not. While they're unlikely to be happy with a lost item, at least now it's faster to spot the problem and fix a refund or send the product again.

For companies that sell fashion items or other products with a high volume of returns or exchanges, it's even more important to try to reduce the number of customer inquiries about the return/exchange process. Having a large customer support team can be costly, so clear return/refund instructions on the packing slip can help reduce the number of touchpoints the customer support team needs to be involved in.

What information is usually included on a packing slip?

1.Detailed list of shipped and out-of-stock items
A key element of a packing list is to clearly state what is in the package. It's an easy way to help packers ensure accuracy before shipping a package and help your customers quickly determine if their order was received correctly.
While customers should have been informed that one of the items they ordered is out of stock, it is best to include it on the packing list.

2.Quantity per piece
To check every item with a packing slip, it's not enough to just look at the product name or SKU, as many sellers order more than one item. The Quantity column helps reduce the length of the list so that if many of the same items are ordered, the packing list won't be several pages long.

3.Other important information
While packing slips do vary from company to company, standard practice is to include information such as shipping address, company name, purchaser's name and address, order date, and relevant contact information on the packing slip.

What is the difference between a packing list, a bill of lading, and a shipping label?

A packing slip contains information for a single customer order, while a picking list contains multiple customer orders on a single document. Pick list items tend to be ordered in a way that is efficient for pickers to navigate the warehouse. Picking with a packing list is not as efficient as a pick list, because pickers may visit the same warehouse rack multiple times while picking turns.
The shipping label allows a package to move smoothly through the supply network because it contains important information about the shipping of your order, including: its source address, destination address, tracking barcode and its shipping category.

/ By tjchinafreight ivy / Shipping

The function of the bill of lading

The bill of lading is one of the most important documents in the shipping and freight process. It is a legal document that provides a record of the transport of goods from one place to another and ensures a convenient and safe logistics process. Bills of lading can be issued by

  • Shipping agent
  • Carrier or
  • Logistics company to shipper

The bill of lading also has three main functions:

1. Proof of the contract of carriage
A bill of lading is evidence of a contract of carriage between the "carrier" and the "shipper or owner" for the purpose of carrying the goods (not to be confused with a contract of sale between the buyer and the seller).

2. It acts as a receipt
When the carrier issues the bill of lading to the shipper, it confirms that the goods have been loaded onto the transport vessel. The shipper usually issues several original bills of lading which can be passed on to different parties along the way, essentially taking control of the cargo.

3. Ownership as a commodity (representing ownership)
The bill of lading usually includes details of the consignee (buyer/consignee) to which the carrier ships the goods. However, title does not pass until the bill of lading is passed on to the receiver. The shipper may forward a copy of the bill of lading to the consignee as proof of transport, but the person holding the original bill of lading retains title to the goods. Bills of lading are usually delivered to the consignee only after full payment.

The information listed on the bill of lading can include:

  • Shipper Details
  • Recipient (Consignee) Details
  • Carrier details and signature to confirm receipt
  • Loading date
  • Port of loading
  • Destination port
  • Details of the shipment
  • Shipping terms and conditions
  • Any special shipping requirements (for example, if the cargo is dangerous)

Shipping terms and conditions are especially important because they detail who is responsible for the goods at what stage, and who is responsible for paying the freight (Incoterm for the goods). Note that the bill of lading may not detail all the terms and conditions of carriage, but at least they should be mentioned.

So among these three functions, which is the most important function of the bill of lading..??

In the container business, the following are the most common types/methods of issuing bills of lading:

  • Direct bill of lading
  • Order bill of lading
  • Bill of Lading

All of the above types of bills of lading satisfy Functions 1 and 2 – Evidence of Contract of Carriage and Goods Receipt, but only the Order Bill of Lading satisfies Function 3 – Document of Title..

Why the other two types do not satisfy function 3..?? Let me explain..

1) When a bill of lading is issued in original form to the "appointed" consignee, it is called a "direct bill of lading", and a direct bill of lading is a non-negotiable and non-negotiable document. The bill of lading stationery will not have the words Straight Bill of Lading, but may have Ocean Bill of Lading or Port to Port Bill of Lading written at the top.

Release of goods at destination can only be made to the named consignee and only after surrender of at least one original issued bill of lading. This release condition is governed by the COGSA (Carriage of Goods by Sea Act) of the relevant country and jurisdiction. .
A direct bill of lading does not satisfy function 3 (document of title) because the document is neither transferable nor transferable.

2) When the bill of lading is issued to the "designated" consignee but without any original and using sea waybill or waybill stationery, it may be regarded as a "sea waybill".. this bill of lading is also a non-negotiable & non-negotiable document..
Since the sea waybill is not issued the original, it does not need to be returned.
The ocean bill of lading does not satisfy function 3 (document of title) because the document is neither negotiable nor negotiable.

