Ship agents are representatives
and attorneys of the owners of the ship or charterer, individually
or concurrently. They are responsible for operational activities
related to the loading and unloading of cargo, in addition to managing
commercial operations, maintaining vessels and assuring the continuity
of the travel. In the normal course of business, ship agents support
exporters, importers, customs forwarding agents, carriers, terminals
of containers and the port operators, port and customs authorities,
and other in their commercial activities.
The main activities of the ship agent are as follows:
Sales office: The ship agent acts as the commercial representative
of the shipowners, selling maritime freights (space inside
vessels) to exporters in order to export their cargo abroad.
The price is the core driver; however, the quality of the services
and the support provided by the ship agent are also significant
in the contracting of maritime freight.
Documentation services: Another important activity of the ship
agent relates to the documentation related to the vessels and
cargo shipped. A bill of lading must be issued for each container
on the vessel, which is the legal document that ensures responsibility
for the cargo during transportation.
Moreover, the ship agent must prepare a statement of cargo
for the vessel, which is the list of all containers loaded
and unloaded of the vessel in the port, and must submit this
documentation to the port and customs authorities, subsequent
ports and other institutions requiring such information.
Support to the vessels: With regard to each of the seaports
of the vessel, the ship agent is responsible for all measures
with respect to the presence of such vessel in the port, such
as preparation of the documents for the docking of the vessels,
providing the necessary information to the health and customs
authorities to release the vessel, providing fuel and provisions,
as well as any other needs of the vessel.
Equipment Control (empty containers): The ship agent also controls
empty containers, and interfaces with empty containers for
control over inventory, coordination of the delivery of containers
by importers, as well as delivery to exporters, control over
container repairs and other services related to empty containers.
Demurrage: The ship agent is also responsible for control over
the demurrage of containers. Upon unloading the container,
the importer must return, generally within 10 days, the empty
container. In the event the importer fails to return the container
within this period, the container is subject to demurrage,
and the importer must pay a fine for its use of the equipment
for a longer period. The ship agent is responsible for the
container until its return, including the collection, on behalf
of the shipowner, of any amounts owed by the importer.
