Sailing times and Changing Tides â€" How it affects shipping agents
Changing ocean tides can actually affect sailing times as well as the time frames for the delivery of shipments at ports. The condition of a sailing ship especially when wind directions bears against their surface can lead to slow delivery. Changing tides occur as a result of changes in Air pressures on the tidal heights and it can be very embarrassing most times. There are many distractions caused on shipments because the time duration of changing Tides vary from a day to the other.
Many shipping companies now make use of advanced GPS systems as part of their Coastal Navigation system that helps them predict the likely effects which changing tides will have on sailing times. Changing tides affect shipments more , especially when such shipments are heading windward.
Effects of changing tides on sailing times and shipment services
A shipping agent often scan the Tide table and send it to a shipping company , so as to inform such company about the time frame under which any shipment will arrive. A shipping agent will inform a shipping company about possible shifting of anchorage as a result of the changing tides. Changing tides does not only affect sailing times, it can also lead to extra charges on shipment, transportation, storage and handling.
• Changing tides will increase Pilotage and Towage costs,
• Changing tides can result in extra expenses on hiring labour,
• It can lead to an increase in fees payable on additional storages such as Bunkering.
• Making booking for berthing becomes difficult because a shipping agent may not be able to formalize all documents with customs and some other local authorities.
Changing tides do not only affect sailing times, it results in extra charges payable by shipment owners and for this reason, some shipping agents often charge more than usual to cover for any extra time spent in shipping, transporting and handling shipments.
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