Author: admin_user

The expression ‘Steamer Agents’ has been described to intend any character who undertakes, both directly or indirectly-

–to book, promote or canvass for shipment or on behalf of a shipping line; or

–to carry out any service in reference to the ships’ husbandry or dispatch which includes the rendering of administrative work related thereto; or

–to offer container feeder services for or on behalf of a shipping line;

The taxable service furnished by a streamer agent to a shipping line, is the service provided by a Steamer Agent with regards to a ship’s husbandry or dispatch or any administrative work associated thereto in addition to the booking, marketing or canvassing of shipment which includes container feeder offerings. The price of the taxable service with regards to service provided by a steamer agent to a shipping line, shall be the gross quantity charged with the aid of using such agent from the shipping line for offerings with regards to a ship’s husbandry or dispatch or any administrative work related thereto or in relation to the booking, marketing, advertising or canvassing of shipment, container feeder services which includes the fee paid to such agent.

Steamer Agents incur diverse forms of expenses on behalf of the shipping line which includes pilotage and berth lease charges, Indian Coast light fees paid to the port authorities, shipment costs paid to government authorities and including transporters such as Railways, concor, personal transporters, chartered accountants charges, tax on profits, brokerage paid on export shipment, delivery managing costs paid to stevedore agents. For all the above fees the Steamer Agent is by and large reimbursed by the Shipping line. Furthermore, the Steamer Agent invoices the principals i.e. the shipping line, for two forms of carrier fees. One is called the husbandry fee which they rate for a ships’ husbandry. The second is the agency fee that’s paid by the shipping line on the import and export shipment. These commissions are typically paid as a percent of the total ocean freight (basic freight) which is clearly mentioned in the agreement entered between the Steamer Agent and shipping line.

It is to be noted that in relation to the Steamer Agent, the service charges will cover the husbandry fee as well as the agency commission on import / export of shipment. Other costs incurred by the Steamer Agent on behalf of the shipping line shall now no longer be taken into account.

It has been denoted that the accounting for functions of service tax should be on according to the voyage and as per vessel basis and additionally the registration for service tax purposes should be executed only at one of their seaport offices. It has been determined that only such seaport offices of the Steamer Agent should be registered for service tax purposes which are raising the bill to the shipping lines. The branch offices in ICDs which are just sales offices and do not raise any invoices to the shipping line need not be registered. This is for the reasons that billing is done by the sea port offices and not the departmental offices.

Dowins is a leader in Steamer Agents at Vizhinjam port serving many reputed shipping companies. We ensure a 24/7 presence beside every ship entrusted upon us to consign in addition to the 24 hours emergency numbers at both the owners and vessel master disposal for any matter or need that may arise. We can also act as a protective agent for tramping liner vessels, and we keep away whenever possible moving of vessels that we act as agents for and through exceptional procedures.

Steamer Agency

• We ensure permanent contact with the docking ship
• We are always in regular contact with shipmaster and owners
• We announce in a well timed way for your vessel at the port authorities
• All the computerized documents for the vessel entry and exit are taken care of.
• A comprehensive reporting of daily activities and stevedoring

We coordinate with the port authorities for the smooth vessel entry and exit including piloting. We provides port services for many global shipping lines, tankers, charter vessels, drillships, supply boats, offshore rigs and seismic vessels in Vizhinjam port. 

The Steamer Agents provide prompt, systematic and effectual contract services to vessels, their principals and service providers. Our Agency Service’s dedicated team provides exceptional communication and knowledge of ports, commodities and compliance requirements for Vizhinjam Port and caters to a complete variety of agency services in port from a highly professional and centralized operational hub.

Ships husbandry or Vessel husbandry involves all aspects of maintenance, cleaning, and general upkeep of the hull, rigging, and equipment of a ship. It may also be used to relate to aspects of maintenance that are not specifically covered by the technical departments. The term is used in naval, non-military, and merchant shipping but naval vessel husbandry may also be used for specific reference to naval vessels.

Ships husbandry diving

Underwater ships husbandry can be financially profitable when it eliminates the need for dry-dock repairs or extends the interval between dry-dockings and reduces the time a ship is required to stay in dry-dock.

Underwater ship husbandry includes the following operations, generally done by commercial divers, though some can be done by ROVs or robotic machinery.

