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The cargo transportation condition appraisal report from the Shanghai Chemical Industry Institute in 2014 hasn't been issued yet. Can we book a ship for the cargo?
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We have a batch of chemical products urgently needing export, but the cargo transportation condition appraisal certificate from the Shanghai Chemical Industry Institute (based on the 2014 standards) hasn't been issued yet. The freight forwarder said we can't book a shipping slot without this certificate. Could you please tell me if we can still book a ship in this situation? Are there any workarounds?
Kevin LinYears of service：4Customer Rating：5.0
Trade Solutions ManagerStart a Chat
In your case，from a compliance perspective,Without a certificate of conformity for cargo transportation，it is generally impossible to legally export the goodsAccording to the "Regulations on the Safety Management of Hazardous Chemicals" andSea freightThe International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code (IMDG Code) stipulates that chemical products must be provided with valid transport condition assessment documents. As a leading assessment authority in China，the Shanghai Chemical Industry Research Institute's reports serve as the core basis for customs and shipping companies to approve and release shipments. The 2014 version refers to the old version before the implementation of the GB 30000 series standards. If your goods belong to products listed in the dangerous chemical catalog，customs inspections will almost always require you to provide this document. Currently，even if freight forwarders have accepted orders in advance，they will still face rejection during the declaration process before loading，resulting in cargo rejection，container detention，and even administrative penalties. My advice is:
Immediately stop any thoughts of trying to find a "workaround"Urge the Chemical Engineering Institute to issue the certificate urgently and assess the risk of breaching the contract due to the delay in delivery. The cost of shipping the goods illegally is far greater than waiting a few days.
Evelyn LiYears of service：3Customer Rating：5.0
Cross-border Compliance SupervisorStart a Chat
To be honest,It's possible to book a shipping space, but there's no chance of loading the goods onto the shipNowadays, shipping companies' systems all require pre-audit. Without the identification number of the certificate, dangerous goods declarations simply cannot be submitted, and booking confirmations (SOs) cannot be obtained. Even if some freight forwarders accept orders first to attract business, when it comes to the deadline for declaration, the goods still cannot be loaded onto the ship, and all costs will still be incurred. My practical suggestions are as follows:
1) Immediately contact the Shanghai Chemical Industry Institute and pay the rush fee (the certificate is usually issued within 3-5 working days);
2) If the goods value is high and the time requirements are extremely strict, consider changing the mode of transportation.Air freight1. For air freight, the requirements for certificates are relatively flexible.
2. Simultaneously apply for a "Hold Space" with the shipping company to indicate that the certificate is in transit, aiming to obtain an SO (shipping order) but delaying the submission of the certificate. However, the success rate is less than 30%.
Don't waste your time on "booking a shipping space without a purchase order".
It's more practical to focus our energy on urging the other party to provide the necessary certificates or documents.
Michael ZhangYears of service：6Customer Rating：5.0
Customs Declaration & Compliance ExpertStart a Chat
The thing that worries you the most right now is the delivery deadline, but the more urgent the situation is, the more you need to stay calm. In terms of business, I suggest following a three-step approach:
Firstly, internallyImmediately send an official email to the Shanghai Chemical Research Institute and follow up by phone, stating that "the client has threatened to cancel the order" and request urgent processing. Typically, they will prioritize the order for processing.
Secondly, regarding external affairsSincerely inform overseas customers about the current tightening of supervision in China, provide the receipt of acceptance from the Chemical Engineering Institute as evidence, strive for a grace period of 1-2 weeks, and, if necessary, offer to bear part of the demurrage fee to demonstrate sincerity;
Thirdly, regarding the freight forwardersDon’t dwell on whether it’s possible to book, but instead ask, "Which ship can we book as soon as the certificate arrives?" This way, they can focus on securing a cargo slot. Remember,The professionalism is reflected in crisis managementActive communication is more effective than concealment in gaining customers' trust. If a delay is unavoidable in the end, we can negotiate to change the payment method from immediate payment to deferred payment.?L/C?Change it to a long-term plan and alleviate the client's financial pressure as compensation.