Commercial Vessels - PF Collins International Trade Solutions

Marine Agents Your Key to Smooth Sailing

Rebecca Price — Thu, 28 Mar 2024 13:51:36 +0000

Canada’s approximately 243,000 km coastline is the longest in the world, and our marine sectors continue to contribute significantly to provincial, regional, and national economies. Commercial Marine Shipping has long been interconnected with Canada’s history, from its environmental and cultural impacts to its effects on the urban development of major cities and rural communities alike.

International trade between Canada and the rest of the world is heavily facilitated by marine shipping – despite competing modes of commercial transportation such as road, rail, and air – and is commonly the only means of moving essential goods to remote island locations in Canada’s northern areas above the tree line. Estimates suggest that the economic impact of marine shipping’s role in facilitating international marine trade is equal to about 1.8% of the Canadian GDP, or about $30 billion in 2016.

In the past, the captain of each vessel was the primary representative of the shipowner in each of the ports that the ship, its crew, and its products travelled to. Over time, with the rise of international commerce and leaps in technology, it became impractical for captains to continue with this responsibility thus giving rise to marine agencies and marine agents.

In this article, we look at the responsibilities of a Marine Agent and the benefits of hiring one for your international shipping.

What are Marine Agencies & Marine Agents?

A Marine Agency (also known as a Ships [Shipping] Agency, Maritime Agency, or Port Agency) is the term used to refer to the appointed company that handles the operational, procedural, and legal requirements for a commercial vessel’s port call in a local port. The agency’s professional Marine Agent is an expert of the local port and will act as the representative of the shipowner, charterer, or ship manager and carry out all essential duties and obligations required by the crew of the ship, alleviating these responsibilities from the ship’s captain. Their main objective is to provide comprehensive support and assistance to vessels during port calls in their area.

Marine Agents are your ‘boots on the ground’ logistics experts who take care of the nitty gritty details in each port you enter!

What are a Marine Agent’s Responsibilities?

As the connection between vessel operators and port authorities, Marine Agents have many responsibilities when they are appointed as a ship’s representative, including:

Documentation Handling

Managing and processing the necessary paperwork and documentation required for port entry, cargo handling, and regulatory compliance (e.g. vessel declaration, cargo manifests, etc.)

Customs & Immigration Clearance

Submitting & managing required documentation and information on crew and passengers to local immigration authorities (e.g. work visas, permits, TRVs, LMIAs, etc.)

Port Services Coordination

Arrangement of essential port services such as pilotage and tug coordination, berthing, and mooring
Ensure the compliance of all safety regulations & security protocols, and comply with international standards and local regulations

Cargo Operations Management

Organizing and overseeing cargo operations to ensure smooth loading and unloading of cargo
Arranging dockside services like stevedores and linesman, and enforce proper protocols

Crew Requirements

Facilitating crew changes (meeting crew, arranging local transport and accommodations, etc.) and repatriation
Coordinating emergency assistance and medical care

Ships Stores/Provisions Services

Coordinating delivery of ships’ provisions such as fresh water and food, sourcing spare parts and supplies, delivery of bunker, and secure delivery of cash to Master
Supplying ship’s husbandry services
Managing and arranging ship needs, such as fuel, repairs, and maintenance
Arranging waste disposal, sludge removal, and handling of hazardous materials

Shipments and Ships’ Spares Handling

Expediting and arranging customs clearance for imported and exported goods
Organizing the supply, transport, storage, and handling of goods

A Marine Agent’s responsibilities are diverse and constantly changing depending on the type of vessel coming to port, the country they’re coming from, or the goods that they’re bringing. No two days are the same for a Marine Agent!

What Should You Look for in a Marine Agency/Agent?

Certifications & Licencing

Ensuring that the marine agency service provider you are hiring is fully-licenced and possesses the appropriate certifications that are necessary to meet industry standards should be a top priority when looking for a suitable marine agent. These certifications guarantee that your marine agent is qualified to handle the duties of your port call from arrival to departure.

Experience & Knowledge

As previously mentioned, Marine Agents are experts of the local port which they service. Marine Agents must be fully conversant with all appropriate local and national regulations and requirements relating to the port, area, or sector in which they operate. Marine Agents must also have a wide range of relevant contacts and good relationships with local suppliers to provide the level of service and support necessary to smoothly coordinate a vessel’s port call. Much of this compulsory knowledge is gained through years of experience in the industry and after the handling of thousands of port calls.

