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THE GHANA INSTTUTE OF FREIGHT FORWARDERS
SYLLABUS FOR THE 9-MONTH COURSE LEADING
TO THE AWARD OF
THE FIATA DIPLOMA IN INTERNATIONAL
FREIGHT FORWARDING BY VOCATIONAL TRAINING
1. INTRODUCTION TO FREIGHT FORWARDING
Learning objective/outcome
The module explains and describes the
business aspects of Freight Forwarding and the various
activities of a Forwarding company
1.1. INTERNATIONAL FREIGHT FORWARDER AND
THE FREIGHT BUSINESS
Legal requirements (carrier/agent)
General ‚Trading Conditions‘ of the
local National Association (GIFF STC)
Important trade terms
1.2. ORGANISATION OF THE COMPANY
How Freight Forwarders carry out their
duties to the needs of customers
Quality Management ISO 9000.
.Environmental Management ISO 14000..
(ISO = International Organisation for
Standardization)
Selling of services, Marketing,
Publicity, Inquiries and booking Instructions in writing
in accordance with forwarders conditions
Customers requirements and any special
procedures
SELLER/BUYER CONTRACT TERMS
Delivery terms (Incoterms)
A) Mandatory terms and use of
Letter of credit, destination
inspection, Export/Import documentation
Certificate of origin, Legalised
documents, Waiver
B) Other seller/buyer payment procedures
Reimbursement arrangements, COD (cash
against documents)
www.iso.ch,
www.icc.org
C) Customs Tariff
Customs Procedures, Customs Clearance
D) General Procedures
Selection of appropriate method of
transport and cargo space booking
Ensuring that delivery date relates to
delivery times quoted, by carrier
Correct issuance of documents –
including collection receipts and customs documents
Monitoring (tracking and tracing) of
goods and document throughout transaction
1.3 FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS
Invoicing according to agreed tariffs
and/or quotations, Charging for full cost recovery
Rates and quotation records, Foreign
currency conversion, introduction of a common currency
in the ECOWAS sub region , Credit policy and
creditworthiness, Legal aspect
Risk management
1.4 PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
National
Forwarding and Logistic Associations
FIATA (Fédération
Internationale des Associations de Transitaires
et Assimilés)
GIFF
www.fiata.com,
www..ghanafreightforwarders.org
1.5
FIATA DOCUMENT
AND FORMS
1.5.1 FIATA Documents
FIATA FBL = Negotiable FIATA Multimodal
Transport Bill of Lading
FIATA FWB = Non-negotiable FIATA
Multimodal Transport Waybill
FIATA FCR = FIATA Forwarders
Certificate of Receipt
FIATA FCT = FIATA Forwarders
Certificate of Transport
FIATA FWR = FIATA Warehouse Receipt
1.5.2 FIATA Forms
FIATA FFI = FIATA Forwarding
Instructions
FIATA SDT = Shippers Declaration for
the Transport of Dangerous Goods
FIATA SIC = Shippers Intermodal Weight
Certification
1.6 GENERAL KNOWLEDGE OF TRANSPORT
RELATED GEOGRAPHY
Continents and most important
countries, Knowledge of the main flows of traffic
world-wide/Into and intra regionally. Physical and
climatic conditions, Time zones, Geopolitical aspects
1.7 SPECIAL TRANSPORT SERVICES
Consolidation – Groupage services
offered by the freight forwarder for all modes of
transport (land, sea, container, air) Transport of heavy
weight and out of gauge cargo
Classified goods, Dangerous Goods
Foodstuff (liquid and solid), Perishables
Flowers and Plants, Livestock
1.8 PACKING REQUIREMENTS
Most economic and appropriate packing
methods according to mode of transport
Marking, Weighing, Measuring,
Calculation of w/m (weight, measurement)
Packing specialists, Packing and
labelling according to regulations and classification of
Dangerous Goods
( see chapter on Dangerous goods)
1.9 COOPERATION WITH OTHER SERVICE
PROVIDERS (COMMERCIAL AND NON-COMMERCIAL ORGANISATIONS
Activities in international Bodies,
relating to commercial trading Banks
UNCTAD United Nations Conference on
Trade and Development,
Geneva, Switzerland ICC International
Chamber of Commerce, Paris, France
WCO World Customs Organisation, WTO
World Trade Organisation
WB World Bank
www.unctad.org,
www.icc.org.,
www.wco.org,
www.wto.org,
www.worldbank.org
1.10 INFORMATION & COMMUNICATION
TECHNOLOGIES (ICT)
(INTRODUCTION ONLY !)
Structure and functioning of IT
Systems, Mainframe and personal networks
Hardware, Software
Particular applications in the
transport industry, EDIFOR – EDIFACT
e-forwarding, e-commerce
see chapter 12
2. MARITIME TRANSPORT (GENERAL)
Learning Objective
The applicant should be in a position to
give information on the basic regulations for sea
shipments, services offered,
and most current types of ships in use.
