So you have found a product in Spain that you want to sell in Bloemfontein. How does it get here? Our Clearing and Forwarding agents take care of those details.

A Clearing and Forwarding agent needs to coordinate a multitude of requirements to ensure your products arrive on time and in good shape. Firstly the agent literally has to buy space for your cargo on a ship. The itinerary of movements of the cargo must be arranged to get the cargo to the sending port and then onto the ship. Freight rates, insurance and other costs need to be negotiated and paid and all appropriate paperwork needs to be arranged. The agents also have extensive knowledge of customs requirements and appropriate certifications. For example things like milk and veterinary products require additional clearances to move between countries.

Time on board ship from places like China to Southern Africa, normally takes around 21 days.
www.allportcargoservices.co.za

MGI brings the bulk of its imported products through the Durban Port, and after dealing with the formalities, forwards the goods onto their destinations. The Port of Durban is a natural harbour and has been in use as a port since around 1839 or 1840. These days it is the busiest port in South Africa handling, in the 2006 / 2007 financial year 4,545 ships, or 32% of all shipping coming into the country.

All items brought into the country are subject to various customs legalities, duties and tariffs.

For example, Enquiry, Instruction and Transport Documents all need to be accurate and available. For Exchange Control, a Bill of Lading / Road Hauliers Certificate, Commercial Invoice, Customs Worksheet, Bill of Entry (DA500), Certificate of origin (DA59) (for certain imports) and Exchange Control Documents are required. As Clearing and Forwarding agents, we are familiar with these documents and requirements and ensure that they are accurate and available.

Unloading cargo in the port is an amazingly complex arrangement. Each ship coming into the port is allocated a berth by a Container Terminal Order. The order states not only the berth, but the period of time that the transport company has to unload and remove the cargo and turn in the empty container. The time is limited to 3 days, from the moment the ship is berthed, regardless of whether the transport company is ready to unload or not. Time is of the essence.

What happens if the container is not unloaded and returned in time? Well then the Ports authority fines the transport company R1, 000 a day, compound, per container!

It is also possible, when a particularly large shipment arrives, to book a private terminal and to negotiate with the shipping line for an
extension of the time necessary to unpack the containers.

MGI have a well managed system, complete with automated electronic updates and viewing via camera, to track both cargo and undocking procedures to avoid any delays in moving cargo as well additional costs that might be incurred in those instances.

MGI specializes in abnormal project work. It is easy to transport standard containers, but project work requires both skill and creativity to determine the logistics that will allow the safe and efficient transportation of non standard and normally, extra large items.

Abnormal type projects can include the importation and transportation of machinery for mining, piping for pipe line projects and infrastructure for cellular communication services.