Ship and Cargo Surveying

Marine vessels are often subject to surveys, for many reasons. A potential owner will usually want a detailed survey of the ship before a decision is made, or an insurance company might need to assess a claim following an accident. Sometimes, surveys of cargo are even carried out if there’s a suspicion of fraud among the ship’s personnel.

A survey of the ship’s cargo may need to be carried out in order to address safety and liability concerns. There are cargo surveying services in many ports around the world, ready to help customers, owners and anyone else with an interest with their concerns. In some cases, insurance companies and government agencies may also want to have a cargo survey carried out. Cargo surveyors can be independent or employed on behalf of a company.

Marine or Ship Surveyors have a wider remit, which sometimes includes a cargo survey too. A surveyor will board a vessel to assess, monitor and report on its condition, including the cargo if requested. Marine surveyors can also inspect brand new ships’ equipment to make sure that it’s safe for use on a vessel.

A marine survey usually involves a detailed inspection of a ship’s structure, machinery and equipment, along with an assessment of its general condition. Marine Surveyors are highly qualified professionals and have to pass several evaluations before they are qualified to approve vessels to go to sea.

Surveyors are often called in on behalf of insurance companies, because of the specialised area they deal with. Most insurers wouldn’t have the level of skill or training to be able to assess a vessel’s condition, and so independent surveyors are often hired to provide a professional and completely unbiased view.

If cargo is being surveyed, the surveyor will usually take a careful look at all of the ship’s cargo areas, in addition to asking for selected cargo to be opened. They may also want to talk to the ship’s personnel to discuss how it was loaded or is to be unloaded. If the cargo isn’t yet loaded up onto the ship, the surveyor can ask for it to be moved to a suitable place, such as a warehouse, while the loading plan is assessed. You can expect a cargo surveyor to bring a camera and take photographs and notes while they move around the cargo area and ship.

Some of the issues that might arise during a cargo inspection include:

• Correct documentation

• Illegal or questionable items

• The ship’s destination imposes restrictions on incoming cargo

• Safety issues and hazards

Cargo surveyors also want to check that any cargo is properly stowed, securely fastened and evenly distributed. They can ask for cargo to be moved if they have safety concerns.After reviewing a planned cargo a report will be prepared, and any documents that are needed for moving the loads between ports are drawn up. A review of the contents can also be drafted for insurance purposes or in cases where a ship owner suspects fraudulent activity.

What is the Baltic Dry Index?

The Baltic Dry Index, also known as the ‘Dry Bulk Index’ is a way of measuring the cost of transporting raw materials such as metals, grains and fossil fuels by sea. The Baltic Exchange looks at twenty different worldwide shipping routes for various materials every working day and averages them into one index. This Index is made up from three separate sub-indexes which apply to different sized merchant ships, or ‘dry bulk containers’, Capesize, Panamax and Supramax. 

The Baltic Exchange is the official London-based shipping global marketplace used for brokering shipping contracts which was created back in 1744. The Exchange contacts shipping brokers on a daily basis in order to assess the cost of transportation for any specified route, product to transport and the time (speed) to delivery. The index is quoted every working day at 1300 London time. 

These indexes are useful to traders, who use them to settle forward freight agreements, and they are used by investors and economists to find out about the current demand for shipping services contrasted with total shipping capacity.

When the BDI increases, the increase directly increases their margins and revenues, but when it decreases, producers see increased margins, and consumers get lower prices for their goods.The Baltic Dry Index is generally thought to be a good indicator of global trends in supply and demand, and a trustworthy indicator of future economic growth and contraction, because it looks at the value of the type of cargo that isn’t usually speculated on; raw, pre-production materials.Although the BDI has been a reliable way of predicting performance for centuries, the supply of large carriers tends to remain very tight and sometimes long lead times and high production costs can lead to volatility when the global demand for a particular route or cargo increases – or even unexpectedly drops. An example of this was back in 2008, when on June 5th(Capesize) bulk carrier was fixed at a record daily hire rate of $280,000 per day, but within the space of five months, the value of the same ship had plummeted to just $2,800 per day.

Overall, the BDI is considered to be one of the most useful indicators of global raw material and infrastructure demand, as it’s unaffected by consumer spending trends, or speculative players. The trading activity on the BDI is limited to member companies, so it only applies to parties who actually have ships or cargo.