He should be familiar with the documents used for sea
carriage. Furthermore he should be able to explain the
pricing of ocean freight.
2.1.1 DRAFTED REGULATIONS FOR THE
TRANSPORT OF GOODS BY SEA
Hague / Hague-Visby - Rules – Hamburg
Rules BIMCO (Baltic- and International Maritime Council)
www.bimco.org
2.1.2 INTERGOVERNMENTAL /
NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATIONS
IMO (International Maritime
Organisation)
IMDG Code (Regulations for the
transport of Dangerous Goods by
Sea Dangerous Goods : Packing and
labelling for transportation by sea
www.imo.org
Different types of ocean transports
Liner shipments (Conventional or
Container services) Liner Conferences/Consortia
2.2 SHIPPING SERVICES
Non-Conference lines (outsiders)
Charter shipments (e.g. time charter,
trip charter)
Ro-Ro Traffic (roll on/roll of) – for
vehicles and trucks and heavy packages (unpacked)
2.3 TYPES OF VESSELS
Container ships
Ro-Ro carriers
Bulk carriers (dry cargo vessels)
Conventional ships
Tankers (Crude oil, chemicals, liquid
foodstuffs)
Heavy lift ships (equipped with cranes
and derricks)
BILL OF LADING (B/L)
Ocean Bill of Lading (rules, reasons,
types) – 'clean' B/L
FIATA Multimodal Transport Bill
of Lading (FIATA FBL)
Freight Forwarders (House) B/L
Through B/L
Received for shipment (Received B/L)
Mate's receipt
Charter Party
2.4 ACCOMPANYING DOCUMENTS
Manifest
Consular Invoices
Customs invoices
Certificates of Origin
2.5 PRICING OF OCEAN FREIGHT
Basic information and instruments for
calculation of ocean freight
weight/measurement (w/m), 'ad valorem'
(value)
Currency surcharge (CAF) Bunker
surcharge (BAF)
Congestion surcharge, Length surcharge
Heavy lift surcharge War risk
others
System rebates on ocean freight
Shipping terms
Freight Forwarders Commission
2.6 GEOGRAPHY OF OCEAN TRANSPORT, PORT
FACILITIES
Major world sea ports (regional and
world-wide
Transport possibilities to and from the
sea ports
Feeder services between ports
Loading/unloading facilities at the
ports
MARITIME CONTAINERS, AND MULTIMODAL
TRANSPORTATION
Learning Objective
The student should be able to explain the
functioning and the rules of international container
shipments by sea. He should show knowledge of the most
used container types, the necessary shipping documents
and also have an idea of freight pricing for
maritime containers, He should understand
what is involved in multimodal transportation.
3.1 GENERAL KNOWLEDGE OF CONTAINER
TRANSPORTS BY SEA
Economic conditions affecting traffic
of maritime containers, Important traffic routes
Container leasing (types of leasing
agreements),Terminals at sea ports
Inland container terminals. Gantry
cranes
3.2 TYPES AND SPECIFICATION FOR THE MOST
USED CONTAINER
The types of containers mostly used,
Dimensions (ISO Containers)
TEU = Twenty foot equivalent unit, Most
important types of containers
Box (Dry van), Open Top, Open Side,
Bulk, Tanks, Reefer, Platform,
Flat, Maximum weight allowed (payload)
Loading gauge at departure and at
destination
www.bic-code.org
3.3 LOADING PROCEDURE
Loading plan for container
Weight limits (container and on
transport modes)
Centre of gravity
Stuffing/stripping of containers
3.4 WAY –BILLS AND ACOMPANYING DOCUMENTS
Establishment of way-bills and
accompanying documents for conveyance by
Sea, Inland waterway. Rail. Road
3.5 PRICING OF INLAND AND OCEAN FREIGHT
A) Haulage rates
(inland charges)
inland transport rates (Delivery and/or
collection to sea ports by rail or
by road
B) Ocean freight
Lumpsum / Box rates
Commodity rates
Conference Tariff rates
Multimodal Container
Transport Tariffs
General terms :
FCL = Full Container Load
LCL = Less than Container Load (part
loads)
THL = Terminal Handling Charges
Handling in / Handling out (Positioning
of empty containers)
Carrier's haulage / Merchant's haulage
(pre-carriage/on-carriage)
Detention charges
Demurrage charges
3.6 GEOGRAPHY OF CONTAINER TRAFFIC
Most important container terminals, Sea
ports, inland terminals
Feeder services, 'Hub and Spoke'
port-pair systems
Short sea services (smaller vessels
‚feeding‘ large ports to enable the big container ships
to reduce port calls)
3.7 MULTIMODAL
TRANSPORT
General Knowledge of
Multimodal Transport
Terminology of Multimodal
Transport
Overview of multimodal
transport systems
The Multimodal Transport
Operator
Benefits of Multimodal
Transport
Conditions for multimodal
transport
Components of the
Intermodal Transport Chain
Multimodal Contracts and
Liability
Different Technologies
for Multimodal Transport
3.8 Multimodal
Road-/Rail-Transport
Technologies: piggyback,
swap-body, roadrailer, terminals
Combined Transport
Operators and Services
Pricing and
Tariffs
4
AIR TRANSPORT
Learning Objective
The student should be proficient with the
basic regulations for air transport. He should be able
to the explain the ground handling and the documentation
procedures of air cargo transport. He also should
demonstrate his familiarity with airfreight pricing with
examples of calculation.
