shipping knowledge

Types of shipping containers, sizes, dimensions and uses


Categories Digitalisation, Education, Freight Container, Information, Shipping Knowledge, Technology Tags , , , , 16 Comments  9 minutes
half height rototainer - shipping and freight resource

Shipping Container, Freight Container, Container, Box, TEU, FEU – many of the synonyms and acronyms by which the common shipping container is referred to as, depending on who is talking..

Universally hailed as one of the greatest inventions of the modern world, the ubiquitous shipping container has really and truly made the world a smaller place and in my view, can be termed the one true architect of Globalisation..

The shipping container has evolved from being just a dumb box to being a smart container capable of being tracked anywhere in the world, in some cases even to the bottom of the ocean..

The shipping container comes in different sizes and types.. This is a refresher on the various types of shipping containers including some unusual shipping containers in use today, its dimensions and information relating to its use and purpose..

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Help, shipping line won’t pre-date or back date my bill of lading


Categories Bill of Lading, Documentation, Education, Legal, Letter of Credit, Opinion, Questions and Answers Tags , , , , 19 Comments  5 minutes
back dating bill of lading

Pre-Dating or Back Dating is when the shipper requests the shipping line to show the Shipped on Board date on the bill of lading as a date before the actual sailing of the vessel (example : the vessel actually sails on the 2nd of March but shipper wants the line to show the shipped on board date on the bill of lading as 28th of February)..

Why would a shipper want his bill of lading to be pre-dated or back dated and why would a shipping line reject this request..??

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What is a HS Code..??


Categories Trade Tags , , , 62 Comments  10 minutes
What is HS Coder

You would have seen this terminology called HS Code across many trade documentation or correspondences..

What does this HS Code mean, who uses it and what is it used for..??

HS Code stands for Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System..

This is the common standard worldwide for describing the type of commodity..

Every commodity that enters or crosses most international borders have to be declared to customs by means of a HS code.. This helps in standardizing the commodity codes worldwide..

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Implications of issuing a Clean on Board bill of lading


Categories Bill of Lading, Letter of Credit, Shipping and Freight Tags , , , , , 11 Comments  4 minutes

Many a time, shippers have asked shipping lines for “CLEAN ON BOARD” clause on a bill of lading and if the request relates to a container shipment, this might have very well been rejected by the shipping line..

Why do the shipping lines reject this..?? 

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Importance of declaring the correct cargo weight


Categories Documentation, Freight Container, Maritime Disasters, Shipping, SOLAS VGM, Vessel Operation Tags , , 6 Comments  5 minutes
Featured Image for container weight infographic

Misdeclaration of container weights has been an issue that has been going on for a long time and has plagued many a shipping line, ship and port operators..

In a recent article, I wrote about the basics of container stowage planning and why it is so important..

In this article, I thought it would be worth reiterating the importance of being accurate in the declaration of the weights..

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What is a letter of credit, how it works and who needs it..


Categories Bill of Lading, Documentation, Letter of Credit, Trade Tags , , , , , 46 Comments  10 minutes
sales contract and trade

Many of you would have come across the term Letter of Credit (L/C)..

If you are a shipping line, you would have heard this term from various customers asking you to expedite the draft bill of lading for checking by the bank or for the release of the bill of lading to be expedited because the shipment is under L/C..

If you a freight forwarder or agent, you may have been put under pressure by the BCO to get all the documents required by the L/C sent to them in time..

If you are a BCO, you may have been told by your bank that the documents submitted do not match the requirements of the L/C and some of the documentation may need to be redone..

So what exactly is a Letter of Credit, what is the need for a letter of credit, who issues it and how does it work..

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Questions related to shipping and freight you always wanted to ask


Categories Education, Questions and Answers, Shipping and Freight Tags , 30 Comments  1 minute
shipping and freight questions

If you have any questions you have always wanted to ask or things you always wanted to know about Shipping, Freight, Maritime, Logistics, Supply Chain and Trade but never got a chance or didn’t know where and who to ask, here is your opportunity..

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What is a Manifest Corrector and why is it required..??


Categories Bill of Lading, Documentation Tags , , , , 12 Comments  5 minutes
manifest corrector - shipping and freight resource

A manifest is one of the key documents in the process of shipping..

A manifest lists all bills of lading issued for cargo loaded on a specific ship.. Kind of a summary if you wish..

A manifest lists the details of the cargo, the shipper, consignee, weight, measurement, packing.. There are different types of manifests:

  • Cargo Manifest – lists all information relating to the cargo excluding the freight charges..
  • Freight Manifest – lists all information relating to the cargo including the freight charges.. All charges as indicated in the manifest are either to be paid by the shipper or consignee..
  • Dangerous Cargo Manifest – a manifest that details the dangerous/hazardous cargoes on board the ship covering the Class, UN No., Description of Goods, EMS/MFAG etc..
  • Out of Gauge Manifest – a manifest that details the out of gauge (abnormal sized) cargoes on board the ship including the out of gauge details of the cargo.
  • Reefer Manifest – a manifest that details the reefer cargoes on board the ship including the temperature settings, humidity, which containers require monitoring on board – like cold treatment containers.

So what is a manifest correct and why is it required..??

This article explains what is a manifest corrector, its uses, where it can and cannot be used and how the process works..

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What does it mean by duly discharged in terms of bill of lading..??


Categories Bill of Lading, Documentation, Education Tags , , , , , 25 Comments  5 minutes
duly discharged bill of lading

Cargo covered by a bill of lading may only be released to the entity to whom it is consigned..

The shipping line and/or their agents at the destination must take cognisance of the type of bill of lading issued, the endorsements required on the bill of lading for the type of bill of lading before releasing the cargo..

Some lines are releasing cargo without the endorsement , some are strictly following above, some are content with releasing cargo to whoever is in possession of the bill of lading and are not seeking any endorsement or authorisation letter (in the case of release to an agent)..

What is your viewpoint on this issue and let us take a vote to see how strictly these endorsement requirements are followed..

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5 points to consider before packing your cargo


Categories Documentation, Education, Freight Container, Hazardous Goods, SOLAS VGM Tags , , 8 Comments  6 minutes
points to consider before packing your cargo

If you are an exporter and especially if you are exporting for the first time, you should have a checklist of points to consider before packing your cargo..

Here are 5 main points you should consider before packing your cargo..

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Cargo types and packing method in containers


Categories Education, Freight Container Tags , , , , 34 Comments  2 minutes

Why is the containerised trade considered the most versatile among the shipping trades..?? Because of the sheer variety of cargo that is transported around the world in containers..

Using the various container sizes, types and dimensions available in the trade today, one can transport almost all types of cargoes around the world..

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Shipper vs Agent – A case study


Categories Bill of Lading, Case Studies, Documentation, Freight Container, Maritime Law, Questions and Answers Tags , , , , , 34 Comments  6 minutes
Shipper vs Agent - Case Study

Article discussing a dispute between a shipper and his agent relating to the shipment of the goods, ETA and freight..

This maybe an eye opener for several other people who maybe in this predicament or situation and need to know these intimate details of shipping..

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What to do when there is a short shipment..??


Categories Bill of Lading, Freight Container Tags , , , 33 Comments  4 minutes

What to do when there is a short shipment..??

This may leave some people puzzled at times.. Especially some questions like below asked by a reader..

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What does Shippers load, stow and count mean..??


Categories Bill of Lading, Shipping and Freight Tags , , , 18 Comments  3 minutes
image for Shippers load stow and count

Shippers load, stow and count or Shippers load and count or SLAC is a term that you would have seen in the description of the bill of lading for all shipments.. What does it mean to the line and to the shipper..??

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