New procedures introduced for cargoes to and from Nigeria

Effective since last Monday (January 11), the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has implemented a cargo tracking note (CTN) system for all cargoes shipped to and from any Nigerian port, according to Hariesh Manaadiar of Diamond Shipping Services. A letter from the NPA released to FTW reads: “every commodity loaded or unloaded (import/ export), at or with Nigeria as the final destination has to, prior to shipment, obtain a cargo tracking note or international cargo tracking document from a Nigerian Ports Authority representative at all ports around the world.” And it further added that Antaser Afrique was designated by the Federal Government of Nigeria as the sole representative of Nigerian Ports Authority and the only authorised agent to issue a cargo tracking note. In turn, Manaadiar told FTW that Diamond Shipping Services had been nominated as the only Antaser Afrique sub-agent in SA able to issue these cargo tracking notes. “The CTN has to be issued at the loading port and CTN numbers should be inserted in the bill of lading (BoL) and cargo manifests,” he added. “Shipments without a CTN are subject to heavy penalties.” All costs for the CTN need to be paid prior to the certificate being issued. According to Manaadiar, the document fee is Eur50 per CTN – and one CTN is to be issued for each bill of lading (BoL). For shipments from loading places other than Europe and Africa, a fee of Eur70 is being charged. Under “tariff per shipment” a full container load (FCL) is Eur50/TEU; roll-on, roll-off (roro) is Eur50 per vehicle up to 5-ton unit weight, and Eur100 per vehicle over 5-ton unit weight. This tariff to be paid for each and every chassis number mentioned on the BoL. Consolidated cargo costs Eur5 per weight measure (wm) – with a minimum of Eur50 per CTN. Conventional/breakbulk is Eur5 per wm – with a minimum of Eur50 per CTN.