DC

18 FEBRUARY 2018

i SHIPPING & TRANSPORT charterer is the party that drivescharterer isthe party this and discharging) andsettlement. The down intopre-fixture, post-fixture (loading cost effective manner? The shipagent. call iscarried outinthemosttimely and pull thisalltogethertoinsure thatthe port Who canprovide to theinvaluable service are theregulating governmental authorities. doctors, dentistsandthelike. Also engaged ship chandlers, securityfirms, repair firms, handlers, terminals, stevedores, surveyors, suchasthepilots,the ports tugboats, line voyage, many more are parties employed in ‘fixed’ toperform andavessel the starts few. the fueltopropel thevessels), tonamea ships), andbunker brokers (arranging for crewing andtechnicalmanagementof owner), the shipmanagers(supporting (commercially operatethevessel for the form thecharter), shipoperators brokers togetherto (bringingtheparties theseshipmentssuchasship and support Many are otherparties neededtofacilitate owner, whoagrees thecargo. tocarry Charterer hires thevessel from aship loading anddischarge. those moving of goods by shipatports to promote andprotect theinterests of centuries toprovide professional services Ship agentshave beenemployed for Ship agents–thevalueofquality Subcontinent region. across theMiddle East, Africa andIndian Agency has177officesin32countries and P&Icorrespondents. SharafShipping warehousing, anti-piracysecurityservices broking, freight forwarding, logisticsand cruise andnaval services, and chartering ship agencyservices, shipsupply services, provideris amajormarineservices offering Sharaf Shipping Agency, establishedin1976, S consistency andcompetence. built asolidreputation basedonintegrity, 122 officesacross 16countriesandhas established anextensive network ofover in shipping industry Asia, BLAhas With over 150years ofexperienceinthe best-known namesinthemaritimesector. tomany ofthe agency andlogisticsservices the region, BLAprovides first-classmarine an extensive network ofofficescovering in range ofmaritimeservices Asia. Through Ben Line Agencies (BLA)offers awide B HARAF EN The phasesofashipmentcanbe broken Once thecontract, party, orcharter is Here’s how theprocess begins: aship yearsForty ofexperiencehasputSharaf L INE S HIPPING A GENCIES A GENCY CEO), Inchcape ShippingServices agencybusinessesLBHGroupport (co- held topmanagementpositionswithglobal commodities markets. experience intheshippingand of WaterFront having amassed25years of Chartered ShipBrokers, andtakes thehelm and shipmanagers. leading charterers, owners, operators, pool and valueasakey tothe businesspartner WaterFront intothebenchmarkfor quality His personalambitionistodevelop WaterFront Vision, MissionandStrategy. development andexecution ofthe WaterFront Board andShareholders for Terry Gidlow isresponsible tothe — Maritime Services Terry Gidlow. Chief Executive Officer, WaterFront E picture oftheport, congestionandcostsor Will they provide anhonestand accurate with thetypeofcargo, terminalsandvessel? which shipagenthasthemost experience nominated agent. Ofgreatest importance, to confirmhisagreement tousethe right to ‘appoint’ thenominated shipagent right. The shipowner typically willhave the agent ortheshipowners may have this used, thecharterer may ‘nominate’ theship party Depending onthetypeofcharter provide theinformation needed? charterer? The shipagent. information usedfor theirbidsto the contacted toprovide timely andaccurate to form abid for thecharterer. Who is to add totheothervoyage costsinorder terminal loadanddischargeratessoon andterminal, dimensions oftheport myriad costs, ofitemssuchasport toassessthe load anddischargeports business. and operatorssuitabletobidonthe who sendsinquiriestothedifferent owners vessel markets through theirshipbroker, This process isbegunby accessingthe vessel topickupanddeliver theirgoods. determined, a theirnextstepistocharter factory, stores or thatoftheircustomers. satisfying theircargo needstosupply their process from theirinitialcontemplationof and logisticsarenas. intheshipping,maritime services marine award winning, reliable andtransparent Shipping Agency inapositiontopioneer XECUTIVE Prior tojoining WaterFront, Gidlow has Gidlow isafellow oftheInstitute Which shipagentiscontactedto inquiriesareFurther thenmadetothe Once theirinventory needsare P ROFILE Chemoil Energy Limited.Chemoil Energy Business Development for publicly-listed as Gidlow alsoserved Vice President of (Regional ManagingDirector – Asia). Member), andInchcape ShippingServices / Mergersand Acquisition andEXCO (Executive Vice President –Group Strategy insurance coverage, licencesandpermits? protect theirriskandyours withproper accounting practices? Are they prepared to advanced fundsby employing proper responsibility for theirprincipal’sfiduciary fiscally responsible by exercising their totheirprincipals?Isthecompany service best