Communication & Availability

Marine Agencies and Agents begin relaying vital information between port authorities and ships (and vice versa) before a vessel has even left its home country. Constant & proficient communication is a skill that experienced Marine Agents have mastered to provide excellent customer service to a ship’s crew. A marine agency that values open communication, promptly addresses your questions and concerns, and keeps you informed throughout the entire port call is what you should look for. In addition, the availability of a marine agent in the event of an emergency or differing time zones should be 24/7; quick response times can minimize downtime and ease tensions if a problem were to arise.

Facilitating Smooth Sailing

Marine Agencies connect the logistics, correspondence, and compliance facets of commercial marine shipping and bridge the gap in communication between port authorities and ship operators. Marine Agents become essential intermediaries and representatives on the ground during a vessel’s port call and are a vital link in keeping the world’s oceans connected.

Although the job of a Marine Agent is dynamic, can change from day to day, and doesn’t allow for typical “9 to 5” working hours, those who enjoy breaking up the monotony thrive in a high-pressure environment position like a Marine Agent. Marine Agencies anticipate the needs of vessels and their crews entering a local port and tirelessly provide the services behind the scenes needed to ensure a smooth trip from start to finish. Their dedication and commitment ensure that vessels can navigate through ports all over the world with ease and confidence in record times!

Why Choose PF Collins as your Marine Agency?

We’re Experts in Our Industries

Choosing the right marine agency and marine agents is crucial for maintaining the performance, safety, and security of your vessel and its trips around the world. PF Collins has been providing services for all types of vessels operating in Canada for over 30 years. Our experience and established relationships with the local supply base ensure efficient and reliable port call management and vessel turnaround.

We are a “one-stop-shop” for importing and exporting. With Marine Agents, Customs Brokers, Import Raters, Compliance Specialists, Freight Forwarders, and Project Logistics Specialists, we bridge many gaps between an importer’s goods and their final destinations. Our teams work together to create an easy and efficient importation process from start to finish while saving you time and money, reducing risks and liabilities, accessing expertise and resources, and improving your customer satisfaction.

For more information about our Marine Agency, follow the button below. You can also fill out the form on our Contact Us page to get in touch with a member of our team!

Marine Agency Contact Us

The post Marine Agents Your Key to Smooth Sailing first appeared on PF Collins International Trade Solutions.

Importing a Vessel into Canada’s Coasting Trade

Rebecca Price — Fri, 01 Apr 2022 14:30:00 +0000

Importing a Vessel into Canada Governed
by Canada’s Coasting Trade Act

There are many rules and regulations that vessel owners/operators must consider when importing a vessel into Canada. The operation of foreign vessels in Canada is regulated by the Government of Canada’s Coasting Trade Act and enforced by several federal and provincial departments and agencies.

Below we provide an overview of the processes and procedures required when planning to import a boat into Canada. For your convenience, we have included the following Importing a Vessel into Canada Guide with additional details to download.

Download

Canada’s Coasting Trade Act

The Coasting Trade Act protects Canada’s marine industry by limiting vessel operations within its waters to Canadian-registered, duty paid vessels. While priority is given to these vessels, there are provisions for the temporary entry of foreign or non-duty paid vessels. This is provided there are no Canadian-registered vessels available or capable to perform the required scope of work.

Foreign or non-registered, duty paid vessels must obtain a Coasting Trade Licence prior to beginning operations in Canada. Owners or operators (or agent on their behalf, such as PF Collins) must submit an application to the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) or the Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA). The success of the application is dependent upon the suitability and availability of any Canadian-registered vessels to complete the work.

Exemptions Under the Coasting Trade Act

Exemptions for Seismic Vessels

To improve access to better seismic data for offshore development, Canada’s 2012 Economic Action Plan amended the Coasting Trade Act to remove the requirement for foreign seismic vessels to obtain a Coasting Trade Licence when undertaking oil and gas exploration on the continental shelf of Canada. Seismic vessels must still obtain a Coasting Trade Licence when conducting activities in the Territorial Sea of Canada.

Exemptions for Importing a Vessel under CETA

In 2017, the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) introduced provisions to allow European Union entities to provide specific services without the requirement of a Coasting Trade Licence. These services include:

Feeder service between the Ports of Halifax and Montreal
Repositioning of empty containers
Dredging services

For more information about importing a vessel under CETA visit our dedicated page below, email us at info@pfcollins.com or call us toll-free at 1-800-763-2255

Importing a Vessel under CETA

Duty and Tax Considerations When Importing a Vessel

All vessels entering Canada for temporary periods must pay the applicable duty and tax.

