Shipping lines want data to comply with new EU regulations too far ahead of deadline, claim
Shippers have hit out at carriers anxious to meet new EU regulations for demanding information too early.
The regulation requires shipping companies to submit information, such as bill of lading number and shipper and consignee name and address, 24 hours before loading onto a vessel that will call at an EU port, or, for shortsea traffic, two hours before entry at its first EU port.
However, Andrew Traill, MD of Shippers’ Voice and Policy Director at the European Shippers’ Council, said some carriers were asking for the data five days in advance of loading.
There are also reports that some carriers, rumoured to be European, are also threatening to impose a charge if shippers exporting to the EU do not supply them with a complete ocean bill of lading, including the container and seal number, by a deadline they set.
One North American shipper of temperature-controlled cargo was faced with a carrier requesting data, including container number and seal details, before it had delivered the box for loading.
“I guess we are supposed to make up the container numbers,” he said.
He added: “Also, one of these carriers has gone so far as to require government health certificate numbers by the same cut-off date, despite the reality that empty containers may not even be released for loading by their documentation cut-off date, and government regulators certainly aren’t going to issue certificates before cargo is containerised.”
Traill added: “Given that the EU data and regulations are similar to the requirements for cargo entering the US, it is surprising to see these problems.”
Traill suggested that shippers could be “forced to look for carriers with less silly demands”.
However, the charges and requirements for data to be submitted five days ahead of the deadline have so far been limited to a couple of carriers.
Since the new EU regulations came into force on 1 January, carriers have introduced a series of surcharges to cover the cost of implementation.
CMA CGM has introduced a Customs Documentation Charge of US$25 per bill of lading for containerised traffic, while Maersk Line has introduced a $25 per bill of lading Cargo Data Declaration Fee.
European feeder operator Unifeeder has added a charge of €23 ($30) per bill of lading.
Damian Brett | Wed, 26 Jan 2011 . IFW News