UNIT 7

Delivery of Goods (Discharging)

When the ship has arrived in the discharge port, the cargo must be safely delivered
into the care of the correct person. On arrival in the port of discharge necessary arrangements
are made for discharging the cargo. When the cargo has been received aboard ship and the
master has issued a bill of lading (B/L), he becomes responsible for ensuring that the cargo is
delivered to the person entitled to possession.
As a rule, the cargo is delivered against original bills of lading; therefore, the master
should only give delivery of cargo against production of one of the three original bills of
lading or under specific instructions from owners. The master should give plenty of advance
warning to the discharging port agent that he will require to see the original bills of lading.
The bill of lading is a negotiable document, which is often sold and resold before it is
presented to the master at the port of discharge.
Usually, the ship’s agent is charged with the legal formalities. He negotiates with the
consignees or the holders of the B/L and introduces to the master the right and legitimate
person who must take the delivery of goods. In the majority of cases, the agent entrusts the
discharging of goods to some stevedoring companies. This company usually discharges the
cargo into their own warehouses and then delivers it to the respective consignees. In other
cases, the agent arranges with the consignees a direct delivery of goods alongside the ship. In
both cases, the chief mate is under duty to make out notices of readiness and to hand them
over to the agent. The agent, in his turn, hands in these notices to the consignees. Sometimes
the goods are delivered in small separate lots against the consignees’ receipts. With the final
lot, all these receipts are exchanged for a duly signed and endorsed bill of lading. Very often,
the agent places his signature and seal on the bill of lading, which serves as a proof that the
goods have been delivered to the right persons.
According to the contract, the agent has to collect from the receivers of the goods the
freight and other charges due to the ship owners. The amount of freight is usually mentioned
in the bill of lading. The master of the ship may deliver the goods only after he has
ascertained that the freight and other charges, if any, have been paid. The fact that the money
has been paid must be efficiently confirmed by the agent. In case of non-payment of freight
and of other charges due to the ship, the master may exercise a lien upon the goods, and the
agent renders him assistance in this connection.
When the original bills of lading have not reached the discharge port, the owners may
agree to discharge the cargo against letters of indemnity provided by the receivers, shippers or
charterers, but that is the owners’ decision and not the master’s.
In case of shortage of goods or any claims or disputes on the part of consignees, the
agent is to arrange immediate checking of the cargo in order to protect the interests of the
vessel. If the shortage or defects of goods are found on discharging, an appropriate statement
of facts should be drawn up. This statement is usually signed by the master, the agent and
sometimes by the customs house officer or a surveyor.
Vocabulary
ascertain a constata
bill of lading conosament
charge taxă
charter navlosi, a da în folosinţă
charterer navlositor
claim reclamaţie
consignee destinatarul mărfii
draw up a întocmi
duly corespunzător, la timp
endorse a andosa, a aproba, a semna un document pe verso
exercise a lien upon a exercita drept de sechestru
freight cheltuieli de transport, navlu
letters of indemnity scrisoare de garanţie
notice of readiness aviz “gata de operare” (încărcare/descărcare)
port of discharge port de descărcare
seal a ştampila
ship owner armator, proprietar al unei nave
shipper expeditor de mărfuri transportate cu nave
shortage lipsă
statement of facts proces verbal
stevedoring operaţie de încărcare/descărcare/stivuire
warehouse depozit

VOCABULARY PRACTICE
1. Match the parts of the sentences on the right with those on the left:

Discharging the wharfs

1.When wharf discharge is being planned, a. 100 feet of wharf length is available for
each ship’s hatch.
2. Plans include using ship’s crew and ship’sb. to ensure a minimum of 2 metres of water
gear, but between the ship's keel and the bottom.
3. Cargo handlers should consider possible c. cargo handlers should consider unloading
delays caused the cargo onto the wharf.
4. For planning purposes, cargo handlers d. on the size and draft of the vessel to be
should ensure that berthed.
5. The water depth alongside the wharf e. by weather, port strikes, and so on.
should be sufficient
6. The water depth requirement will vary f. may be used for lighter discharge.
depending
7. Practically any wharf g. may also include using other equipment
and port labour.
2. Supply the missing terms in the following dialogue:

cases ashore overlooked in dispute consignment tallies

short draw up gas tube B/L

AGENT: This last (1) ___________of gas tube fittings was two cases (2) _________.
FIRST MATE: What’s the number of that B/L?
AGENT: No.8673 for 300 cases of (3) __________ fittings. As a matter of fact, we got (4)
_______only 298 cases. Our (5) ______ don’t agree. What’s the matter with that B/L?
FIRST MATE: I suppose you didn’t pay attention to the remark on the (6) _______that two
cases were in dispute.
AGENT: I did, but I thought they meant two extra (7) ______over 300. They should have
stated: ”298 cases plus 2 cases (8) _______”.
FIRST MATE: Yes, that’s what they should have done, but (9) _________ it. Anyhow, we
have to (10) ________ a statement of shortage. State that two cases are short-landed.
AGENT: Yes, that’s what we have to do.

3. Multiple-choice test. Underline the correct word in brackets:

Discharging planning.
During discharge, cargo handlers must (1) _________ (load, carry, unload, stow) cargo
from the vessel, segregate it, and place it aboard the mode of transportation that will move
it to its destination. Cargo handlers should make maximum use of berthing (2) ________
(discharge, space, load, place). They should plan for the discharge and movement of
cargo on (3) ________ (transport, supply, carriage, receipt) of the ship’s papers and
cargo disposition (4) _________ (instructions, orders, requests, notes). Planning also
includes special equipment required for special or heavy (5) ________ (cartons, boxes,
bundles, lifts) and arrangements for terminal (6) ________ (passage, cleaning, arrival,
clearance) including transportation required and depot capability to receive.

4. Match the words with their definitions:

1. to be entitled to a. a legal document in which a person or

company promises to pay for any loss that
happens
2. to entrust b. the money paid for transporting goods
3. consignee c. an official order that allows someone to
keep the property of a person who owes
them money until it has been paid back
4. Chief Mate d. a request for a sum of money that you
believe you have a right to
5. dispute e. a person or organization that charters
(rents) a ship or aircraft
6. freight f. the person or company to whom goods or
documents are officially sent or delivered
7. lien (upon) g. to give someone a thing or a duty for
which they are responsible
8. letter of indemnity h. feeling that you have a right to the good
things in life without necessarily having to
work for them to have a legal right to
something.
9. charterer i. a licensed seaman and head of the deck
department of a ship
10. claim j. an argument or disagreement, especially
an official one