About
The Seminar unravels the complexities of the Port Agency sector, giving participants a window into this important shipping division. With lessons on operations, working documentation and handling accounts, the Port Agency seminar explains the fundamentals of the agency sector in relation to ports and terminals.
Specific Areas Covered:
SHIPS
The types of ships employed in dry cargo and liquid trades
Basic dimensions, design and construction details
Terminology of measurements
Compatibility of different ships for cargoes and trade routes
SHIP TYPES
Design and construction with particular reference to suitability for cargoes and trades
Dry & Wet Trades
Ship-borne cargo handling gear
CARGOES AND TRADE ROUTES
Commodities - their nature, characteristics, hazards and stowage requirements
Areas of production
Trade routes and seasonal variations including approximation of time and distance.
Alternative routes and seasonal variations.
REGISTRATION, CLASSIFICATION AND SURVEYS
Choice of flag, flag states, offshore registries, flags of convenience, classification societies & their role
Class maintenance programmes and class surveys, Safety certification, Port State Control
ISM Code – origin, application and audits
Role of the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) and national trade unions
PORT AGENCY OPERATIONS
The agent's role; obtaining business, identifying the principal
Dealing with port authorities, terminal operators, pilotage, towage, stevedores, riggers etc.
Services for Master and ship's personnel including bunkering, storing victualling, medical needs etc
Cash to master
SHIP DOCUMENTATION
Clearing of the vessel with statutory authorities including customs, port health and immigration
Problems of smuggling, drug offences, illegal immigration
Signing crew on and off and repatriation
Noting protest
Certificates, reason for and validity
CHARTER PARTIES
Standard forms of voyage and time charter parties and their suitability to different trades
Format and clauses common to all Charter Party forms
Voylay Rules 1993 and FONASBA Time Charter Interpretation Code 2000
Rights, responsibilities and liabilities of owners and charterers
Consecutive voyage contracts and Contracts of Affreightment
PORT WORKING DOCUMENTATION
Notices of readiness, arrived ship, statements of facts, timesheets
Avoiding disputes in connection with time counting
CARGO DOCUMENTATION
The importance of bills of lading in Port Agency & their functions
Bills of lading legislation – UK Carriage of Goods by Sea Act 1992 or equivalent national legislation
Hague/Hague Visby & Hamburg rules
Rules for combined transport including UNCTAD/ ICC
Clean and ‘dirty' Bills of Lading, Letters of indemnity, their use, misuse and the avoidance of fraud
Types of Bills of Lading: ocean, combined transport, waybills
Regulatory control of imports and exports including customs procedures and licensing
LEGAL ASPECTS FOR PORT AGENCY
The agent's relationship with his principal including law of agency
Charterer's nomination of agent and appointment by time charterers
Liabilities of the agent including authority, breach of warranty and fiduciary duty
The essentials of General Average including documentation
Cargo and other claims and the role of the owner's P & I Association
The role of the agent in arrest in rem
ACCOUNTS
Pro-forma disbursements accounts.
Identifying costs for owner's account, for time charterer's account, for voyage charterer's account, for
merchant's account.
Separation of owner's and charterer's financial responsibilities.
Freight collection and remittance. Recovery of overdue accounts.