The procedure in port.
Import: If your goods arrive per ship, for example in Rotterdam, we will ensure that the container is collected from the port after it has been unloaded. There are then two alternatives: the container is transported directly to its final destination to be unloaded, or the goods are transferred to a lorry in our warehouse in Bergschenhoek and transported to their final destination.
This will depend on the type of goods and the distance. Containers received in Rotterdam that are destined for Spain, for example, will usually be transferred to a Spanish transport company’s lorry. We also receive many containers in Felixstowe (UK), most of which are transshipped for further transportation to the rest of Europe, including Germany, France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, the Czech Republic and Poland.
We calculate the most affordable solution for each container we receive (direct transport or transshipment). We will ensure that your goods are cleared when they enter Europe or stored in our AEO-certified customs warehouse (bonded warehouse) to await your further instructions.
As long as your goods are stored in our customs warehouse, you do not yet have to pay import duties or VAT, as these fees are only applied after the goods that have been cleared.
Export: Once you have prepared your consignment, we will collect it from your premises and transport it to Rotterdam. We may arrive with an empty container or collect your freight with a standard lorry and transfer it to a container later on. In the meantime, your goods will have already been booked on a ship to their destination. If you ask your customer to share their agent’s contact details with us, we will inform this agent when the goods arrive at their destination.
Useful information
Fees: All sea freight is charged by the tonne. The international agreement is that 1 m3 is equivalent to 1000 kg of chargeable weight, unless the actual weight is higher, in which case this weight will be applied.
Documents: Always ensure that you supply the correct invoices and packing lists so that no delays will occur in the event of a customs inspection. Physical customs inspections of incoming containers always begin with a gas measurement to ensure that no hazardous gases have formed in the container during the transport. If your goods could potentially form hazardous gases, please report this to us so that we can take it into account.
INCOTERMS
Incoterms (International Commercial Terms) is an international standard that describes the rights and obligations of buyers and sellers involved in the international transport of goods. The standard is developed and published by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC).
- EXW (Ex Works) terms
The buyer is responsible for collecting the goods from the seller. The transport costs are for the account of the buyer.
- FOB (Free On Board) terms
The seller delivers the goods to the port of departure and organises the export documents. The buyer pays for the sea freight and the clearance fees in the country of destination.
- CIF (Costs Insurance Freight) terms
The seller ensures that the goods are delivered to the port of destination. The buyer is responsible for clearing the goods and collecting them from the port.
As you can see, it is important for us to know which terms you have agreed with the seller so that we can calculate the appropriate transport fee.
If you agree to apply FOB terms, then we will invoice you for all fees from the port of departure to the destination of your goods. If you have agreed EXW terms, you will be charged for all transport and costs from the seller’s warehouse.
Complete overview of all current incoterms: INCOTERMS
