All You Need To Know About Sea Freight Shipping Services

MNS Freight offers streamlined global sea freight shipping services and has earned the trustworthy quotient of end users. With years of successful customer service, MNS has earned the reputation of being a one-stop destination for people who are looking to ship goods on a cross-border basis. With 100% consumer satisfaction rate, MNS sea freight services are giving a new dimension to freight services in the global context. This sea freight shipping company has been handling tasks relating to freight forwarding, cargo handling, storage and final shipment from the sea freight carrier.

MNS stands apart from its competitors providing fast and free quotes, affordable rates for budgetary customers, global shipping and 24-hour customs clearance advice and assistance. Apart from these, MNS freight shipping services monitor the entire operation right from consignment to delivery collection. This freight servicing company boasts of delivering the best sea freight shipping services and thereby, enhancing quality end-user experience.

There are various standalone aspects, which differentiates MNS from other freight forwarding services. These aspects are listed as under:

• Competitiveness: There are skilled and competent people enough in MNS who are providing quality services to importers, customers, and the general public.
  
  
• Safe: Most customers give emphasis on the safety issues in case of sea freight services so as to provide mishaps. MNS sea freight shipping services prioritize this issue and have been successfully delivering services over the years.
  
  
• Budget friendliness: MNS offers sea freight shipping services at an affordable rate keeping the aspect of budgetary customers in mind.
  
  
• Teamwork: MNS works as a team to make the best of sea freight shipping services they deliver. It is this mutual cooperation and harmonious approach to work, which makes MNS's sea freight services unique in a true sense.
  
  
• Flexibility in approach: MNS prioritizes the needs of customers and delivers appropriate services based on their needs.
  
  
• Single point of contact: MNS customer assistance team is ever active in answering customers' queries on a 24/7 basis. Often, customers face the difficulty of contacting too many support staffs at various times. In MNS, it is not really the case. If any customer has any query relating to sea freight shipping services, he/she will get the opportunity to contact one person at a time and to support him/her thereafter.

Customers from far East, India, China, Pakistan, Afghanistan, African nations and Europe mostly take the sea freight shipping services from MNS. There is no need for customers to worry about bulk containers as MNS's service staffs are ever efficient in this. Its sea freight shipping services also give regular updates to customers regarding the status of their deliverables.

Shipping Industry To Use Cleaner Fuels By 2020

Recently, a confirmed proposal has come into circulation that the shipping industry will begin using cleaner fuels and nothing else by 2020. Although it is great news for environment conservationists, the switch can put a lot at stake for old oil refineries and literally wipe out the businesses of those who supply wrong crude. However, advanced refineries with state-of-the-art equipment can expect their profits to double up.

During the next 4 years, ships all over the world must cut down on their sulphur emissions from the current 3.5% to 0.5%. The on-target deadline has caused quite a pandemonium among some refiners and ship owners. This is because right now, nearly 3 million barrels of sulphur laden oil are used every day for powering tens of thousands of ships. And countries like Iraq, Brazil, Saudi Arabia, Mexico and Venezuela, which produce ship fuel with high concentration of sulphur, are feeling threatened.

The advanced refineries are, of course, considering this a windfall, since they are producing more and more fuel with very low sulphur for an increasing number of ships. But for ship owners who still utilise sulphur-laden fuel for their vessels, there are several avenues open in order to follow the new standards. The easiest solution is burning middle distillates, which, although expensive, are low in sulphur. According to expert estimates, the new rules can shift around 700,000 barrels every day of demand to distillates from fuel oil by 2020.

As per the calculations of international shipping agents, the fuel oil utilised by today’s marine sector accounts for 4% of refined product demand of the world. At less complicated and older units in Asia, Mediterranean and developing nations, fuel oil containing sulphur accounts for almost 40% of the total output.

Some professionals are suggesting investing in various upgrades, but it may not be as simple as it seems. Using a residual hydrocracker that removes sulphur from fuel costs about $1 billion. Besides that, the overall procedure can take a long period of time, perhaps even a decade.

However, as oil markets begin preparing for the brand new rules, the shipping sector can crush their well laid plans. For instance, scrubbers costing around $3 to $10 million are quickly becoming standard on the newer ships. This can cause the expected rapid decline in fuel prices to make that investment worthwhile. But if the marine sector is quick in investing, it can bring back the demand for oil.

A Few Things About UK Customs Regulations

The final hurdle before entering UK is making it through the HM Customs & Excise. Although it is not as complicated as most people assume it to be, there are certain things that one ought to take care of. All EU (European Union) countries utilise 3 particular ‘channels’ for the purpose of customs processing - Red, Green and Blue. And being a part of the EU, UK follows the same honour system.

Let’s have a look at some important things pertaining to UK customs regulations:

Things You Can Bring In Duty Free

As per the current Duty Free Allowances, the following things can be brought into UK without paying any tax -

• tobacco products such as 250g loose tobacco or 50 cigars or 100 cigarillos or 200 cigarettes
• 4 litres of wine
• 1 litre of strong liquors having about 22% alcohol or spirits, or 2 litres of sparkling wine, fortified wine or any other liquor.
• 16 litres of beer
• £390 worth of other goods such as souvenirs or gifts, or £270 if you arrive by boat or plane

Items That Are Allowed To Be Brought In After Inspection

There are certain things which can draw the attention of the UK Customs & Excise staff, if you are carrying them. The officers would only allow you to pass if they are assured that the items with you are for personal use. These items include -

• Cigarettes - 3200 units
• Cigars - 200
• Cigarillos - 400
• Smoking Tobacco - 3kg
• Spirits - 10 litres
• Fortified wine - 20 litres
• Wine - 90 litres
• Beer - 110 litres

Banned & Restricted Items

There are some goods which are banned or restricted under the regulations of UK Customs & Excise.

1. Banned goods -

• Unlicensed drugs
• Child pornography
• Pirated and counterfeit goods
• Offensive weapons
• Pornographic material
• Milk, meat or other animal products

2. Restricted goods that require licenses -

• firearms
• ammunition and explosives
• endangered species
• live animals
• radio transmitters
• certains plants as well as their produce

For imports and exports, the HM Customs & Excise has got standard duty fees and allowances. In order to make sure that they make it through safely, it is better to hire the customs clearance services of any reputed shipping company. Customs clearance agents generally take care of everything including preparation of documentations, representing clients at the time of customs examination, duty payment and receiving of delivery after clearance with documents from the customs. In other words, they act on behalf of their clients.