What is an Inland Container Depot (ICD)? Inland Container Depots, or ICDs, are facilities that are often called “dry ports.” They are located in the hinterlands, areas away from the coast or major ports. These depots handle and store containers, offering services similar to those found at seaports. ICDs act as extensions of seaports. They connect […] Read More »

What Are De Minimis Shipments? De minimis shipments are packages that are free of duties or taxes because their value is below a certain limit. Each country sets its own limit, and if your shipment qualifies, it can get through customs faster and without extra costs. With online shopping booming, de minimis shipments are becoming […] Read More »

What is a “Green Port”? A Green Port focuses on reducing its environmental impact. This means using cleaner energy, reducing waste, and cutting emissions . The goal is to make port operations more sustainable. Ports can take small steps or make large changes depending on their resources. This allows each port to move toward sustainability […] Read More »

The External Revenue Service (ERS) is an agency proposed by president Donald Trump aimed at collecting tariffs, duties, and revenues from foreign trade. Introduced as part of efforts to reform U.S. trade practices, the ERS seeks to generate revenue by leveraging trade-based taxes instead of relying primarily on income taxes. Its purpose is to address […] Read More »

Every day thousands of shipments from different businesses are combined into shared containers at facilities called Container Freight Stations (CFS). These hubs make Less-than-Container Load (LCL) shipping possible by organizing goods and preparing them for transport.  There are two types of CFS. An origin CFS consolidates shipments at the starting point of their journey. A […] Read More »

The Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) began in 1952. It was created to simplify trade across the United States. Before this, the different states had different rules for business deals, which caused confusion and slowed down commerce. As a result, the UCC introduced a single set of rules that businesses in all states and territories could follow. Read More »

The International Chamber of Commerce have published new Incoterms® 2020 that have come into effect from the 1st of January 2020. The ICC originally published Incoterms® in 1936 and have continually made updates to reflect the changes to the Global Trade environment. It’s important that all parties involved in trade clearly understand the changes and how they apply to global supply chains. Read More »

The port of discharge is a critical transition point in the shipping process where goods are unloaded from a vessel and begin the next phase of their journey. It bridges sea transport with essential steps like customs clearance, inland delivery, or warehouse transfer. For importers and exporters, this stage plays a pivotal role in determining […] Read More »

The Harbor Maintenance Fee (HMF) is a fee charged on cargo shipped through US ports. It helps fund the maintenance and improvement of these ports, ensuring they stay operational for trade. This fee is applied to commercial cargo shipped that go via ocean freight. Introduced in 1986 under the Water Resources Development Act, the HMF […] Read More »

The definition of Bunkering and Bunker Bunkering refers to the process of supplying fuel to ships. It includes delivering the fuel needed for engines and machinery onboard. Sometimes, it also includes providing essentials like food and water for the crew. A “bunker” is the term used for the fuel stored onboard a ship. It is […] Read More »