Hello and welcome to our third post on curious shipping facts! We’ve told you about shipping accounting for 90% of world trade and the exorbitant prices of building a ship. This time, we go deeper into the ocean freight industry!
Only 5% of all containers shipped to US ports are physically inspected. That figure is estimated to be lower in Europe! And people wonder why we’re having trouble eliminating drug trafficking!
Despite this outrageously low statistic, you should still take extra precaution to fill out your packing list accurately. US Customs and Border Protection has the right to examine any imported shipment. If that’s not frustrating enough, you, as the shipper, have to bear the cost of these inspections.
In fact, it’s easier to list why your container may be tagged for inspection than why it wouldn’t. Here are a few:
If you’re a virgin importer, US Customs may inspect your first few shipments to establish credibility
If the weight of your container doesn’t correspond to the packing list
If you ship cargo that requires special permits
If you’re unlucky enough to have your container held for a check, do note that the time frame for inspection very much depends on the severity of the risk assessment. This means you face a risk of cargo delays, which then leads to shipping delay charges.
Well, there’s no way to guarantee your container can escape the lottery of random checks. Just ensure you do everything according to the books and hope for the best. Good luck!
#INFOGRAPHIC: Celebrate 60 years of modern container #shipping with 13 curious facts about the industry! 🚢 https://t.co/hvQ6lRGEM9 pic.twitter.com/nWExUxIS8Y
— iContainers (@icontainers) October 14, 2016
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"Customs duties play an important role in your international shipment. How they're determined and calculated varies from country to country"
Klaus Lydsal, vice president of operations at iContainers