New York: 
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Definition A generally accepted definition in shipping circles is that the agent is a person or company acting on behalf of a Principal (ship owner, charterer, manager etc.). appointed to carefully and with the Principal's interest uppermost, look after that Principal's business, in so far as the vessel involved is within his (the agent's) jurisdiction. The agent is, in fact, the responsible representative of the ship owner, manager, charterer etc. empowered to make decisions, sign documentation etc. on behalf of the Principal he represents. Types of agents Liner agent, tramp agent, chartering broker, sale and purchase broker. Liner agent The liner agent represents his Principal in a specific territory. This includes the duties of marketing the principal's services and of handling all types of cargo entering or leaving the territory whether directly or by transhipment. It also includes the handling of vessels owned / chartered (including any slot- or space charter agreement) or otherwise operated by the principal within the port of the territory. The agent recommends and/or appoints on the principal's behalf and account sub-agents, stevedores, watchmen, tallymen, terminal operators, hauliers and all kinds of suppliers, including pilotage, tugs, mooring and unmooring. The liner agent provides marketing and sales activities, canvasses and books cargo, publicises the services and maintains contact with shippers, consignees, forwarding agents, port and other authorities and trade organisations. The agent arranges for berthing of vessels, loading and discharging of the cargo in accordance with the local customs and conditions. He supervises and co-ordinates all activities of the terminal operators, stevedores, tallymen and all other contractors. He arranges for calling forward, reception and loading of outward cargo and discharge and release of inward cargo and attends to the transhipment of through cargo. He arranges for bunkering, repairs, crew changes, passengers, ship's stores, spare parts, technical and nautical assistance and medical assistance as required. He arranges for and carries out the Principal's requirements concerning claims handling, P & I matters, general average and/or insurance and the appointment of surveyors. He attends to all necessary cargo documentation and to consular requirements. He arranges for and attends to the clearance of the vessel and arranges all other services appertaining to the vessel's movements through the port. He reports regularly to the Principal the vessel's position and prepares a statement of facts of the call and/or a port log. The liner agent is normally remunerated on the basis of a certain percentage on inward and outward freight earning, including surcharges, terminal handling charges and other freight additionals of the Principal's liner service to and from the territory. Tramp agent The tramp agent represents owners of vessels operating in the tramp trade, meaning that he is not active in the field of acquiring cargo. He arranges for the supply of all services to the vessel whilst she is in port. Included herein are pilotage, tugs, mooring and unmooring, cargo discharge or loading arrangements, customs arrangements, crew requirements such as changes, medical care etc., arrangement for deck-, engineering- and galley-supplies, prepare hiring of drydock as well as communication, postage, crew mail etc. In this respect the agent pays all accounts lawfully incurred by the ship. He is remunerated on the basis of an Agency fee agreed between the agent and his Principal. Chartering broker The chartering broker hires a ship on behalf of an owner of cargo for a period of time and supervises the charter until it is completed. Charters may be for a voyage (voyage-charter), a period of time (time-charter) or bareboat-charter, for which the charterer hires the ship for a long period, appoints the master and crew and pays all running expenses. Sale and purchase broker The sale and purchase broker is an intermediary in the true sense of the word. The preparation and signing / entering into contracts regarding new buildings and used tonnage require a neutral attitude vis à vis both contract partners. Technical expertise and a commercial attitude are as important as knowing how to scrutinise possible ways to finance the contract or respectively to judge its cost-effectiveness. |