Given below are ready-made estimators as to which type of bill of lading fulfills which role (in the context of container shipping).

 

So what is the most important function of the bill of lading? ?

The answer is: no one feature is more important than the other, because each feature has its own purpose and needs.

/ By tjchinafreight ivy / Cargo • Shipping • Transport

ONE publishes special loading requirements for these two categories of cargo

On March 28, 2022, ONE issued a security bulletin on Special Stowage Requirement for Non-DG and Non-Special Cargoes.

ONE stated in the announcement that when transporting goods, safety is the number one priority. To ensure compliance with

global acceptance policies and safety standards, ONE verifies all bookings to ensure that all shipments are properly declared,

packed and loaded. This measure is a critical step in preventing accidents and ensuring safe handling of cargo.

 

ONE emphasizes that in addition to dangerous goods and special cargoes, the following non-dangerous goods and non-special

cargoes booked at ONE also require special loading to be loaded onto the ships of ONE and its partners.

Additionally, in order to complete the verification, the customer will be required to provide additional instructions and documentation.

This will help ONE achieve a higher standard in the safe transportation of goods.

 

ONE said it was the responsibility of shippers to declare correct cargo information and therefore reminded its customers to check that all

bookings are properly declared.

/ By tjchinafreight ivy / Shipping

Ownership-based container terminal types

What is a container terminal?

Container terminal or container port (used interchangeably) is a term designated for an intermediate destination facility that enables containers to switch modes of transport on their way to their final destination.
Many times, cargo arrives at a container terminal on a single vessel and is distributed to inland customers by multiple modes of transport. The terminal is also an area dedicated to maintenance and temporary storage of containers. Occasionally, the unloading, loading and storage of the cargo in these containers is also carried out here.

Container Terminal Type

Container terminals around the world are divided into five categories based on their ownership:

Public terminals, operator leased terminals, joint ventures between operators and terminal operators, terminal built and operated by operators, and finally terminals built and operated by operators. Below is a brief overview of the five terminals -

1. Public Pier
All facilities of the public terminal, such as loading and unloading processes, tariff rates and allocated entry and exit locations are shared by all shipping lines and operate on a first-come, first-served basis. Regular duty rates apply to container handling and other related charges, or are otherwise discounted or at agreed rates.

2. The carrier leases a dedicated terminal
These are the result of major carriers working with port authorities, culminating in the signing of long-term leases that are exclusively used by these carriers. The carrier is responsible for paying the costs incurred as carrier preference. For example, Maersk has a number of terminals that have signed long-term use contracts. In addition, some shipping companies have formed partnerships to share terminal usage using multi-user long-term contracts.

3. Terminal construction and operation of terminals
Terminal operators invest directly in the construction, operation and handling of terminals. The operator enters into a lease contract with the port authority by depositing a sum into the gross handling charge of the container business.

4. Operators – build and operate terminals
The method is similar to that used for terminal construction and operation of terminals. In this type of licence, one or more carriers jointly lease a container terminal through deposits with port authorities or direct investment in construction, operation and handling services

5. Joint venture between carrier and terminal operator
In this type of contract, an agreement is reached between the shipping company and the terminal operator, thus forming a company. Direct investment, combined terminal operations for safe, prioritized and efficient container handling.

/ By tjchinafreight ivy / Shipping

Summary of shipping precautions for exporting to India!

India is the largest country in the South Asian subcontinent, with many domestic ports, including 12 major ports, including Mumbai, Calcutta, Chennai (formerly Madras), Cochin, and Goa, which undertake 3/4 of the cargo volume. Among them, Mumbai Port is the largest port, and its shipping capacity ranks 18th in the world.
China Shipping to Kolkata Port in India needs to transit through other ports, including Colombo / Visakhapatnam / Krishnapatnam / Port Klang / Singapore and other ports.

01 Document requirements

The import and export of India by sea involves the following documents:

(1) Signed invoice
(2) packing list
(3) Ocean Bill of Lading or Bill of Lading / Air Waybill
(4) The completed GATT declaration form
(5) Declaration form of the importer or its customs broker
(6) Approval document (provided when required)
(7) Letter of credit/bank draft (provided when required)
(8) Insurance documents
(9) Import license
(10) Industry license (provided when required)
(11) Laboratory report (provided when the goods are chemicals)
(12) Temporary tax exemption order
(13) Original copy of Customs Exemption Right Certificate (DEEC) / Tax Rebate and Tax Deduction Right Certificate (DEPB)
(14) Catalogue, detailed technical specifications, and relevant documents (provided when the goods are machinery equipment, machinery equipment parts or chemicals)
(15) Single price of mechanical equipment parts
(16) Certificate of Origin (provided when preferential tariff rates apply)
(17) No Commission Statement

02 Supplementary requirements for documents

Indian Customs Service has issued Proclamation No. 33/2018 which stipulates that from April 1, 2018, importers must ensure that their exporters are informed of the following essential details abroad in order to incorporate these details into booking such shipments:
(1) Importer's Import and Export Code (IEC)
(2) GST Importer's Identification Number (GSTIN)
(3) Importer's official email ID (for shipping routes and customs communications)

This notification is issued due to consignment of hazardous waste, other waste or restricted items being imported in the name of certain importers and still not cleared. It is therefore essential to record the importer's basic information on the bill of lading so that these details can be used to determine DPD stacking and various other uses.

