Agency services

According to "Merchant Shipping Code of the Russian Federation" dated 30.04.1999 No. 81 - FZ:

1. A marine agent carries out various formalities related to the arrival of a vessel at a port, the vessel's stay in a port and the vessel's departure from a port, assists the vessel's captain in establishing contacts with the captain of the seaport and local authorities and in organizing the supply of the vessel and its servicing in the port, draws up documents for the cargo, collects freight amounts and other amounts due to the shipowner for claims arising from the contract for the carriage of cargo by sea, pays, by order of the shipowner and the vessel's captain, amounts payable in connection with the vessel's stay in the port, attracts cargo for transportation on a sea line, collects freight, forwards cargo and performs other actions in the field of marine agency.
2. The marine agent is obliged to:

• carry out its activities in the interests of the shipowner in good faith and in accordance with the practice of marine agency;
• act within the limits of their authority;
• keep records of the expenditure of funds and provide the shipowner with reports in the manner and within the timeframes stipulated by the marine agency agreement.

Agents often perform the following key duties:

1. are guided by the norms of the country's legislation on shipping and reimburse the shipowner for any fines, sanctions, expenses and restrictions;
2. in the area of marketing and sales of shipowner services - carry out marketing activities on the territory in accordance with the general principles established by the principal;
3. search for and tow cargo, provide information about services and maintain contacts with senders and recipients of cargo, freight forwarders, port and other authorities and organizations;
4. provide statistics and information on towing of cargo and allocation of places, announce departures and arrivals, freight rate quotas;
5. notify the shipowner of all changes in port tariffs and other charges as soon as they become known; calculate freight and other charges in accordance with tariffs, collect freight and related payments and transfer to the shipowner all freight and other amounts due to him within the established time limits.
6. organize public relations activities (including advertising, press releases, waste schedules and other marketing materials) in accordance with the budget agreed with the shipowner and at his expense;
7. organize the mooring of vessels, loading and unloading of cargo in accordance with local customs and conditions;
8. supervise the activities of terminal operators, stevedores, tallymen and all other contractors to ensure that normal requirements are properly met in the interests of the most efficient operation and speedy handling of vessels;
9. organize the call, acceptance and loading of shipped cargo, unloading of arriving cargo, reloading of transit cargo;
10. participate in the process of bunkering, supply, crew changes, passengers, ship supplies, spare parts, technical, navigational and medical assistance;
11. organize a stock of equipment in the territory served by the agent and, if required, provide for the storage, placement and movement of equipment;
12. comply with customs requirements and prepare documentation for the exchange of equipment in relation to those movements for which the agent is responsible, and also control the presence and use of locks, seals and tags;
13. represent the principal on the premises, making every effort to ensure that any reasonable specific instructions given by the principal are strictly carried out, including the application of the principal's documentation and conditions;
14. in agreement with the shipowner, recommend and/or appoint stevedores, watchkeepers, tallymen, terminal operators, shore carriers and suppliers;
15. organize ground transportation, equipment rental with its acceptance into the system and subsequent return;
16. ensure proper maintenance of financial records, preparation of financial reports, and a disbursement account for each voyage and reporting period;
17. organize public relations activities (including advertising, press releases, waste schedules and other marketing materials) in accordance with the budget agreed with the shipowner and at his expense;
18. organize the mooring of vessels, loading and unloading of cargo in accordance with local customs and conditions.

The agent may retain funds from the freight collected to meet past and current disbursement expenses, provided that he regularly provides the principal with cash flow statements. In the performance of his duties under the agreement, he shall not be liable to the owner for any loss or damage caused by a bank, broker or other person to whom the agent has given an instruction in good faith, unless such loss or damage arises from the willful negligence or omission of the agent.

When performing his duties, a marine agent must take into account the requirements of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation, which excludes a unilateral refusal to perform an obligation and a unilateral change in its terms, except for cases stipulated by the Merchant Shipping Code of the Russian Federation. A unilateral refusal by an agent to perform an obligation and a unilateral change in the terms of such an obligation are also permitted in cases stipulated by the agency agreement, unless otherwise follows from the Merchant Shipping Code of the Russian Federation. In this case, obligations must be performed properly in accordance with the terms of the obligation and the requirements of the Merchant Shipping Code of the Russian Federation, other legal acts, and in the absence of such conditions and requirements - in accordance with business customs or other generally imposed requirements.