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Structure of Shipping Agency in India

Shipping agency:

A shipping agency or shipping agent is the designated


person or agency held responsible for handling shipments
and cargo, and the general interests of its customers, at
ports and harbors worldwide, on behalf of ship owners,
managers, and charterers. In some parts of the world,
these agents are referred to as port agents or cargo
brokers. There are several categories of shipping agents
such as: port agents, liner agents, and own agencies, each
rendering specific services depending on the shipping
company they represent.
In other words, a ship agent is any person or company
that carries out the functions of an agent,.irrespective
of whether they are in business as a ship agent, or they
perform such functions as a adjunct to, or conjunction
with, other activities such as ship owning or operating,
providing cargo handling or similar.

Shipping agents will usually take care of all the regular


routine tasks of a shipping company quickly and
efficiently. They ensure that essential supplies, crew
transfers, customs documentation, and waste
declarations are all arranged with the port
authorities without delay. Quite often, they also provide
the shipping company with updates and reports on
activities at the destination port so that shipping
companies have real-time information available to them
while goods are in transit.

Tasks and responsibilities:

Succinctly, the term shipping agent refers to the


relationship between the principal (in this case the
shipping company conveying the goods) and its
representative, whereby the principal, expressly or
impliedly, authorizes the agent to work under his
control and on his behalf.

The responsibilities/competencies as well as the


remuneration of the agent may be explicitly entered
into a contract which has been concluded between
himself and the ship owner. This practice is very
common in the cargo trade, booking agents, etc.
Responsibilities of Shipping Agents Include:

•Ensuring a berth for the incoming ship

•Arranging for the pilot and the tugs if necessary

•Drawing up the documents for the customs and


harbour services
•Arranging for the necessary ship fresh water /
provisions
•Arranging for the necessary doctor for the crew for
any medical assistance
•Arranging for storage bunkers if these are needed
•Arranging for necessary repairs
•Conveying instructions to and from the ship owner
•Organizing the supply, transport and the handling of
the goods
•Organizing the necessary contacts with the
stevedores
•Collecting freights, cargoes
•Contacting shippers and the receivers of the goods

In the case of damage to cargo or the ship, the


shipping agent also makes the necessary
arrangements (at the request of the ship's master or
owner) with the insurance company, and for nautical
inspections and the services of experts or surveyors,
etc.

The specific tasks of a Shipping agent also include:

Providing the necessary information concerning the


freight rates and the publication of the sailing lists
Looking for cargo via notices and sailing lists
Booking of cargo and the conclusion of the
agreements
Drawing up, initiating and delivering the required
documents (booking lists, shipping permits, delivery
orders) related to the cargo
Contacting the shippers/forwarders with regard to
the deliveries for shipment
Fulfilling the necessary formalities regarding the
delivery and reception of the goods (customs etc.)
Settling cargo claims with insurance companies

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