| Common phases of international shipment |

EXPORT AND IMPORT IN RESPECT OF DEALING WITH U.S. FREIGHT FORWARDER

As U.S. freight forwarder we performs both Export and Import for shipping freight from/to the USA by sea. However, in respect of dealing with an international freight forwarder shipper should understand responsibilities of freight forwarder on his shipment depending on service selected – Export or Import and country, which the freight forwarder represents.   

Nowadays, ocean carriers throughout the world are governed by a variety of the global industry standards and regulation. They also adopted and extend the rules promulgated by international organizations (IMO - International Maritime Organization for example). In general international shipments are regulated regardless of country of origin and destination in safety, environmental protection, documents turnover, customs procedures, commercial practices, cargo liability and other issues.    

However different carriers in different countries have different approaches to cargo tendering at theirs origins and destinations stations. Knowing basic details of local rules in country of origin and destination gives you an advantage to plan your shipment and forecast expenses related to it.   

U.S. freight forwarders mostly concentrate on the U.S. Import/Export Regulations and handle issues related to Export/Import procedures in the USA. They also provide general details related to cargo tendering outside of the USA along with information for carrier’s handling station’s agents overseas.

In respect of dealing with an U.S. freight forwarder shipper should be prepared for dealing directly with a carrier’s agent, which will handle cargo on his/her behalf as soon as cargo is out of the U.S. Commerce zone. Information for the agents is available: for Export in carrier’s bill of lading - a final document that acts as title to the shipped goods; for Import - in shipping instructions before shipment is tendered.  

It is very important that shipper is aware of common phases of international shipment and understands that each phase of shipment may correspond with charges related to the phase collected either by freight forwarder or by carrier’s destination agent. 

COMMON PHASES OF INTERNATIONAL SHIPMENT 

I. ORIGIN:

• Pickup and delivery at named place of: frontier, terminal, quay (if cargo is not self-delivered to the named place).
• Origin Customs formalities.
• Cargo handling at the origin terminal, export documents turnover.

II. OCEAN FREIGHT: 

• Cargo is on board of vessel. Actual sailing of cargo by sea. Carrier’s messaging and documents turnover. Notice that ocean freight may be subject to surcharges (war risk, Panama channel passing etc).

III. DESTINATION:

• Discharging cargo at a port of entry, carrier’s destination agent messaging, handling of cargo at the port of entry and documents turnover.
• Completing destination customs formalities by a destination customs broker in order to obtain a customs release, i.e. entry filing, assessing customs duty, taxes and other applicable destination country’s government related charges.
• Delivery to the final destination terminal if the terminal is not a port of entry itself. Documents turnover and a warehouse release at the final destination terminal.
• Cargo delivery to a named by consignee place (if it will not be self-picked up by consignee from the final destination warehouse).

You should find more complete and comprehensive explanation about shipping procedures and charges in the FAQ section of our website. However, in respect of dealing with an U.S. freight forwarder, you should initially clear understand in what kind of shipment you are going to be involved – Export from the USA or Import to the U.S. Having it clear, you will be able to predicts on which phases of your international shipment you mostly transact with an U.S. freight forwarder and on which phases with a carrier’s agent designated to your shipment by the carrier.