Port of Destination Regulations
COLOMBIA
1.- CARGO RELEASE. When transporting cargo to Colombia, remember that the ships´ agents does never see the original B/L issued at the port of loading. Importers file such documents directly with Customs and cargo is released by Customs.
2.- FRIEGHT COLLECT PAYMENT. Colombia has a very good withholding system of cargo till freight is paid: Port authority has to retain the merchandise till the ships´ agents release them upon freight payment. You therefore may accept freight collect without prior consultation with us. For these reasons, you cannot change from prepaid to collect after releasing the original B/Ls to shippers as cargo cannot be retained till payment when the originals show clearly “freight prepaid”. You must consult change of status from prepaid to collect once you have issued BL. In this case you need our written confirmation that such modification is possible, as we will by unable to retain the cargo once filed prepaid B/Ls. We have to arrange prior payment by consignees and have to correct OBLS.
In case, some other line slot-charters on your vessel, make sure that this freight is prepaid, as we are unable to retain the cargo which is not travelling on your documents but on the B/Ls of that other line.
DO NOT ACCEPT collect freight for non-commercial goods, like removals, used car, samples, advertising as these are many times abandoned by consignees without freight payment.
3.- SHORT AND OVERLANDED CARGO. Customs are very severe on both subjects and ships´ agents have to inform Customs three hours (yes, 3 hours) after finalizing the discharge of any inconsistencies. In case of LCL cargo, those 3 hours to count from the finish of stripping.
SHORT: within two months after unloading, the shipping line has to explain the shortage, however only two causes are accepted.
3.1.1. cargo was unloaded elsewhere, or
3.1.2. cargo never was loaded, and documents were wrongly issued.
Even so, these facts have to be documented and the shortage has to be covered within two months. If not covered, prove has to be provided that sale contract was declared rescinded.
OVER: this is prima facie SMUGGLE, unless you can show, within two days that:
3.2.1. cargo was loaded in the last minute (which is intended for airfreight), or
3.2.2. cargo is destined to another port.(prove is required)
Because of the above, obviously we strongly advise against accepting cargo on FCL/LCL basis as you would be liable for any inconsistencies.
4.- SPARE PARTS FOR VESSELS. Customs did not accept a special procedure. Therefore, spares coming to a port / airport to be picked up by a later vessel will continue to be problematic. Forget about air freighting spares to Bogota or other Colombian inland places. Custom clearing would take at least two - three weeks with heavy expenses on taxes and custom procedures. If you have urgent and very important spares to Colombia which cannot be forwarded to any nearby port in other countries, your are strongly requested to consult with us PRIOR to sending these spares so we can advise you on the best possible procedure AT THAT TIME.
5.- ISSUING BILL OF LADING. The Customs Laws holds shipping and airlines responsible for the documents issued in their names. For that reason, please be advised.
5.1. CONSIGNEE-NOTIFY
In either box a company in Colombia with address and city must be shown as otherwise Customs presumes a fly-by night operation –and furthermore we will have a problem to notify arrival and present the freight invoice.
Do never accept a company/address outside Colombia. This is an absolute No-No.
Neither accept a B/L issued in favour of the shipping line or your agent in Colombia as we are unable to legally endorse the document.
5.2. PORT OF DISCHARGE
For Buenaventura, Barranquilla, Santa Marta, please indicate the ports name followed by SPR (i.e. Buenaventura, SPR) for Cartagena please indicate CARTAGENA/SPR/MEB/CONTECAR.
5.3 FINAL PLACE OF DELIVERY
Many times, the notify is a Customs Depot outside the port. If the final place of rest is not clearly shown to be inside the port area, as indicated by the initials SPR, MEB and CONTECAR, the line will have to forward the cargo to those deposits, with all the costs and risks for your account. We strongly urge you to make this point very clear to your documentation people.
5.4. MARKS AND NUMBERS
The complete number of the container as well as the seal must be shown as well as the type of the box (20´, 40´, reefer, etc)
5.5. MODE OF TRANSPORT
FCL/FCL (CY/CY), LCL/LCL (CFS/CFS), LCL/FCL (CFS/CY) must be shown
5.6. FCL/FCL OF FORWARDERS (Consolidation cargo)
Customs insists that the remark “consolidated cargo” on cargo description box is made in the master B/L. Otherwise the Line will be responsible as if you were the consolidator.
5.7. DESCRIPTION OF GOODS
5.7.1. In case of “consolidated cargo” no further description is necessary.
5.7.2. In all other cases a generic description is requested like “machinery”, “textiles”, “chemicals” or whatever the forwarder puts into the document. However do NOT ACCEPT, not even for an FCL/FCL, non-informative descriptions like “general goods”, “freight all kind”, “non dangerous goods”, etc. Customs will surely order the stripping in the port and make a thorough inventory –a bad service to importers which may result in penalties to the client.
5.7.3. Shipper o his forwarder issue BS/L generally in Spanish to coincide with the description of the commercial invoice. However, you may accept English descriptions as long as it shows a specific commodity or merchandise.
5.8. WEIGHT
Transporters are exempted from the correct weight, however a more or less acceptable weight has to been shown. If no weight is shown in the B/L, Customs will weigh the cargo for your account and could apply fines.
6.- TRANSPORT OF EMPTIES. Empty containers may travel to Colombia without B/L. However a list of empty units to be discharged at Colombian ports must be sent before vessel arrival. This list must mention prefix and number of each container, size and type of unit as well as port of loading.
7- CUSTOMS FINES IN COLOMBIA AS OF 01JUL2000
7.1.- Very heavy fines: Up to US$4.000 for calling at a non-authorized port or intentionally hiding merchandise from Customs, i.e. clear cases of smuggle
7.2.- Heavy fines: -50% of the freight
- Late delivery of cargo manifest and other documents·Non electronic transmission of cargo documents
·When the shipping line does not delivery, within 24 hours, the incoming cargo to the customs deposits outside the port. (the risk only exists if documents are wrongly issued, se our point 5.3)
·Not filing, in time, the justification for overlanded cargo
·Not filing, in time, the justification for shortlanded cargo, or not covering the shorts in due course.
7.3.- Light fines: UP TO US$1.500 when vessel arrives unannounced, when delivering the cargo manifest without all conditions requested by custom laws and when short and overlanded cargo is not announced on legal requested time (INS015/2004)
Above information is only for your reference, and CSAV Group (China) shipping Co. ltd. does not take any responsibility for its authenticity and accuracy. If the contents in above regulations do not match with the rules or regulations required by local government, please refer to and follow rules and regulations officially published by local government