Sailing Destinations from Felixstowe

The world seems like a smaller place these days, and we play some part in that with our regular sailings from one of the UK’s busiest container ports, Felixstowe.
We’re always pleased to be able to extend the services we provide from Felixstowe it’s a great choice for our customers as it’s Britain’s biggest and busiest container port, and also one of the largest in Europe.Including our regular services, The Port of Felixstowe handles over 4000 ships every year, and is vital to shipping, and to trade because of its excellent road and rail links around the UK and some of the deepest water close to the open sea of any European port.
We can offer our clients weekly sailings from this excellent port, to many of the world’s most popular destinations, so whether you want to transport your coal across to the Far East, or you’re relocating your home and starting a brand new life with your family in Australia, we can help you with whatever you need to move.
We travel to the Far East via either Singapore or Hong Kong, a very useful route which has proved to be very popular with our clients. There is a great range of destinations available including ports in Thailand, Japan, Malaysia and Indonesia.
In Australia we can deliver your shipments to useful ports around the country, including Fremantle in Western Australia, the Brit-centric state capital which was named after Captain Charles Howe Fremantle, the English naval officer who pronounced possession of Western Australia. We also ship regularly to the major cities; Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Hobart.We carry on along Australasia with a variety of convenient ports in New Zealand, another favourite destination place for people from the UK to settle.
America is a really popular destination for many of our ships, which is why we have weekly sailings from the Port of Felixstowe, opening up the entire North American continent for business, trade and emigration. Whether you’re changing your life and need all of your worldly goods transported to New York, or you’re interested in sending a shipment across to New Orleans, we have it covered,  and our services from Felixstowe stretch as far as Jacksonville in the east and Seattle on the west coast. We can even make a North Pacific stop and drop your freight off in Honolulu, Hawaii. Felixstowe handles all of our shipments headed for India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka too, with ports in Bangalore, Chennai, Mumbai and many more all covered on a regular basis. For more information on all of our destination ports, sailing times and more, go to our website and download our handy sailing schedule.

Sustainability and how to get there

We know how hard it can be for renewable energy companies to deal with the unique
challenges and processes that underpin supply chain management and logistics, and
so we are here to help you make sense of the sector and take some of the stress out
of managing your supply chains.

Whether your company deals in wind farm equipment or other renewable energy
supplies, there are likely to be areas that concern you on a daily basis. Our
expertise in the area means that we're aware of some of the more common issues that
can cause concern, and we are able to deal with them.

If you're trying to grow a business in sustainable energy supplies, but wondering
how you can keep tabs on your shipping, sourcing and other business costs so that you can make renewable energy an affordable option for more people, and increase demand, we can give you some ideas.

If you're worried about catering for potentially higher demand in the long term while not over supplying right now when demand isn€'t so high, it i€™s something we can help with. We can also help you with managing materials for today€™s requirements while you keep on top of the advances and importantchanges which are coming up in the future.

We will help and advise you on ways to create the perfect supply network for your
needs, and we can study your current supply chain too and highlight any opportunities for improvement, money saving and of course customer service. We have an enviable web of longstanding friends and associates around the globe who are always happy to help and advise us too, so if we can't solve a problem ourselves, we are sure to know somebody who can.

We can help your company balance its supply and demand, to help you make better
business decisions. Analysing your spending, strategically sourcing your materials and parts and more all help you to simplify your existing procurement services.

We can even help you with the design, management and sourcing of a logistics network and help you to come up with the ideal solutions for efficiently moving your materials. We can give your business valuable information about best practice in shipping, selling and buying from all around the world, and we have many years of experience with ship broking, ships agency, shipping and forwarding and logistics. Our valued clients in the renewable energy industry trust us to understand the challenges of their business and suggest ways forward that they might not have thought of.

What is a shipping agency or a shipping agent

What is a shipping agency or a shipping agent

A shipping agency can be described as a designation for a company charged with the responsibilities of handling shipments and cargos at the ports and harbours on behalf of shipping companies. Shipping agencies handle the normal routine tasks of a shipping company and then supplies the shipping company with regular updates and reports of all activities handled at designated ports or harbours.

The key responsibilities of a shipping agent

• A shipping agent primarily ensures that all shipping consignments berth successfully at the ports.

• He arranges for the Pilot and tugs of consignments when necessary.

• He draws up and arranges all necessary documents needed by the customs and port services for clearing goods.

