Write short notes on the following, showing their main uses in foreign trade:
(a) Shipping notes
(b) Ship’s manifest
(c) Bill of sight
(d) Dock warrant
(d) Bill of entry.
Explanation
(a) Shipping Note; is a document sent by the exporter or his agent to the ports authorities when goods that are to be exported have been carried to the docks, giving detailed information about the goods. This document, also known as a formal request to the ports authorities is the docks superintendent, regarding shipment, disclosing the type of goods to be carried, its port of destination, the vessel that will carry the goods etc. The exporter or his agent retains a copy of the shipping note.
(b) Ship’s Manifest; is a document prepared and lodged with the custom’s authorities by the captain of a ship, giving full particulars of the crew, passengers and cargoes carried as well as the destination of the ship. The ship’s manifest must be lodged with the custom’s authorities before the ship leaves the port where the goods were loaded. Like the specification of the custom, the ship’s manifest lodged by the captain of the ship also enables the customs authorities to prove the accuracy or otherwise of the particulars, the exporters had already supplied.
(c) Bill of sight; is an important trade document used in import trade and usually given to the customs officer when a full description of the goods cannot be provided. This enables the goods to berth. However, a full description of the goods must be made later.
(d) Dock warrant; is also known as wharfinger’s receipt or dock receipt. it states that the exporter has kept the goods at the warehouse awaiting loading. It can equally be the importer who kept the goods at the port’s warehouse awaiting clearing.
(e) Bill of entry; is a foreign trade document containing the particulars of all goods imported into the country. It provides the customs authority with the particulars of goods imported at the port of entry.