Advisories Tag: India

Please be informed that with effective from 15th March 2025 (Sail and Discharge) the quantum of TERMINAL HANDLING CHARGES (Export and Import) at Visakhapatnam (Vizag) terminal will be revised as below: 

** The effective date for THL to be based on “ETD from POL” and the effective date for THD to be based on “ETA at POD”

 If you have any questions or seek further clarification, please contact our local Sales and Customer Service Representatives for details and bookings. 

 Please be informed that with effect from 01st February 2025 the quantum of Toll FEE ( Export and Import) at Nhava terminal will be revised as below: 

** The effective date for TLE to be based on “ETD from POL” and the effective date for TLI to be based on “ETA at POD” 

 If you have any questions or seek further clarification, please contact our local Sales and Customer Service Representatives for details and bookings.

 Please be informed that with effect from 10th January 2025 (Sail and Discharge) the quantum of TERMINAL HANDLING CHARGES (Export and Import) at CHENNAI – CCTL terminal will be revised as below: 

** The effective date for THL to be based on “ETD from POL” and the effective date for THD to be based on “ETA at POD” 

 If you have any questions or seek further clarification, please contact our local Sales and Customer Service Representatives for details and bookings. 

 Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) has recently announced the execution of parallel run Sea Cargo Manifest and Transshipment (SCMTR) with current manifest process effective 1st June 2024.

Starting from 1st July 2024, parallel testing must be strictly conducted for all filed manifests and any incompliance or deviation may result customs delay and penalties. Therefore, we need your immediate attention and cooperation to provide timely and accurate Shipping Instruction per below requirement with immediate effect.

Scope of SCMTR

1. Apply to all cargoes intended for discharge, loading or transshipment at any Indian ports, and to the cargoes transiting through any Indian ports (i.e., foreign cargoes remaining on board). 
2. Customs filings as per SCMTR regulation will also apply to any Shipping Line cargoes transiting via Indian ports on vessels without any loading or discharge in Indian Ports. Therefore, all requirements applicable in this scenario must be fulfilled, including the filing of the manifest for foreign cargo remaining on board in such cases. 

Sea Arrival Manifest (SAM) – For all containers into India:

1. SAM must be filed in customs before vessel getting departed from Last Foreign Port of call. Example of last foreign port call per proforma schedule: Port Klang for KCIS westbound / Dar Es Salaam for GIA northbound / Dammam for SGI northbound. 
2. In any circumstances where omission of proforma last foreign port of call, the previous port of call becomes the last foreign port of call. 
3. Shipping Instruction must be provided at least 72 hours before departure of last foreign port of call, or the SI Cut off time provided by our POL office per local practice. 
4. For ALL containers discharging for local or transhipment or retain on board at any Indian Ports. 
5. Harmonized (HS) Code of 6 digits is mandatory. Only one major HS code per container is required. 
6. Consignee and Notify Party’s IEC Code (10 digits) is mandatory for Indian actual importer (not applicable for Forwarder or NVOCC), to be shown on BL Body. 
7. Consignee and Notify Party’s Permanent Account Number (PAN with 10 digits) is mandatory for Indian actual importer, Indian Forwarder and NVOCC, to be shown on BL Body. 
8. The local legal identification is required wherever an Indian party is involved (as Shipper, Consignee or Notify party). 
9. For personal goods, consignee’s Passport number instead of IEC is mandatory. 
10. Cargo Invoice value is currently OPTIONAL on Manifest and NOT NEEDED ON OBL. 

Permission for Amendments:

General Amendments: 

1. All amendments related to an import shipment must be received prior to 48 hours before the departure of the vessel from the last foreign port of call. 
2. Any changes in the bill of lading information after the filing of the Import manifest with Indian customs would necessitate an amendment to the manifest and subject to approval from the Customs authorities. Such manifest amendments attract customs fines and penalties. 

Switch B/L:
The issuance of Switch B/L is permitted, but it must be completed before 72 hours of the vessel’s sailing from the last foreign port of loading before India. However, it is important to note that the Switch B/L is not feasible for containers loaded from the last foreign port of call before India due to time constraints. 

Change of destination (COD): 

1. Change of destination (COD) will be allowed only 72 hours before the vessel departs from the last port of call. 
2. Any changes in the bill of lading information after this deadline will lead to discrepancies in the arrival manifest. 
3. In such cases, customs manifest amendment is inevitable, and it attracts customs fines and penalties. 
4. Therefore, it is crucial to ensure that any change of destination requests must be made within the specified timeframe to avoid complications and penalties 

Remark: Above timelines are to Indian customs. All requests are subject to the acceptance of ESL by evaluating the internal and external amendment process with customs approval. Customs amendment charge is subject to final decision by customs. 

House BL (HBL) Filing arrangement 

1. Deadline for submission of house BLs by forwarders in India should be 72 hours prior departure of the vessel at last foreign port. 
2. DPD, DPD/CFS, switch details to be informed to the carrier by local forwarders or consignees prior departure of the vessel at last foreign port. 

For ensuring smooth process, we will keep close liaison with concerned parties for system and process integration. We are looking forward to your kind support and get familiarized with the Regulations. Please contact our local agencies if any assistance is required.

Supplementing to our Important Notice on Container Weight in last June, APM Terminal Mumbai has already announced its strict control on the container weight for compromising the safety at the terminal and reducing avoidable costs. All containers mis-declared for weight will be charged in line with the scale of rates together with any extra charges incurred. These charges will be applied with immediate effect to the account of the cargo owners. Please note that accurate container weight declared to our company and the terminal is mandatory.
Appreciate your cooperation.

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WRONG DECLARATION OF CONTAINER WEIGHT
16th June 2011

Dear Valued Customers,

Regarding recent serious incidents due to wrong declaration of container weight, we need to draw your urgent attention and compliance of the policy on accurate weight declaration. Please note that wrong declared container weight will definitely lead to the following severe incidents to the extent of damage to property damages and loss of human life.

• Damage to the containers
• Damage to the terminals
• Damage to the vessels
• Accidents leading to injury or casualty
• Legal Weight Restriction
• Negative Impact on Vessel Planning
• Rolling of Containers and Loss of income

Taking the obligation, you have to stow / load / count the cargo in container and declare the ACCURATE CARGO DESCRIPTION AND WEIGHT at time of booking, laden gate in terminal and shipping instruction. We must emphasize that we will with immediate effect introduce a regime of weight spot checks, and should any containers be found exceeding the declared weight, we will hold the container and take appropriate actions. All pertaining charges incurred and consequences are to the account of the customers. Moreover, we will reserve the right of any legal action and prosecution should any person or property related with Emirates Shipping Line be harmed resulting from the wrongly declared container weight.

We are looking forward to your full cooperation and support. Should you have any queries, please feel free to contact our local office for details. Thank you for shipping with our company.

Unquote *****