Underwater hull cleaning is done to remove fouling organisms which increase drag and thus reduce top speed and increase energy consumption. The entire hull or portions of it, such as propellers, shafts, and thrusters, may be cleaned. Prior to cleaning, the underwater hull may be inspected, and the quantity of cleaning done may be determined by the inspection results. Divers can clean the hull with hand-held or self-propelled mechanical brushing equipment, as well as water jets or scrapers.

Fouling surveys, examination of known or suspected damage to the structure, equipment, or coatings, and inspection of repairs are all examples of non-destructive testing and inspection. Several methods may be used, including visual inspection, videotape recording, and magnetic particle testing.

Underwater painting is done to fix paintwork after repairs, or where small areas of paint have been damaged or have worn out. The diver uses a brush or a roller to apply the appropriate paints.

Fiberglass repair can be used to repair the hull or the protective covering on the propeller shaft. Repair of fiberglass shaft coating is generally done in a dry habitat mounted over the shaft and allowing access through the open bottom for the divers. The shaft is cleaned before a new coat of sheathing is applied.

Welding takes place either in a submerged dry habitat or in a wet environment. Dry circumstances allow for higher-quality welds since the cooling rate is slower and hydrogen embrittlement is less of an issue. Scrapers, chipping hammers, hand-held brushes, and pneumatic or hydraulic grinding equipment are used to clean weld surfaces. Minor repairs to the rubber coating of sonar domes can be done by divers.
This requires removing damaged rubber, cleaning the surface, and applying a rubber patch with the appropriate adhesive.

Impact on the environment

Several ship husbandry activities, notably hull cleaning operations that produce antifouling chemicals, will discharge some amount of toxic material into the ocean. Significant quantities of copper and zinc are released during underwater hull washing, which can have a negative impact on the environment. Alien bio-fouling organisms may also be released during this process.

Diving under the hull

With no direct vertical access to the surface, the underside of the hull is an overhead habitat. As a result, it poses an entrapment threat, particularly on big boats where low natural light or muddy water make it difficult to see the path to the hull’s side. The difficulty is exacerbated by the fact that the bottoms of the biggest ships are typically flat and featureless. Most authorities only allow surface-supplied diving for this type of job since it not only protects the diver’s breathing gas supply but also offers a guidance to the exit point.

High levels of environmental contaminants have been related to the usage of mechanical bottom scouring systems that are directed around the hull surface by a diver and scrub it with rotating brushes. If the clearance is little and the tidal range is considerable, there is also a risk of crushing.

We are constantly ready to provide our customers with high-quality husbandry services. Ship Husbandry services are something we specialize in. We offer crew handling and exchange, crew welfare, spare clearance and delivery, bunker fuels and lubricants, communication assistance etc. So if you are in need of expert ship husbandry services then Dowins Resources Pvt Ltd can provide you with the most appropriate services.

When a ship is in port, it may require far more than conventional ship agency services. Husbandry services are frequently required, which may need the engagement of a different agent than the one conducting the port call. When a vessel is docked, it is critical that the husbandry services be provided on schedule and in a manner that is properly coordinated with the vessel’s operations.

Our Husbandry Services include:

• Crew handling – meet & welcome, hotel bookings, shore pass arrangements etc.
• Crew welfare – doctor, dentist, mail, web connectivity, mobile and prepaid phone calling cards
• Spares clearance and delivery
• Inward & outward clearance
• Liaison with local authorities
• Follow-up exercises, sessions with workshops, contractors and project workers etc.
• Bunker fuels and lubricants
• Communication assistance

We have major relations with suppliers, port customs & immigration authorities in Vizhinjam port Kerala hence guaranteeing that client’s needs will be given preference, anywhere they go.

A ship chandler is a retail store that specializes in ship supplies and equipments. It has expertise in delivering necessary commodities to a shipping vessel and its crew. Its function is similar to a grocer, who provides all the necessary food requirements to homes. When a ship is in the port, a ship chandler provides all the essential and requisite goods.

Today’s chandlers specialize on items that are common on fuel-powered commercial ships, such as maintenance supplies, cleaning chemicals and staff meals. The ship chandlery industry is crucial to the survival of ports and their waterfront regions as well as its social and political dynamics.
A ship chandler’s employment is unique in that it focuses solely on one line of commerce, giving both the vendor and the buyer total exclusivity. By engaging a ship chandler directly, a ship’s crew can circumvent the intermediaries in a commercial transaction and save a significant amount of money that could be put to better use elsewhere.

