SOLAS Convention

SOLAS Convention

The SOLAS Convention is probably the most important of all international treaties concerning the safety of merchant ships. In 2016, the latest version of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS Convention) was amended. One of the most significant changes concerned a requirement of providing the documented VGM (Verified Gross Mass). …

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FIATA

FIATA

FIATA stands for International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations and takes its name from the French acronym of Fédération Internationale des Associations de Transitaires et Assimilés. This organization is the biggest non-governmental transportation company in the world and was first founded in 1926 in Vienna. Right now, its main headquarters are in Geneva. What is …

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AGRIM and AGREX licenses

AGRIM and AGREX licenses

AGRIM (Agricultural Imports) and AGREX (Agricultural Exports) licenses are related to the process of import and export of some agricultural products from or to countries outside the European Union. Both AGRIM and AGREX fall under Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) regulations. AGRIM and AGREX licenses The list of products subject to the AGRIM or AGREX requirements …

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Incoterms 2020 and sea transport – which one to choose?

Incoterms 2020 and sea transport

Notwithstanding experience in import of goods, a choice of a suitable Incoterms 2020 rule can be a challenge. It turns out that this decision has a considerable impact not only on the rights and duties of a buyer and a seller but also on incurred expenses. This article focuses on which terms are used the …

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CITES Convention

CITES

CITES (Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) is a multilateral treaty regulating the trade of more than 35 000 species – about 30 thousand species of plants and 5600 species of animals. One hundred eighty-three countries have signed the Convention. CITES brings attention to a global problem that illegal …

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AEO – What is it?

aeo

Authorized Economics Operator, or AEO for short, is a concept in business language that can be specified as an authorized entrepreneur or trusted entrepreneur. The AEO status makes it easier for entrepreneurs to go through customs procedures. A permit issued in one of the European Union countries is recognized in all EU member states. Other …

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CSC – What is it?

csc

Before imported goods can reach their final destination, they need to pass through a few stop-off points. One of them will most likely be a container terminal where the freight will go through all necessary procedures and eventually be brought on board. This whole process is not free of charge, and that is where CSC …

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AMS – Automated Manifest System

AMS is an Automated Manifest System, which is an electronic system operated by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) for transferring and verifying cargo data when exporting to the USA. It was introduced in 2004 and is the result of US efforts to reduce potential security threats. AMS function All air and ocean shipments sent to …

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BAF and CAF – What is it?

Abbreviations appearing on the valuation of cargo transport may confuse many importers. These are so-called freight additions, i.e., additional fees charged by forwarding companies to offset various variable costs incurred by them during the transport process. In the case of BAF and CAF, oil price fluctuations and currency fluctuations are compensated. It is worth familiarizing …

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LCL General Cargo

Sea transport is an economical way of exporting and importing goods. When using this type of transport, the forwarder must decide on the type of sea freight: the FCL (Full Container Load) or LCL (Less than Container Load) method. The FCL acronym refers to container transport and means that the entire rented container will be …

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