Over the past week, 2-8 December, no incident of piracy or armed robbery against ships in Asia.
Area of concern
The risk of customs fines for vessels when landed cargo figures differ from declared quantities.
The customs authorities increasingly fine vessels when landed cargo differs from declared figures, often relying on shore-side measurements and applying minimal tolerance. Fines are usually based on unpaid duties or market value and can escalate quickly, especially for high-volume commodities like rice, wheat, sugar, and fertilizers.
Even small discrepancies can trigger penalties, and shipboard measurements are often disregarded, making accurate documentation and draft surveys critical. Ships may also need to post security deposits during investigations. Ports like Dakar are known for strict enforcement, though some authorities are showing cautious leniency toward minor variances.
Lessons learned from an incident where a plastic pallet loaded with plastic lube oil drums fell while being hoisted.
What happened?
During transfer of lube oil drums via barge to a vessel in an anchorage, a plastic pallet loaded with plastic lube oil drums fell while being hoisted. The incident resulted in product damage (ruptured drums, oil spillage on deck). There was where no injuries nor structural damage.
What might have gone better?
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