Wheat Consignments

Quite high percentage of bulk wheat shipments to Egypt is received by the General Silos & Warehousing Company which is a governamental sector.

In many cases, the silos company claims for total damage of the consignment, alleging that cargo contains dead insects/bugs and iron residues…

In order to overcome such claims, it is recommended that members, in loading ports, request for a clean hold inspection certificate which will be an evidence that the vessel holds was clean and free from any residues or bugs. In addition, sealing of hatches after loading, under supervision of a P & I surveyor is also recommended.

At the local discharge port, it is also recommended to try to prove that cargo was received by the silo and has been transported out of the silo inside the country for consumption which will prove that the Health and Agricultural quarantine did not have any objection for such cargo to enter the country. If such authorities had any remarks regarding cargo, it would have been kept in the silo and would not be permitted to be consumed.

Another important point which is the allegations of weight, shortages in delivered consigments.

In many cases, members are faced with huge alleged shortage claims.

In this respect, the Alexandria appeal court has given a judgement in this regard exempting carriers from shortage of bulk cargoes which have the tendency to dry up during the sea voyage leading to what is known to be “Natural Loss”. The exemption is 1% of the manifested quantity.

The Alexandria Chamber of Commerce also confirmed this judgement.