• Assists the shipping company in making contacts with harbor service authorities and local authorities

• Collects, handle and transfer Freight Cargoes from the berthing ports to their destinations.

• Arrange for special storage systems such as Bunkers when necessary.

• Organizes transportation and supply of shipped items

• Organizes for repairs when necessary.

• Make contacts with the shippers and the receivers of goods

• A shipping port agent performs some other specific tasks, these include;

• Checking notices and sailing lists

• Providing necessary data and information regarding freight rates

• Making bookings of cargos

• Arrangement and delivery of the compulsory documents needed to clear shipment packages, these documents will include; shipping permits, Booking lists, and delivery orders.

• Making contacts with the forwarders of shipments for the delivery of their goods,

• Settling up any claims on Cargos with shipment Insurance companies, and

• Complete all formalities with security agencies such as Customs and immigration for final clearance of shipments.

Shipping agents charge varying types of fees depending on the terms of services rendered to shipping companies. Shipping agents often work hand-in-hand with Cargo brokers to facilitate the clearance and final delivery of shipments to their destinations.

T. Ward is a specialist shipping agency. Visit there website for more information.

What Can I Ship from the UK

What Can I Ship from the UK

There are virtually any kind of item you can ship from the UK. The fact that there are thousands of shipping agencies and companies providing diverse kinds of services in the UK has made the industry become very competitive. The shipping industry in the UK provide shipping services for smaller items as well as Moving services for vehicles, office appliances, Industrial technologies and Manufactured goods and services at affordable rates. There are specialized shipping companies that can even ship pets and some other fragile animals and plants.

Shipping from the UK can be challenging, especially when you are not familiar with the type of shipping company you are dealing with, the kind of handling , warehousing and transportation services you will need and how your items will be cleared at the destination address- but with a reputable and competent shipping company, you don’t have to worry about getting your shipments. An ideal shipping company can get your goods delivered from the UK in the safest and timely manner.

Features of a good shipping company

Just because you can ship virtually anything from the UK does not mean you should rely on any shipping agent you find. Here are some tips on how to find the best shipping agents;

• Experience. Your preferred shipping agent must be familiar with the shipping trends in the UK.

• Licenses matter. You need to check that your preferred shipping agent or company is registered to operate in the UK . Some shipping agents and service providers have had their licenses suspended but are still operating, therefore you must check licenses.

• The wider the services rendered, the more reputable they are. Always go for shipping companies that offer an all-inclusive service that will cover your shipment from transportation, packaging, insurance , clearing and delivering. An all-inclusive shipment services will save you money and energy.

Sizing up your needs

Shipping containers come in a wide range of different sizes and shapes, so if you are thinking of hiring one, or even buying one, you need to think very carefully about the type of container which will best suit your needs. It’s wise to consult the shipping container manufacturer or agent before making a final choice, as most reputable merchants will have their own reference sheets available to make your selection from.

Here are a few things that you will need to take into consideration before you make that decision.

Selecting a shipping container

Look for a container which is durable, made from a long-lasting material such as high tensile rust inhibiting corten steel, and has a CSC plate (MoT) which means that you can use it for shipping.

Containers are available in a wide variety of sizes and types â€" for example 40ft, 20ft, 10ft and 8ft x 8’6” standard height, or 9’6”, and with single or double ended doors.

The contents

What will you be using the shipping container for? It goes without saying that you need to think carefully about what you intend to put in the container, and consider whether it’s going to be large enough for your needs. Your first task is to calculate the volume of the items you intend to store or transport, and if this is proving a challenge, ask the shipping company for their advice.

The size of the container

Look at the list of container sizes available from your chosen agent, and if necessary compare lists of suppliers to see who has the most appropriate size for your needs. Don’t be afraid to ask questions; contact the supplier and find out prices and suggested uses before you make your choice.

Think about where you will keep the container when it’s delivered. Depending on what you need the shipping container for, you will have to consider any limitations on the size, and in some cases you need special permission to keep the containers on your property if they are over a certain size.

Future Considerations

Don’t buy too small â€" if you think you might need more storage in the future, you could regret not opting for a larger container. On the other hand, if you opt for a larger shipping container than is strictly necessary, it may turn out to be rather a waste of money.

If you are hiring your container, you can upgrade if necessary, but that’s not always an option if you’re buying your container outright. Consult a reference sheet for guidance if you aren’t sure.

T.Ward Shipping Website