Importance of Ship Chandelling Services

Chandelling services for ships are not a new notion. Such services date back centuries to a time when vessels were in desperate need of particular items throughout their month-long trip. These specifications were required in order to maintain the boat sailing safely for an extended length of time.

Ship chandelling services have become an essential part of all ports and maritime sectors throughout the world in recent years. A ship chandler’s role is very important, graceful, and revered today because they not only provide essential commodities such as ropes, sail cloths, and other items but they also attend to other needs such as maintenance tools, food supplies, chemical compounds, cleaning equipment and many other things.

Prior to their use, ship chandlers should deliver all essential commodities to the ship. Ship chandlers aren’t just there to answer the captain or crew’s most basic needs; they also have to respond to all the ships and their crew’s little quirks such as food, oil, lubricants, replacement parts and more.

They are useful in both situations, namely when the ship is moored at the port and when the ship is on its way. In the latter instance, more care should be taken with the supply. During a trip, the ship may require food for the remainder of the journey, fuel or gasoline for the ship, essential spare parts or maintenance services; all of these requirements are handled by the Ship Chandlers with great care.

Despite their significance, ship chandlers have a constraint in that they do not have direct contact with the captain and crew. There are intermediaries that are meant to bridge the gap between Chandler and the client and set all of the chandelling charges. However, because the middleman wants his or her own recompense, the cost of the commodity or service that the customer must pay includes a middleman’s share.

When it comes to a ship’s supplies, there are a lot of individuals engaged because there isn’t a ship chandler. The greater the number of persons engaged, the longer the transit time and as a result, the longer the transit process.

When a ship’s crew contacts a ship chandler, the ship’s crew may receive the essential commodities directly from a one-person source due to the naturalness of a ship chandler. As the ship chandler is the sole person engaged in the transaction, he or she can afford to get the greatest bargains for a ship’s crew at the best costs, allowing him to deliver a high return to his customer in the form of a rebate or discount.

Getting in Touch with the Ship Chandlers Vizhinjam port

As previously said, there will be a lot of advantages for the captain and crew of the vessel if they approach the ship chandlers directly for their needs.

The captain and crew will be able to obtain all of the essential commodities from a single supply source if they approach the ship chandlers directly. As a result, you may receive the finest offers or the biggest discounts on vital items.
It will avoid a lot of people from being engaged in this procedure if ships’ basic commodities are supplied straight from a chandler.
The direct method eliminates the problem of unjustified supply delays, saving a significant amount of time and effort.
Direct communication with Ship Chandler about needs lowers total costs, saves time, decreases the risk of mess and misunderstanding, and is the most effective way to satisfy requirements.

This is one of the reasons why ship chandlers are so popular. The work duties of a ship chandler have grown as the maritime industry has risen and peaked throughout the ages. The shipping sector has always been competitive, but nowadays it is not just competitive inside a country, but also worldwide.

Scenario for the Ship Chandelling Industry

Ship chandlers are an important aspect of the maritime business since they have to fulfill a specific role on board. From the commencement of the maritime sector, the needs of ship chandlers have risen to new heights. The position of ship chandler is highly regarded and revered.

However, with the advancement of technology in the production of commercial vessels, the requirements of a ship have increased significantly. The business of ship chandelling services, like all other enterprises, faces fierce competition. However, in the previous two decades, this rivalry has enhanced the quality of ship chandlery services. All ship chandlers are now experimenting with foreign flavors and improving their services. The majority of ship chandlers are accommodating when it comes to payment methods; they often accept payments in any currency.

Because of the high level of competition, even after offering the appropriate discount and rebate, a well-trained and experienced ship chandler earns a high rate of customers and hence a large pay.

Good Ship Chandlers’ Requirements

To begin a business of ship chandelling services, one needs to get permission from the government as well as the country’s shipping corporation. The following are the basic features of an excellent chandler:

They should be well-versed in the intricacies of all the ship’s and crew member’s requirements.
Because a ship chandler must serve both the ship and its crew, they must deliver critical commodities in a timely manner to meet the ship’s needs.
They should be familiar with long-distance requirements and should be able to enable the pre-supply of commodities such as fuel and lubricants, vessel repairs and maintenance, meals and so on.
No one can be more knowledgeable with shipping requirements than ship suppliers or marine contractors; therefore they may operate as good ship chandlers.

