Transshipment
Transfer of goods from one means of transport to another at an intermediate port or terminal.
Transshipment
Transshipment refers to the transfer of goods (usually containers) from one ship to another at an intermediate port, without the goods being cleared through customs in the country of transshipment.
Operation
The large transhipment ports (hubs) receive mother ships (mega-vessels) on the main routes and redistribute the containers on feeder ships serving the secondary ports. The container does not leave the bonded port area.
Main transshipment hubs
Singapore, Tanger Med (Morocco), Rotterdam, Port Said (Egypt), Algeciras (Spain), Gioia Tauro (Italy), Colombo (Sri Lanka), and Dubai (Jebel Ali).
Impact on deadlines
Transshipment generally adds 3 to 7 days to the total transit time. A delay at the hub may result in a missed connection and a postponement to the next feeder vessel.
Customs implications
Goods in transshipment remain under customs surveillance and are not subject to an import declaration in the hub country. They are covered by a transit manifest.
Original issues
Mere transshipment does not confer origin to the hub country. The goods must remain under customs control and not undergo any transformation other than necessary handling.