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Description

These professionals meet the needs of the ship while in port, especially in relation to all administrative and documentary procedures. The profession of ship agent is very old and is linked to the history and evolution of international maritime traffic. It appears when the shipowner (person who owns the ship) and the captain of the ship require the assistance and support of a trusted person who knows the port, who is capable of making the port of call and the operation of the loading and unloading of the ship are carried out quickly and efficiently.

These professionals work in consignee companies, which are intermediaries that act in the name and on behalf of the property of a ship. Under the direction of the head of operations, they will have to ensure that the entry, stay and exit of the ship are carried out as quickly and efficiently as possible, always defending the interests of the owner or the company that has hired their professional services.

These professionals have to go to the port to deliver the documentation (customs, health, provisions and supplies, foreign exchange, among others) to the captain of the ship. The type of documentation to prepare may vary a lot depending on the services that the ship's crew will require (who embarks and disembarks, management of residence documentation, passports, visas, etc.) and the invoices that must be prepared for the stay of the ship in the port (collection of taxes for waste, consumption of basic services such as water, tax that is paid to the Port Authority by the people who carry the ship, etc.), personally carrying out all these administrative documentation procedures associated with the maritime transport of goods.

In short, these professionals carry out all the administrative documentation procedures associated with the maritime transport of goods, acting as representatives of the shipping company so that this can enter the port and carry out its tasks.

Tasks

  • Organise and attend the ship's documentary dispatch (clearance) based on the verification by the maritime authority that the ship complies with all the legal requirements for navigation and the traffic to be carried out.
  • Receive from the client the prescriptive documentation and other instructions of the transported merchandise and draw up export or import management documents for the Customs and Port Clearance Administration in accordance with current regulations.
  • Draw up merchandise shipping and dispatch documents for the ship, required to transport the goods to terrestrial means of transport and carriers. Obtain and process the information provided by terrestrial carriers. Also receive and process the information and documentation pursuant to merchandise imports.
  • Check that the documentation complies with the instructions of the clients and that it fulfills current regulations.
  • Organise and coordinate all the necessary services according to the type of operation and movements that the ship has planned: practical professionals, moorings, tug skippers, stevedores, inspectors; also, authorities, immigration, etc.
  • Supervise and coordinate the loading and/or unloading operations of the ship with the terminals and/or stevedores so that they are as fast and efficient as possible.
  • Attend and coordinate all the services and supplies that are required by the captain or shipowner: supplies, medical services, transfers, repairs, visas, etc.
  • Keep the shipowner or operator of the ship promptly informed about the situation and conditions of the port and the operation of the ship before and during the stay in port, until its departure.
  • Prepare and send all technical reports and details of expenses and incidents that occur during the ship's port of call.

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Centre per al desenvolupament professional Porta22

Barcelona Treball (Porta22)
Llacuna, 156-162, 08018 Barcelona
bcn.cat/treball

900533175
Monday to Friday from 9 to 18 h

Generalitat de Catalunya
Unió Europea FEDER
Unió Europea FSE