Despite the fact that the function has evolved and changed, a ship chandler remains one of the most crucial requirements when it comes to shipping and naval vessels. A ship and its crew cannot be guaranteed of the quality commodities necessary in a ship without the services of a ship chandler. A ship chandler’s obligation and duty on the other hand has managed to remain quite stable and completely relevant in a world of shifting thoughts, actions and priorities.

In a nutshell, Ship Chandlers are vital parts of the shipping industry and are singular companies that fulfill all of ship-owners, captains and crews needs.

Dowins Resources Pvt Ltd: Best Ship chandlers in Vizhinjam

We have established a name in the worldwide market as No 1 Ship Chandlers in Vizhinjam port, Trivandrum, Kerala. We are experts in the field. We provide all essentials such as fresh, frozen dry food and dairy goods, deck and engine stores, cabin stores, safety and life-saving equipment, medical stores, electrical stores, electronics and navigational supplies and more. We provide all of these services at a low cost, while also assuring timely delivery.

Lifeboats are designed to save lives, but over the years there have been many serious casualties that have occurred during drills, routine maintenance operations and inspections of davit suspended boats fitted with on-load release hooks. These accidents have also resulted in seafarers losing confidence in the lifeboat launching systems.

Lifeboat accidents have a variety of causes. Some of the more frequently occurring ones are:
• failure of the on-load release mechanism;
• inadvertent or accidental operation of the on-load release mechanism;
• inadequate maintenance of the lifeboat and its launching equipment. Sometimes the item to be maintained might not be readily accessible due to its location;
• lack of familiarity with lifeboats and the on-load release mechanism;
• unclear operating instructions of the on-load release/resetting mechanism; and
• faulty design.

Broadly speaking the above causes each fall into one of the following three categories: lack of familiarity, procedural inadequacy or faulty design. As for the faulty design, non-compliant hook mechanisms should have been replaced by now, as the deadline for their replacement was 1 July 2019. To address operators’ lack of familiarity with the mechanism and procedural inadequacy, more needs to be done. Having a crew that is fully familiar with the lifeboat hook system and the potential failure points would be the starting point. For this the crew should carefully read through the instructions provided in the manufacturer’s manual on items such as inspection, maintenance and operation, and if need be, seek clarification directly from the maker.

The problem has been exacerbated by the growing diversity of seafarers on board with limited language skills aside from their native tongue, as well as the limited profile of labour skills of local stevedore personnel. The issue is often encountered in emerging countries where personnel is hired by private enterprises or where applying health and safety policies in practice are challenging.

“Responsible shipowners – particularly those calling at smaller breakbulk destinations with limited onshore handing equipment – are regularly confronted by unprotected stevedores with limited training expected to perform rigorous manual tasks during both geared and non-geared loading and unloading operations. The stevedores are not only at risk. Quite often it’s the seafarers on board who are most at risk of injury due to a mistake by a stevedore,” comments Erik Green, Partner of Danish marine safety experts Green-Jakobsen.

To combat the risk of injury of death as well as the potential paralysis of operations that prevents ships from departing, shipowners are beginning to engage with the ports they regularly call at together with their contractors to create a safer operating environment.

One such operator is the leading Asian owner-operator China Navigation Company, member of the Swire Group. It has embarked on a project to address these issues it is faced with when calling at some of the smaller island Pacific ports with its liner and tramp services.

“It was only after the exploratory phase engaging with fleet management, officers, ratings, harbour masters, port authorities and stevedores themselves at multiple locations that the complexities emerged” commented Green. “It’s comparable to the construction industry, where a prospective newbuild-houseowner is faced with plumbers, electricians, floor and roof installers, all of whom have their own agendas to complete and few of whom have either the time or the inclination to take into account one another’s priorities.”

The project is now entering into implementation phase, and is one of the first of its kind to be initiated proactively by a shipowner rather than a port authority or terminal operator.

IAPH Managing Director Patrick Verhoeven commented: “Cooperation and interaction between shipowner-operators, ports, terminal operators and their service providers are very much needed in this area of safety at the quayside. It is another demonstration of the need for closer collaboration between shipowners, ports and port service providers on an industry level.”

Note : In the IAPH 2020 World Ports Conference, Erik Green will be conducting an information session and workshop together with senior representative from ITF on “Zero Injuries During Port Stays: Embedding a Shared Safety Culture Between Ship and Shore” as part of the Risk and Reputation stream.
Source: IAPH

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