03Tariff Policy

From July 1, 2017, India will consolidate its various local service taxes into the Goods and Services Tax (GST), which will also replace the previously announced 15% Indian service tax. The GST charge will be 18% of the import and export Indian service charges, including local charges such as terminal handling charges, inland transportation charges, etc.

On September 26, 2018, the Indian government abruptly announced an increase in import duties on 19 "non-essential goods" to reduce the widening current account deficit. The tariff adjustment raises tariffs on imported goods such as air conditioners, refrigerators, washing machines, footwear, speakers, jewelry, some plastics, luggage and aviation turbine fuel.

The Ministry of Finance of India has notified that import duties on 17 commodities will be increased from October 12, 2018. The 17 items include smart watches, telecommunications equipment and more. The notice showed that tariffs on smartwatches and telecommunications equipment were raised to 20 percent from the current 10 percent.

04Customs regulations

First of all, all goods transferred to the inland freight station in India must be transported by the shipping company, and the final destination column of the bill of lading and manifest must be filled in as the inland point. Otherwise, it is necessary to dig out the box at the port or pay a high fee for changing the manifest before transshipment to the inland.
Secondly, after the goods arrive at the port, they can be stored in the customs warehouse for 30 days. After 30 days, the customs will issue a notice of delivery to the importer. If the importer cannot pick up the goods on time for some reason, he can apply to the customs for an extension as needed. If the Indian buyer does not apply for an extension, the exporter's goods will be auctioned after 30 days of storage in customs.

05Customs clearance

After unloading (usually within 3 days), the importer or its agent must first fill in the Bill of Entry in quadruplicate. The first and second pages are retained by the customs, the third page is retained by the importer, and the fourth page is retained by the bank where the importer pays the tax. Otherwise, high detention fees must be paid to the port authority or airport authority.
If the goods are declared through the Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) system, there is no need to fill in the paper "Import Declaration Form", but the detailed information required by the customs to process the goods clearance application needs to be entered in the computer system, and the EDI system will automatically generate the "Import Declaration Form". Customs Declaration.

06Return regulations

Indian Customs stipulates that the exporter needs to provide the original importer's certificate of abandonment of the goods, the relevant delivery certificate and the exporter's request for return letters and telegrams, and entrust the shipping agent to complete the return procedures after paying the port storage fees, agency fees and other reasonable fees.
If the importer is unwilling to issue the exporter with the certificate of rejection of the goods, the exporter can rely on the letter of the importer's refusal to pay or take delivery or the letter of the importer's non-payment redemption provided by the bank or the shipping agent, the relevant delivery certificate and the seller's request. The letter and telegram for the return of the goods shall be entrusted to the shipping agent to directly submit the return request to the relevant Indian port customs and go through the relevant procedures.

/ By tjchinafreight ivy / Shipping

How to deal with the problem of overweight containers?

There is information on the maximum weight limit on the unpacking door of each container, such as MAX GROSS: 30480KGS. This means that your box with the goods cannot exceed this weight. Tare weight--20GP: 2200KGS, 40: 3.720-4200KGS, some HQ will have MAX GROSS: 32000KGS.
This is the maximum strength that the container body can withstand. If the loading exceeds this limit, the container body may be deformed, the bottom plate will fall off, and the top beam will be bent. All the resulting losses will be fully borne by the loader. At present, most professional container terminals in China have installed automatic weighbridges. Therefore, as long as the container exceeds the weight limit of the container, the terminal will refuse to accept the container. Therefore, it is recommended that you clearly see the weight limit on the container body before packing, so as to avoid unnecessary repacking operations.

Overweight containers are a very serious problem. As container vessels become larger and containers are stacked higher to keep up with the growth of world trade, overweight containers can:

Wrong ship stowage decision
Restocking the container (and resulting delays and costs) if overweight is determined
folded container stack
Containers lost in water (overweight and
overweight container)
Cargo Liability Claims
Chassis damage
ship damage
Vessel stability and stress risk
Risk of personal injury or death to seafarers and shore workers
Service plan integrity compromised
Correctly declare supply chain service delays for container shippers
Confirmed, booked and available loads are closed at the last minute when the actual weight on board exceeds the declared weight and the total cargo weight exceeds the ship limit or port draft limit.
Loss of revenue and earnings
Liability for overweight accidents and fines on the road, and the resulting time and administrative effort and costs to seek compensation from responsible parties
Impairs the optimum trim and draft of the vessel, resulting in compromised vessel efficiency, suboptimal fuel usage and increased vessel exhaust emissions.