Imported vessels are typically subject to a duty rate of 25% of the fair market value, prorated for each month the vessel is operating in Canada. The duty rate is also subject to any free trade agreements that apply (e.g. CETA).

In addition, imported vessels are subject to the federal Goods and Services Tax (GST), calculated at a rate of 5% of the monthly duty-paid value of the vessel. The GST is fully refundable when the importer is a GST-registered entity with the Government of Canada.

A federal Excise Tax is also applied on marine diesel fuel, added to the normal domestic fuel price.

Other Considerations

Immigration for Foreign Crew and Shore-Based Personnel

Foreign crew entering Canada to work onboard the vessel must obtain a work permit prior to employment.

Service Canada issues Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIA) for crew onboard foreign vessels approved by the CBSA. When assessing applications, Service Canada expects Canadians to have the first opportunity to fill the positions. Therefore, the application process requires advertising for onboard positions and the inclusion of a succession plan for Canadian personnel.

Local petroleum boards may also require local benefits provisions be met for operations related to offshore oil and gas. Petroleum boards in Canada include the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board and Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board.

Safety Inspections

As a pre-requisite for the issuance of a Coasting Trade Licence, the vessel must undergo inspection at its first port of call in Canada to ensure compliance with the safety requirements of Transport Canada, the Canadian Coast Guard, and the local petroleum board.

Information & Resources

To further clarify and assist with importing a vessel into Canada, please see the following resources:

We’re Here to Help!

From drillships to dredgers, we provide customs consulting and clearance services for over 70% of commercial vessels being imported into Canada.

Whether you need help with the importation of a vessel, assistance with crew changes, or expediting ships spares, our full suite of project logistics services ensure a successful project from start to finish.

For more information on how to import a boat into Canada, please

The post Importing a Vessel into Canada’s Coasting Trade first appeared on PF Collins International Trade Solutions.

Importing Vessels Under CETA

Rebecca Price — Tue, 25 Apr 2017 18:05:00 +0000

Importing Vessels under the Canada-EU Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA)

The Canada-EU Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) is a bilateral free trade agreement between Canada and the EU. Entering into force on September 21, 2017, it reduces and eliminates duties across all sectors of the economy. But how is the importation of commercial vessels and ships affected? In this post, we take a look at importing vessels under CETA.

Understanding CETA

CETA takes a phased approach to removing tariffs. 98% of products and services had duties removed as soon as CETA came into force. An additional 1% of tariffs will be eliminated over the next few years. As a result, 99% of all Canadian goods entering the EU market will be duty-free.

However, not all tariffs will eventually enjoy duty free status. Commodities are categorized into seven Staging Categories, “A” through to “E”, ranging from duty-free to exempt from tariff elimination. For instance:

Importing Vessels and Ships

Most commercial vessels and ships fall under staging categories B & D. For example:

Staging Categories for Importing Vessels under CETA

The following lists CETA staging categories for ships, boats, and floating structures:

Certificate of Origin

The exporter must include an origin declaration on the invoice to enable the importer to claim preferential tariff treatment under CETA. For example, this can be a simple statement indicating the goods meet the rules of origin.

Exporter Obligations

Customs officials in the export country have the authority to validate the claim for CETA tariff treatment. In addition, the exporter must notify the importer of any changes to an origin declaration by the exporter.

Importer Obligations

It is the importer’s responsibility to possess the exporter’s origin declaration at time of clearance. The importer must also correct declarations within 90 days of being notified of changes that affect origin status.

The importer can request a refund of duties in cases where they did not have an origin declaration. However, a request for refund of duties must be completed within a specified time period.

Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) may also request verification that the goods remained under customs control if transshipped via a non-CETA country.

12 Key Sectors of CETA

The Government of Canada has identified 12 key sectors of interest to Canadian businesses that will benefit from CETA, such as Aerospace, Agriculture and Agri-food, Automotive, Fish and Seafood, and Oil & Gas. Visit Global Affairs for more information on the key sectors.

Finding Your Product’s Tariff Rate Reduction

For more information on CETA or to determine the EU Tariff Rate associated with your product or equipment, please visit the Canada Tariff Finder.