When goods are ready for export and get a clearance from the dispatcher area, this is called a shipment. If you are planning shipment then you have to go through the many steps and stages. This process starts from booking the goods on a shipping line and ends with the final delivery of the goods. All the arrangements and procedures have to be followed by the exporter and the importer and they have to sign a deal with the entire supply chain that will handle the international shipping process. This process includes:
The carrier/shipping line
Ports at origin and destination
Packaging and loading services
Inland transport services
Customs authorities at origin and destination
Banks on both sides of the transaction
Freight forwarders and customs agents on both sides
The insurance company
Complete process of the International Shipping
Documents Required in Shipment Planning
When you are planning for a shipment, then your plan will be processed in stages – pre-booking, booking, post-booking and discharge. Also if types of documents are required and you need to submit all these documents in each stage.
1. Pre-Booking Stage
Preliminary bill of sale
Contract of sale
Itemized list of the shipment’s contents
Certificate for Origin of the goods
Letter of Credit – this is a Promise letter which is issued by the importer’s bank to pay the exporter an agreed upon sum
2. Booking Stage
Contract for reservation of carrier space
Declaration by the exporter that the shipment contains goods classified as dangerous
3. Post-Booking Stage
Checklist released electronically by customs prior to the filing of the Shipping Bill
Shipping Bill/Bill of Export – Application of customs clearance of the goods
Declaration of the shipment’s verified gross mass (VGM)
Permission for the goods to enter the port
Exporter’s instructions to the car carrier /freight forwarder for shipment invoicing
Document certifying that the goods are insured
Endorsement by customs allowing the goods to be handed over to the carrier for export
Draft released by the carrier before it issues the final Bill of Lading
Contract of carriage of goods
Electronic Export Information
EIC Certificates – Certificates issued by the Export Inspection Council (EIC) for the quality and safety of Indian exports
Phytosanitary Certificate – Document certifying that the goods are free of pests
4. Discharge Stage
Legal document filed by the importer with customs on or before the arrival of imported goods
Document issued by the carrier to the importer to take delivery of the goods
Statement that the goods comply with product specifications and production standards
Confirmation that wooden packaging material used is free of pests
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