3rd European Maritime Day
THE SHIP AGENT
SHIP AGENT
Overview of Shipping and Navigation
History
• The first ship was probably nothing more than a log used
to cross a stream. That journey may have taken place
15,000 or more years ago and it was to be repeated
many times in the centuries that followed. At some
stage, two or more logs were fastened together to form
a raft. A log was hollowed out to form a boat and
paddles and oars were invented to propel it.
• Later, sails were introduced‐ the first illustrations of
sailing ships are from Egypt, and go back to around 5,000
BC ‐ and seafarers began to venture away from rivers
into the sea. Probably the first ones to do so were
fishermen, who had discovered that there were more
fish in the sea than in any river.
Overview of Shipping and Navigation
History
• Others went in search of new lands and different peoples
with whom they could trade. At first they kept to the
coastline, moving along it slowly and fearfully, for by
then they would have learnt that the sea is dangerous
and capricious and can turn from calm to storm within a
few hours. According to one story, in 609 BC a
Phoenician ship left Suez, intending to keep the coast to
starboard, and four years later arrived back in Egypt,
having sailed right round Africa. But eventually curiosity
triumphed over timidity and at some point seafarers set
out for the horizon and kept going until, behind them,
the familiar coast had disappeared.
Overview of Shipping and Navigation
History
• Despite the uncertainties and dangers involved, it soon
became apparent that trading by sea had advantages
over trading by land. Land traders had mountains ranges
and deserts to contend with and had to go miles out of
their way to avoid them: ships could go more or less in
straight lines. And ships could carry more goods more
cheaply than horses and camels.
• Move forward a few thousand years, and ships and
seafarers had made the world grow smaller and less
mysterious. The Polynesians had explored the Pacific,
Norsemen had taken advantage of a change in climate to
cross the Atlantic and discover Greenland and Labrador.
Later the Portuguese rounded the tip of Africa and found
a new route to the Spice Islands of Asia and Christopher
Columbus tried to do the same by going in the opposite
direction and found America instead.
Phoenicians
Greeks
Romans
Portuguese
Spanish
PRODUCERS/TRADERS
• PRODUCE
• LOAD THE GOODS
• TRANSPORT
• UNLOAD THE GOODS
• SELL/CHANGE
• …………………………
• BUY/CHANGE
• LOAD THE GOODS
• TRANSPORT
• UNLOAD THE GOODS
• SELL/CHANGE
• PRODUCE
SPECIALIZATION
SHIP AGENTS
SHIP AGENT
A ship agent is employed to represent
the interests of either the ship’s owner,
the ship’s operator, or the cargo’s owner
(consignee) while the ship is in port.
SHIP AGENT
A port agent attends to the owner’s and
ship’s business of husbandry, port
• Port Agent services, such as repairs, bunkering,
and assists the master with the
organization of cargo handling. There
are companies specializing in world-
wide services, providing co-ordination
between ports, standardized fees and
financial reporting.
A husbandry agent attends to the non-
• Husbandry agent (ship cargo matters of the ship, its crew,
manager) repairs, provisioning and supplies,
classification surveys, etc.
PLANNING & COORDINATING
Pilots
TUG IN
TUG OUT
MOORING
BERTHING
CUSTOMS/Port State Control
SHIPYARD
CARGO SHIP CREW
CRUISE SHIP CREW
EMBARKING
ASSISTING
SHIP AGENT
Shipping brokers and agents may perform one or
more functions. the smaller firms tending to
specialize in a particular function. The larger liner
companies have development their own in-house
departments with world-wide computer systems
booking cargo and tracking ships. Many
independent agents have become more
specialized or have merged to form larger
national or international groups.
SHIP AGENT
SHIP AGENT
LOGISTIC CHAIN (Door to Door)
ONE STOP SHOP
THE ROLE OF THE SHIP’S AGENT IN MARITIME
TRANSPORT
Tugs/ Stevedores/ Other Port
Shippers,
Pilots Terminals Services
Receivers,
Forwarding
Statutory Agents,
Authorities NVOCC’s
SHIP’S
Surface AGENT Other
Transport/ Contractors/
SSS/Road/Rail Social
Services
The Master and Owners/Operators
THE ROLE OF THE SHIP’S AGENT IN MARITIME
TRANSPORT
Tugs/ Stevedores/ Other Port
Shippers,
Pilots Terminals Services
Receivers,
Forwarding
Statutory Agents,
Authorities NVOCC’s
SINGLE
Surface WINDOW Other
Transport/ Contractors/
SSS/Road/Rail Social
Services
The Master and Owners/Operators
SHIP AGENT – THE PORT SINGLE WINDOW
