Tag Archives for " Africa "

ECTN SOUTH SUDAN INTRODUCED

By Godfrey | Blog

Juba, South Sudan | March 26, 2019

The South Sudan Customs Authority has introduced an Electronic Cargo Tracking Note (ECTN) for all shipments to South Sudan with effect from 1^st April, 2019.

Through a government circular dated 23^rd March, 2019 sent to all the regional Ports authorities; shipping and transport companies, the Director General notified the authorities on the implementation of the ECTN for all shipments to South Sudan (transit cargo included).

The shipper or forwarder is required to issue an ECTN which is elemental to import clearance by the South Sudan Customs Service, must be issued and validated at origin. Any Cargoes arriving without a valid ECTN will be blocked for delivery by the local customs in South Sudan until clearance of fines and presentation of an appropriate VALID ECTN is issued.

Each Bill of Lading must be covered by at least one ECTN. Shipping lines have been ordered to insert the UNIQUE ECTN NUMBER in the Bill of Lading and cargo manifest. Failure to comply with this new regulation will amount to attracting heavy penalties or fines against the Shipping lines amounting to more than US$5000 per infraction.

This new regulation takes effect as from April 1st 2019 (date of Bill of Lading).

Procedure to get an ECTN validation

1. The Consignee/ Supplier/Shipper abroad or at Port of loading sends a commercial invoice, Bill of Lading, Freight Invoice, Export document to Africa Shipping Logistics;
2. With the said documents Africa Shipping Logistics registers and opens a file in the ECTN system to apply for the ECTN;
3. Once a proper ECTN application has been lodged a UNIQUE number is assigned to the ECTN and the Authorities can validate of Reject the ECTN if the information provided do not comply;
4. Once the ECTN has been validated, Africa Shipping Logistics acting on the Consignee/supplier/Shipper’s instructions provides the validated ECTN to be indicated on the BL.

Africa Shipping Logistics is fully compliant to issue out ECTN for all your shipments destined to South Sudan. Please get in touch with us on +31 10 476 02 41 or send us your request to: info@africashippinglogistics.com and or s.sudan@africashippinglogistics.com

SHIPPING TO CONFLICT ZONES

By Godfrey | Uncategorized

Mombasa, Kenya | February 02, 2017

Over the years some parts of Africa have been engulfed in civil wars, secessionist and separatist conflicts with major episodes of national violence, riots, massacres etc. This acts of impunity has left over 9 million fleeing their homes and internally displaced people with the most vulnerable – young, old, sick and women left to fend for themselves.

In a bid to avert more suffering and deaths, the international communities, non-governmental organizations, and other well-wishers have worked hard to ensure that aid reaches to the affected areas.
Logistics has proved to be a major challenge in movement of the mission, relief and aid cargo shipments to the conflict zones. The shipper who mostly are located in the cargo country of origin have no or little knowledge of the conflict areas where the cargo has to be shipped to.
Other challenges faced are cargo safety and security concerns; geographical knowledge of the cargo delivery areas; poor road network and infrastructure; cumbersome port documentation processes with the customs, dealing with different regimes at destination have proved to be more difficult. Adding to this is finding a trusted and reliable service provider to ensure the smooth flow of your cargo.
Most cargo in some instances have ended up in the local market instead of the intended final destination. In some cases, the shippers have been lured by very low-priced rates, which eventually become much expensive once the cargo arrives at the port of discharge and documents handed over. The providers come up with other hidden charges which initially were not part of the initial offered rate.

At Africa Shipping Logistics, we understand these challenges faced by many shippers and have strived to ensure that our clients do not have to worry about their cargo while on transit. This kind of cargo requires efficiency and effectiveness in delivery without hindrance of the cargo smooth flow while on transit to the final destination.

We arrange and plan for the cargo movement from shipper’s door step to the final end destination, thus leaving the shipper free of the headaches and worries of their cargo.

Our qualified and experience personnel, ensures that the cargo is processed through customs from the port loading, discharge and various border points depending with the hinterlands destination without much delay. We also provide our clients with a direct contact person to ensure that they stay updated on the cargo movement while on transit.