toolstoenablethemprovide great with trainingandequippingthemthe theiremployeessupport by providing them the bestpeople?Doescompany personnel andare they committedtohiring customs? Doesthecompany have depthin current onalloftherules, regulations and by promotingindustry itwhileremaining their managersshow leadershipintheir business? Dothecompany’s owners and committed andcapable toruntheir fundamentals. Ownership, are theowners withthe ship agencyby starting in your decisionmaking. Lookfor aquality toidentifydifferentiatorsimportant toaid callefficiently.the port experience andcommitmenttoexecute accurately andinatimely manner, withthe who iscommittedtoproviding information agent. committed toidentifyingaqualityship This iswhy shouldbe theparties underestimating coststowinmy business? will they paint arosy picture by Of thesedifferentiators, whichcompany As withany product orservice, itis A principalshouldselectashipagent Terry Gidlow. i FEBRUARY 2018 SHIPPING & TRANSPORT 19 DC To be prepared for all scenarios of a all scenarios for be prepared To enough to the portWho knows well ship and cargo, in your invested Having port call, a quality ship agency must invest agency must a quality ship port call, information in personnel, heavily technology to provide and training Through significant value to their principals. the the actions or inactions of a ship agent, cost of a port affected, call can be highly expenses per Port or negatively. positively between port in US ports call can average of $30–350,000 depending on the number due to delays in port, days berths called, and weather. delays cargo berth congestion, parties to establish with the different work loading/discharge docking, the best arrival, the cost Who is looking for scenarios? port In based serviceeffective providers? of day a single markets, freight low today’s using one tug gained by dockage or savings can be the equivalent of a full two versus the selected you Have charter hire. days’ who continually ship agent with knowledge you? for these savings to secure works make port them all, expenses and vetted in a quality and invest vet equally you sure ASBA identified as easily ship agent, Certified or FONASBA Quality Standard, port your calls. for ments, indentifying the quality vendors at the quality vendors indentifying ments, down track prices, the most reasonable consolidating all invoices missing invoices, to issuing payments into one agent invoice, The ship agent’s etc). the vendors, the principals also used by documents are the final freight for and the ship brokers if into the future settlement and well needed to settle disputes. - - Throughout the different phases of a the different Throughout Mentz Maritime Agency, Inc. Agency, Mentz Maritime Mid-Gulf Shipping Company Inc. Agencies, Moran Shipping Inc. Agencies, Moran-Gulf Ship Newship Shipping Inc.Nord-Sud North American Shipping Agencies Norton International Lilly & Lane Corp. Peabody Agency Shipping Riley-Sherman Agency SMK Tanker SouthportInc. Agencies, Inc. Tormar, Corp. Navigation Transmarine Agencies LP Ship Valls Gulf Harbor Shipping* * New Member Certification* New Pending shipment, the ship agent is involved from agent is involved the ship shipment, company’s The agency beginning to end. pre-fixture from involvement average inquiries to final settlement of a disburse ment account averages around 90 days on 90 days around ment account averages pre-fixture/ flag ships (30 days foreign to weeks three in port, days four arrival, collect bills and send final D/A and 30 days man hours many involves This to collect). Let’s 24/7. of the organization, at all levels actions that the ship agent’s also not forget the for savings in time result frequently arrange vessel principal (time to make v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v GENTS A HIP S

ERTIFIED

A.R. Savage & Son, Inc. & Son, Savage A.R. Inc. Shipping, ACGI American Shipping & Chartering Inc.Basden Agencies, L.P. Biehl & Co., Shipping Company Water Blue Inc. Agency, Bulkship Maritime Agencies Cascade Marine Shipping Services Green Fillette, GAC Agencies General Steamship Host Agency Shipping ServicesInchcape Inc. Connor, S. John Inc. Agency, Lott Ship Inc. Colon Sucrs., Ayala A. Luis Inc. Max Shipping, v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v ASBA C ASBA v ASBA-certified ship agents is willing and able to attain the highest in the industrystandard gaining the by of Ship Association title of the prestigious Agents (ASBA) Certified and Brokers the by Agent which is recognized Quality Associations of Ship of National Federation Agents (FONASBA) who awards & Brokers ASBA members their Quality agent ASBA website The (FQS)? Standard that must of the standards details provides to earn this qualification. be met annually to and cargo valuable ship risk your Why meet who is unable or unwilling to anyone these standards?