Shippers angry over `silly` security demands from carriers

THE Shippers` Voice, an online forum for shippers, has lashed out at a move by container shipping lines who demand advanced freight information five days ahead of loading rather accepting the 24-hour advance rule set by the EU.

Shippers Voice managing director Andrew Traill said that carriers` who demand shippers to produce container number and seal details before even delivering for loading, or in one case a request for government health certificate before containerisation, are "silly".


Empty containers are unlikely to be released for loading by the documentation cut-off date, and certainly an Official Meat Inspection Certificate (OMIC) would not be issued before loading, he added.


Mr Traill said a North American shipper of temperature-controlled cargo had just such a scenario with "fines" threatened if ocean bill of lading (OBL) was not produced within its arbitrary deadline, often way before the EU`s 24-hour advance notice of Entry Summary Declaration (ENS).


The shipper said his experience only extends to two shipping lines and reflects "how different carriers cope with tacking the same problems."