What should I do if I am overweight?
This is mainly divided into overweight port area, overweight shipping company, overweight port of destination

1. The shipping company is overweight
Discuss with the shipowner, make up the overweight fee, and the rest will go as normal;

2. The port area has its own regulations for overweight
If you find that you are overweight when entering the port, you need to negotiate with the port area and pay the overweight fee plus manual handling fee or take out the box and repack it;

3. The destination port is overweight
Generally, if the destination port is overweight within a certain range, the fine can be solved; if the overweight is serious, the cranes along the way cannot be loaded and can only be transferred to a nearby port or returned to the original road.

/ By tjchinafreight ivy / Shipping

Lost bill of lading – how to solve and deal with it?

A bill of lading is a document that certifies the contract of carriage of goods by sea and that the carrier has received or loaded the goods and guarantees that the carrier will deliver the goods in accordance with the contract. Since the goods can only be picked up by the bill of lading, in international trade, especially under the conditions of FOB and CFR, the bill of lading is of great significance and is considered to be the representative and sign of the goods.
However, since only one set of bills of lading can be issued for one shipment of goods, and the bill of lading is a negotiable document, once the bill of lading is lost, it will have a great impact on the development of foreign trade, which may cause the seller to fail to settle foreign exchange and the buyer to pick up the goods.

What is a bill of lading?
A bill of lading (BOL or B/L) is a shipping document whereby the carrier is obliged to deliver the goods at a named place.
The bill of lading is also proof that the contract is signed before the bill of lading is handed over to the master.
For more information on bills of lading, see our article - Bills of Lading.

Lost bill of lading
Losing a bill of lading can be a big problem as ocean carriers deliver containers against it. Missing this document may prevent us from picking up your order.
Downtime or demurrage charges may apply if containers remain in port for too long.

What to do if OBL is lost..??

Here are some steps you can take if a negotiable bill of lading is lost, stolen or destroyed

1. Pictures of lost bills Advertise in local media about the "lost" or "obsolete" original bills
2. Security may be obtained by a court order advising the carrier (shipping line) to deliver the goods to the owner of the goods, subject to the security provided by the goods claiming entity, in the amount of the court..
3. The carrier shall also receive an indemnity letter to indemnify the carrier or any person injured by the delivery against liability under the unpaid original bill. The court may also order reasonable costs and attorneys' fees to be paid to the carrier.
4. Certain banks accept a letter of guarantee signed by the bank and the bank will be jointly and severally liable to return the original bill of lading (if found).

However, some precautions need to be taken, such as:

Advertising about damages is by no means a complete defense of liability for wrongful delivery.
This is only evidence that the loss occurred and that the original owner had the intention to cancel the original bill of lading issued.
The carrier should know who owns the goods and only issue copies to that entity, as in some cases an entity that does not own the goods has advertised the loss and persuaded the carrier to issue a second set of originals, while the first still remains. In the hands of its rightful owners, nothing was actually lost.

It should be treated differently according to different situations:

  • Under a named bill of lading: the carrier may deliver the goods to the consignee of a named bill of lading after receiving the consignee's company guarantee and the consignor's written assurance that the goods are to be handed over to the consignee.
  • Under the order bill of lading: if the port of discharge agent receives a request from the consignee that the bill of lading is lost and cannot take delivery of the goods against this bill of lading, the consignee shall be required to present the original/copy of the bill of lading issued by the original carrier, commercial invoice, commercial Documents such as contracts and packing lists to check whether the consignee is the consignee. The port of discharge agent should also require the consignee to provide a form of guarantee issued by a first-class bank that meets certain standards. At the same time, the agent of the port of discharge should ask the agent of the port of loading to contact the consignor on the bill of lading to obtain the consignor's consent. In this case A written guarantee that the shipment is released to the consignee.
  • Under the bearer bill of lading: refer to the instruction bill of lading for specific practices. If the consignee returns the full set of original bills of lading, the letter of guarantee can be returned to the consignee. If the consignee cannot return the full set of original bills of lading, in principle, the letter of guarantee shall be retained indefinitely. If the consignee makes a return request, the port of discharge agent shall retain a minimum period according to the law of the host country. The domestic port proposal needs to be kept for 6 years. After the bill of lading is lost, contact the shipping company immediately to control the cargo, no matter what the circumstances. In this way, losses can be reduced, and at the same time, the rights and interests of the receiver and the consignor will not be damaged.