The Mediterranean Shipping Company otherwise known as MSC Shipping has said it handled local export consignments of over 40,000 Twenty Equivalent Units of Agricultural products in the last 12 months.
The Deputy Managing Director of MSC Shipping, Mr. Jacob Losso who was speaking recently at a one day training workshop for maritime journalists in Lagos explained that the volume of goods handled by the company the year before was lower compared to the current statistics.
Iosso who did not advance reasons for the increment however said the export goods which are mostly agricultural produce like cocoa, sesame seeds and soya beans, were shipped to different countries around the world.
According to him, “In the past 12 months, MSC has shipped out over 40,000 TEUs of export. We have done over 40,000 TEUs but I don’t have the exact number off the top of my head, but I know it’s over 40,000.”
The MSC Shipping top official who delivered a lecture with the theme “The Operating Environment: Commercial Terms and Phrases Used by Shipping Companies/Lines in Nigerian Ports”, took maritime journalists round shipping trade primary terminologies, indicated that the most striking and mostly used in Nigeria is Incoterms and CIF, “because Nigeria is largely import dependent.”
He also spoke on a number of shipping and customs trade terminologies for imports and exports, including Form-M, Certificate of Origin, Bill of Lading, Ocean Bill of Lading, Airways bills, Final/ Commercial Invoice, Packing List, Manufacturer’s certificate of production, among others.
Responding to a question on container deposits, he explained that for importers to get refund on container deposits, they must return the containers in good shape. The MSC representative also gave a clear explanation on the difference between CIF- Cost Insurance and freight, as well as FOB- Free on Board.
He said; “Free on Board, is a shipping term that defines the point at which the buyer; or seller is responsible for goods that are being transported. FOB determines who is responsible for the goods during transit.”
Iosso said MSC Shipping is always willing to partner Nigeria in efforts to develop her growth and capacity building within the context of allowable engagements.
