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DECEMBER2011LegalEaglelISSREPORTERwww.iss-shipping.com21WETURNWITHtheirkindpermissiontothepagesofITICx19sClaimsReviewsforinsightintosomeoftheriskswefacex18AsAgentsOnlyx19.TheseexamplesarereportedtoITICbyabroadrangeofitsmembership.NotFollowingInstructionsCorrectlyResultsinColdSpinSixcontainersloadedwithwashingmachinesweredestinedforaVenezuelanportviaatranshipmentportinthesamecountry.Theshipagentattheloadportincorrectlystatedinthecargomanifestthatthetranshipmentportwasthefinaldestination.Normallysucherrorsareeasilycorrectedatminimumcostbutthisparticularerrorwastoprovedisastrousasthedestinationportwasafreeportwhereasthetranshipmentportwasnot.TheVenezuelancustomsauthoritiesseizedthecargoanddemandedthatcustomsdutieswerepaidotherwisethecargowouldbeassignedtothegovernment.ITICappointedlawyerstonegotiatewiththeauthoritiesinordertoreleasethecargoandsendittoitsfinalandcorrectdestination.Howeverittookseveralmonthsforthecargotobereleasedresultinginsubstantialcostsforstoragecontainerdemurragecustomsfinesandtransportationcosts.ThesecoststotalledUSD85500whichtheagenthadtopayinordertogetthecargoreleased.Shipagentsshouldbearinmindthatcustomsauthoritiesinmanycountriesareasourceofrevenuetothegovernmentandminorerrorswhichcanbeeasilyresolvedoftenresultincargoseizureandfines.GasfreeornotgasfreeInOctober2008aNorthAmericanshipagentwasnominatedforthecallofashipscheduledtoloadataterminalontheeastcoastofUSA.Aftertheshipagentnotifiedtheterminaloftheshipx19spendingarrivaltheterminalforemanadvisedtheagentthattheshiphadtobex1cgasfreex1dpriortoloading.ThisinformationwaspassedtotheMasteroftheship.TheMasterrepliedthathistankswereinertedtolessthan2.Theshipagentdidnotpassthisinformationontotheterminal.Theshipreceivedloadinginstructionsandproceededtocleantankswhileenroutetotheterminal.Justpriortoarrivaltheterminalsentamessageagaintotheagenttotheeffectthatthetankswouldneedtobegasfreepriortoloading.TheshipagentpassedthisinformationtotheMasterwhosaidthathewouldrequire24hourstomaketheshipgasfree.Thisprocedurewasfollowedbuttheshipownerfoundsubsequentlythattheterminalwouldhaveconsideredtheshipreadytoloadineitheragasfreestateoraninertedstate.AdemurrageclaimofUSD67375wasincurredandthiswasclaimedfromtheagent.Therewereargumentsonbehalfoftheagentastowhythecharterersandtheownershadnottakenmorecaretoensurethattheshipcompliedwiththeterminalx19srequirementsbuttheagenthadtoacceptresponsibilityforanelementofthedemurrageclaim.Anamicablesettlementwasreached.PayattentiontoimmigrationrequirementsAmemberwasappointedastheagentofashipforapproximately14dayswhiledecommissioningtookplace.Theagentwasrequestedtohandletheimmigrationrequirementsforthecrewandothersworkingontheship.Theagentdidnothoweverprovidethecorrectinformationtotheimmigrationauthorities.Thisresultedinseventechnicianscomingashorewithoutthecorrectpermits.Asthemenwerenotonthecrewlistthecustomsdidnotconsiderthemtobecrewmembers.Theyweredetainedinalocalprison.Theagentarrangedforalocallawyertorepresenttheindividualsandobtaintheirreleasefromjail.Thelawyerobtainedtheirreleaseandtheywererepatriated.Asmallfinewasimposedoneachindividual.TheincidentwastheresultofthenegligenceoftheagentandITICagreedtopayforalllegalfeesincurredonthiscase.OutstandingDisbursementAccountAshipagenthadanunpaiddisbursementaccountofUSD20300followingashipx19scall.Theshiparrivedon27thOctoberanddeparted15thNovemberduringwhichtimerepairswerecarriedoutindrydock.Theagenthadbeennominatedbythechartererandappointedbytheowner.Duetotheunexpectedrepairstheshipwasunabletosailandthechartererdeclaredheroff-hire.Theagentcontinuedtoactfortheownerduringthisperiod.Theownerpaidformostoftheservicesafterreceivingthedisbursementaccountbutdidnotpaytwooftheinvoices.Theownerdisputedtheinvoiceswithoutgivinganyreason.ITICwrotetotheownerwhowasbasedinRussiabutthecorrespondencewentunanswered.ThereforetheClubrequestedtheassistanceofalocalcorrespondent.Afternumerouscallswiththeownerameetingwasarrangedandtheownerx19sx1cconfusionx1dovertheinvoiceswasclarified.Theownerthenstalledoncemorewithfurtherquestionsagaintheywereclarifiedtotheirsatisfactionandfinallypaymentwasreceivedinfull.CautionarytalesfromITICRoomformisunderstanding