This document provides information about shipping agencies and their roles and responsibilities. It discusses the definition of a shipping agency and the main types of agencies including full agency, OPA, and CPA. It also outlines the types of vessels agencies deal with, key agency processes, standard documentation agency deals, value added services, port restrictions, challenges, and requirements for effective collaboration between parties involved in shipping.

1. Shipping Agency
Serving The Industry to Perfection
27th Nov, 2013
R K Ganguly

2. Steamer Agency - Definition
• An organization that deals with the
transactions of a ship at every port that the
ship visits or docks at. In simple terms, it is a
shipping agent who as a local expert acts as
the representative of the owner of the ship
and carries out all essential duties and
obligations required to be performed and/or
discharged by the owners & crew of the
ship.

3. Types of Shipping Agency
Full Agency
• Port/Custom s /
Immigration Clearance
• Freight Tax Clearance
• Crew & Other
Husbandry
Requirements
• Bunkers & Provisions
• Technical Assistance
• Spare Handling
• Vessel
Conversion/Reversion
• CTM
OPA
• Crew & Other
Husbandry
Requirements
• Bunkers & Provisions
• Technical Assistance
• Spare Handling
• CTM
• Handling Of Agency
Funds
• Freight Tax Clearance
• Vessel
Conversion/Reversion
CPA
• Handling Cargo
related matters
• Regularizing LOIs &
BLs
• Bunkering
• Vessel Conversion/
Reversion
• Freight Tax Clearance

4. Types of Vessels

5. Tanker Vessel

6. Dry Bulk Vessel

7. Break Bulk Vessel

8. An ODC Break Bulk Package

9. Cruise Vessels

10. Naval Vessels

11. Car Carrier Vessel

12. New Build Vessel

13. Ro-Ro Vessel Operation

14. Demolition Vessel

15. Off Shore Vessel

16. Dredgers & Dredging

17. Submersible Vessels

18. Salvage Agency

19. Agency Process
Receipt of Agency Appointment
Acknowledgement, EPDA & Port Information
Pre Arrival Information
Daily Line Up & Berthing Prospects
Collection of BLs/LOIs & Filing of Manifest
Arrangement of Surveyors
Fund Receipt, Vessel Arrival & Berthing Arrangements

20. Agency Process Contd…
Cargo & Vessel related Updates, Reports,
Co-ordination of Vessel Requirements – Bunkers, Fresh Water, Spares etc
Freight Tax, PC, Sailing Arrangements, SOF and Other Documentation
MR and Issue of BLs for Export Vessels
Near Final DA (NFDA)
Final Voyage Account (FDA)/Recovery of Balance/Voyage Account Closure

21. Value Added Services
• Immigration, Disembarkation and Re –
Embarkation (Passenger Vessels)
• Fresh water/Bunkers/provisions
• Workshop Support
• Coastal Licence
• Charts and Books
• Assistance in case of Accidents
• Market / Trade Information
• Handling Marine Security Personnel
• Liaison with MOS/MOHA/MOD

22. Port Restrictions
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No of berths available, lengths
Draught – Channel and berths
Tidal variations
Availability of Pilots & Tugs
Fishing areas and pilferage
Berth Occupancy Limit
Minimum Load/Discharge Rates
Shore infrastructure

23. Standard DA Items
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Port Dues
Pilotage
Berth Hire
Priority Berthing Charge (Optional)
Anchorage Dues, if any
Tug Hire (Also Pull Back charge in case of SPMs)
Mooring/Unmooring Gangs
VTMS Charges (for GMB Ports only)
Oil Pollution Cess (Crude & POL Products)
Gangway Charges
Survey Fees
Light House Dues
Agency Fees
Stevedoring Charge (For liner cargo)
Service Tax

24. Sample Market Reports
J.M.BAXI
COAL UPDATE
Monthly Review of Policy, Trade & Industry Developments
Member, Baltic Exchange
NOVEMBER 2013
J.M. BAXI
DRY BULK MARKET REPORT
Daily Update on Bulk Commodity Trends & Develpments
MEMBER BALTIC
EXCHANGE
18th NOVEMBER 2013

25. Sample Market Reports
J.M.BAXI
CHEMICALS & FERTILISER UPDATE
Monthly Review of Policy, Trade & Industry Developments
Member Baltic exchange
NOVEMBER 2013
J.M.BAXI
AUTOMOTIVE LOGISTICS UPDATE
MONTHLY REVIEW OF POLICY, TRADE & INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS
MEMBER BALTIC EXCHANGE
NOVEMBER 2013

