Bill-of-lading fee to be introduced

THE Singapore National Shipping Association (SNSA) has recommended that its accredited shipping agents charge a bill-of-lading surrender fee and increase the local documentation fee.

The SNSA has decided to recommend all members recover a fee of $20 (about HK$110) per bill-of-lading set when this service is rendered.

The increase comes into effect on September 1.

The Council has also recommended that, in view of the continued increases in shipping agency costs in Singapore and to maintain a high standard of documentary services, its accredited agents should increase from local documentation fee from $15 to $20 from September 1.

The local documentation fee is a cost-recovery fee imposed by shipping agents for the preparation and release of a documentary set of bills of lading as well as import delivery orders.