SHIPPING THE GOODS

             The following steps are involved in the shipment of goods:

1.                  Submitting the documents to the forwarding agent and indicating to him the steamer/airliner.  Simultaneously space has to be booked on the steamer/airliner after negotiating freight with them as discount is generally given on amount of freight.

2.                  Based on the documents submitted by you the forwarding agent prepares the Shipping Bill/Bill of Export and gets it passed by the Customs Authorities.

3.                  Moving the goods in the Docks/Air Cargo Complex.

4.                  Offering the goods for Customs examination.  The Customs official (Appraiser) examines the goods and certifies the same for loading.

5.                  Handling over the cargo/container to Port Authorities/Shipping Company/Airline Company for loading on the steamer/aircraft.

6.                  Certificate on the GR form by the Customs and handing over the duplicate copy of the same to the forwarding agent.  The consignment is now said to be out of charge.

7.                  One the goods are loaded you should demand a Bill of Lading/Airway Bill, GR form, Export Promotion Copy of the Shipping Bill, Freight Certificate etc.

8.                  Small consignment (approx. upto 10 kgs.) can be shipped by Air Post Parcel.  Shipments are permitted by Sea Post Parcel as well.

If necessary you should avail the facility of container cervices provided by some companies.  Containerisation is a method of distributing merchandise in a unitized form thereby permitting an intermodal transport system providing a possible combination of rail, road, canal and maritime transport. 

For the purpose of shipment of goods, selection of a good freight forwarding agent is very important.  While selecting a freight forwarding agent, you should take into account various factors like location, facilities, rates, service flexibility and efficiency of the agent.

After the goods have been shipped you should send ‘Shipment Advice’ in aligned format to the importer intimating the date of shipment of the consignment by a named vessel and its expected time of arrival at the destination port.  Where the goods are send by air, the shipment advice should be faxed to importer.