26. Sample Market Reports
J.M.BAXI
PROJECT CARGO UPDATE
REVIEW OF INDUSTRIAL PROJECTS & EPC DEVELOPMENTS
NOVEMBER 2013
Member Baltic Exchange
J.M.BAXI
PORT SECTOR UPDATE
Monthly Review of Policy, Trade & Industry Developments
MEMBER BALTIC EXCHANGE
NOVEMBER 2013

27. Normal Critical Factors
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Vessel Bunching
Condition of Ship & Ship’s Gears
BL & Manifest / MR
Cargo Condition on board or on shore
Quay Transfer Operation
Storage
Receipt/Delivery
Surveys – Draught/Ullage/Off & On Hire/
Bunkers/ Tally/Wagon loading/Unloading
Facility, Storage Yards

28. Extra Ordinary Critical Factors

PNI Clubs
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Classification Societies
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Security Guards
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PC for Last Port Call (OPL)

Freight Tax

Conversion to Coastal Status

29. PNI Clubs Permitted
 American Steam Ship Owners Mutual PNI Association
 Skuld Mutual PNI Association Ltd
 Gard PNI Limited
 Britannia Steam Ship Insurance Association Ltd
 London Steam Ship Owners Mutual Insurance Association
 North of England PNI Association
 The Ship Owner’s Mutual PNI Association
 Std. Steam Ship Owners PNI Association – London/Asia
 Steam Ship Mutual Underwriting Association Ltd
 UK Mutual Steam Ship Assurance Association Ltd
 Swedish Club
 West of England Ship Owners Mutual Insurance
Association

30. Classification Societies Permitted
American Bureau of Shipping
Bureau Veritas
China Class Society
Croatian Register of Shipping
Detnorske Veritas
 Indian Register of Shipping
Korean Register of Shipping
Lloyd’s Register of Shipping
NKK
Polish Register of Shipping
Registro Italio Navale
Russian Maritime Register of Shipping

31. Documents Required - Security
Guards
Arms & Ammunition List
Arms License
Flag State Approval Letter
Copy of Passport & Seaman’s Book (Guards)
Copy of Contract between Owner and
Provider

32. Restrictions – Security Guard
Arms & Ammunition to be kept in Bonded
Storage prior entry into Indian Water
Arms & Ammunition cannot be taken out
through any Indian Port
No Embarkation/Disembarkation at JNPT,
Mumbai, Mormugao, Mangalore and Kochi

33. Documents Required for Freight
Tax
Charter Party
Certificate of Incorporation
Indian Pan Card
Tax Residency Certificate
Freight Invoice
Proof of Freight Remittance

34. Documents Required for
Conversion
 DG (Shipping) Licence (SPL or SVL)
 General Trading Licence for Indian Flag Vessel Declarations
– Crew List, Stores List, Currency List, Arms & Ammunition
List.
 Vessel Certificates (PNI/Class etc)
 Vessel Declarations – Crew List, Stores List, Currency
List, Arms & Ammunition List.
 Declaration of consumption of Bunker, Provisions &
Consumables by Master
 Last invoices of Bunkers, provisions & consumables

35. Terms of Vessel Calls
 Free Out – Import, all cargo handling on account of
charterer/importer/consignee.
 Free In – Export, all cargo handling on account of
charterer/shipper.
 Liner Out – Import, discharge of cargo from ship’s holds till
freely hanging at hook point to be done by ship.
 Liner In - Export, loading of cargo from vehicles at hook point
to ship’s holds to be done by ship.
 Customary Quick Discharge – Load and/or Discharge Rate
fixed between owner and charterer, but free out or free in
terms otherwise

36. Challenges - Shipping Agency
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Global Recession
Fall in prices
Tight Cash Flow all around
Poor Port Performance
Competition – Low costs – NC practices
Exclusion Policy of Private Ports
Freedom of Major Ports to Frame Tariff
Manning by Indian Crew on Coastal Ships

37. Shipping Agency – A
Collective Effort
• Parties involved In Process– Ship Owner,
Charterer, Receivers/Shippers, Shipping
Agent, Stevedore, Shore Handling Agent,
Customs House Agent, Port, Customs ,
Immigration, PHO & Security.
• Main Drivers of the Process –Ship Owner ,
Shipping Agent and/or Charterer

38. Requirements for a Perfect
Collective Effort
• Empathy among the drivers.
• Comprehensive pre – arrival planning of the
ship’s call on the basis of requirements.
• Acknowledging weaknesses or lacunae in
advance mutually.
• Responsiveness.
• On time mobilization – Funds etc

39. Thank You