8/8/2019 Shippers Agent

1/7

8/8/2019 Shippers Agent

2/7

SHIPPERS AGENT

A "Shipper's Agent" is not a carrier, freight forwarder, orbroker. Shipper's agents generally arrange for thetransportation of truckload or container loadshipments. Shipper's agents commonly provide

services related to warehousing or loading andunloading.

A Shippers' Agent is a natural person or business entity

who or which acts as an agent on behalf of cargoowners or shippers, or both, to procure cargo on behalfof a cargo owner or shipper for whom the agent is alsoarranging for the carriage of goods.

8/8/2019 Shippers Agent

3/7

The shippers agent or for brevitys sake the agent, is thus in away the trusted representative of the owner in a harbour. Heis allowed to act in the owners name with regard to the right

and duties of the owner towards third parties.

The responsibilities/competencies as well as the remunerationof the agent may be explicitly entered into a contract which

has been concluded between himself and the owner. Thispractice is very common in the liner trade. In tramping, theagent usually has a tacit competency to act in the owner'sname. Consequently, in the tramping there is almost never a

written contract between the agent and the owner. In anycase, the owner remains legally liable for the acts taken bythe agent in the frame of the agency.

8/8/2019 Shippers Agent

4/7

The duties of a shipping agent are very variable and

depend mainly on the sort of service he has to render(liner traffic or tamp trade). Some duties will be thesame for both services such as the duties with regard tothe agency or dispatch of the vessel; other duties will be

typical to the liner trade such ensuring there is enoughcargo in the port of call (this is called acquisition).

There are several categories of shipping agents such as:

1. Port agents

2. Liner agents

8/8/2019 Shippers Agent

5/7

1. Port agent:The port agent is the representative of the owner in a

certain harbour in the tramp trade. There isusually no written agreement between the ownerand the port agent, so that in fact, the latter has atacit responsibility/competence. His tasks may bemultiple and may include:

Make-up the documents for the customs andharbour services;

Arrange for the necessary ship provisions;Arrange for the necessary repairs; Convey instructions to and from the owner Contact the shippers and receivers of the goods; Organize the supply, transport and the handling of

the goods;

8/8/2019 Shippers Agent

6/7

Organize the necessary contacts with the stevedores.

in case of damage, make the necessary contacts with

the insurance company.

2. The Liner Agent:

In harbours in which the company does not have his ownorganization, the owner of a liner trade will appoint aliner agent.

The relationship between the liner agent and the owner(the principal) is laid down in an agreement called"agency contract" or "agency agreement".

8/8/2019 Shippers Agent

7/7

REFERENCE:

http: www.maritimeknowhow.com