Our executives always work hand in hand with the client, guiding them on all the formalities and processes involved from the arrangement, planning and advent loading of cargo at the country of origin. We also offer free logistics advice and consultancy to our clients on the cargo movement.

For Booking of space for your Mission, Relief or Humanitarian assistance cargo shipments please get in touch with us! You can call us on +31(0)10 476 0241 or send your request to info@africashippinglogistics.com ,WhatsApp on +31(0)6 4193 1340, Follow us on Twitter @AfricaShippingL and Facebook @AfricaShippingLogistics

Visit our website:www.africashippinglogistics.com to stay much updated about our services!

New Marine Cargo Insurance rule on Import Cargo to curb expatriation of $4.89Billions from East African economies

By Godfrey | Blog

Nairobi, Kenya | November 21, 2016,

The East African economies have been losing billions of dollars annually in form of Marine Cargo Insurance (MCI) premiums, which are being repatriated to foreign insurance underwriters. The regional shipping body Intergovernmental Standing Committee on Shipping (ISCOS) has attributed this trend to lack of proper knowledge by shippers and poor implementation of the existing state laws.

Kenya and Uganda have been losing More than $170M and $90M respectively to foreign insurance firms in form of Insurance premiums.

In the region, Kenya is setting up pace following the Kenya National Treasury’s directive to cargo importers requiring that all imports to Kenya be insured by Kenyan underwriters’ insurers with effect from January 1, 2017.

Permanent secretaries of the Ministries of Transport and Trade in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia met in the Port City of Mombasa where they directed ISCOS to spearhead the Marine Cargo Insurance initiative in all the member states.

The Regional Shipping body, ISCOS has already held various meetings with the Insurance authorities from the member states in a bid to work on modalities for the implementation of the policy directives when it comes into force.

The policy directive from ISCOS’ coordination committee gives it impetus to drive to on-shore MCI in the region, with a projected annual savings and retention of Millions of dollars in ISCOS member states’ economies.

According to ISCOS, Burundi, Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, Malawi and Zambia, exported marine insurance premiums worth more than $ 4.89 billion between 2009 and 2013.

Africa Shipping Logistics can arrange all your door to door cargo logistics and Marine Cargo Insurance for your cargo to any part of East and Central Africa from anywhere around the globe. Call us today on +31104760241 or email us: info@africashippinglogistics.com

Mission and Relief Cargo to Africa

By sowmedia | Blog

In movement of the mission and relief cargo shipments there are various challenges faced by the shipper who mostly are located in the cargo country of origin.  Most of the challenges faced are much attributed to geographical knowledge of the cargo destination; documentation processes with the customs and the government at destination which have proved to be more cumbersome. Adding to this is finding a trusted and reliable service provider to ensure the smooth flow of your cargo.

Most cargo in some instances have ended up in the local market instead of the intended final destination. In some cases, the shippers have been lured by very low-priced rates, which eventually become much expensive once the cargo arrives at the port of discharge and documents handed over. The providers come up with other hidden charges which initially were not part of the initial offered rate.

At Africa Shipping Logistics, we understand these challenges faced by many shippers and have strived to ensure that our clients do not have to worry about their cargo while on transit. This type of cargo requires efficiency and effectiveness in delivery without hindrance of the smooth flow of cargo while on transit to the final destination.

We arrange and plan for the cargo movement from your door step to the final destination, thus leaving you free of the headaches and worries of your cargo.

Our qualified and experience personnel, ensures that your cargo is processed through customs from the port loading, discharge and border points without much delay. We also provide you with a direct contact person to ensure that you are updated on the cargo movement while on transit.

Our executive will always make a follow up with you as we begin the arrangement and planning of your cargo from your country of origin. We also offer free advice and consultancy on the movement of your cargo.

For Booking of space for your Mission, Relief or Humanitarian assistance cargo shipments please get in touch with us! You can call us on +31(0)10 476 0241 or send your request to info@africashippinglogistics.com

Visit our website to stay much updated about our services!