Note : Students who have successfully
completed the IATA/FIATA INTRODUCTORY COURSE and
obtained the IATA/FIATA Introductory Diploma may be
exempted from this module
4.1 GENERAL CONDITIONS OF CARRIAGE
IATA = International Air
Transport Association promotes :
co-operation between airlines and
exchange of information
co-operation with international
organisations (e.g. ICAO)
standardisation of rates and conditions
etc. Warsaw convention and The Hague protocol IATA
Organisation and Agency agreement
Montreal agreement (MP4) Liability of
the airlines
Possibilities of increasing liability
of airlines Dangerous Goods by air
IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations
(DGR)
ICAO-TI ( International Civil
Aviation Organization – Technical Instructions
Shipper's declaration for Dangerous
Goods compulsory
Labelling and handling of dangerous
goods
Restricted articles
Limited quantities
Difference between Agent and
Contracting Carrier (consolidator),
liabilities
www.iata.org
www.icao.org
www.tiaca.org
4.2 TYPES AND SPECIFICATIONS OF THE MOST
USED AIRCRAFTS AND AIR-PALLETS
The most used aircraft’s (Passengers
and Freighters)
loading capacity
range
specification of loading holds
Loading devices (LD Containers and
Pallets/Platforms)
4.3 WAY-BILLS AND ACCOMPANYING DOCUMENTS
The airway bill (3 originals : green,
red and blue, plus at least 6
copies)
The neutral airway bill recommended by
FIATA
Accompanying documents
Consular invoices
Customs invoices
Certificate of Origin
4.4 CALCULATION OF AIRFREIGHT
Airfreight publications
International rates
TACT tariffs, rules of calculation, etc).
Domestic rates, General cargo rates,
Class rates, Specific commodities rates
Minimum, Normal rate, Quantity rate,
Specific commodity rates
Class rates, Possibility of combination
of various sorts and groups of tariffs
Add-on amounts Possibility of
prepayments instructions
Spot rates
Tariff rates for airfreight are in many
areas seen as reference indicators
only and therefore negotiable
4.5 GEOGRAPHY IN AIR TRANSPORT
Local airports
International airports
(the most important gateways)
Traffic Conference Areas
IATA areas and city/airport codes
How to read timetables (ABC, OAG)
Elaboration of air traffic routes
5.
ROAD TRANSPORT
Learning objective
The applicant should be acquainted with
basic regulations of road transport. He should be in a
position to state the commonly used vehicles to give
information on transport documents for road movements.
Furthermore he should explain the tariff structure and
give examples and how to offer to customers. He should
also know the international road network (most important
routes)
5.1 LEGAL REQUIREMENTS FOR NATIONAL AND
INTERNATIONAL ROAD TRANSPORT
Organisation of the Road Carriers
(International Road Union = IRU)
CMR
Liability of the carrier
Legal requirements on road traffic
regarding maximum weight, outside dimensions, traffic
ban during certain periods
Necessary steps to take for
out-of-gauge movements (weight or dimensions)
Requirements regarding handling,
loading and labelling of Dangerous Goods (ADR
regulations)
www.iru.org
5.2 TYPES OF ROAD VEHICLES
Length, width, height, loading and
total weight of the most used trucks (inland and border
crossing traffic) Combined movements :
Road/rail
Road/ferryboat
Roll on-roll off
Transport of refrigerated cargo
Heavy lift cargo
Swap-bodies (similar to containers)
5.3 WAY-BILLS AND ACCOMPANYING DOCUMENTS
Waybill for inland transportation
Waybill for cross border traffics
Liability of the carrier
Conclusion and fulfilment of the
transport contract
International Customs transit Document
(e.g. carnet TIR)
5.4 TARIFFS
Minimum tariffs for part and complete
loads
Calculation of tariff distances
Determination of possible commodity /
class rates
Tariff for additional services
Possibilities of prepayments
instructions
Groupage and chartering tariffs
5.5 GEOGRAPHY OF ROAD TRANSPORT
The most important transit points
The most important international
traffic routes
Ferryboat connections
6.
RAIL TRANSPORT
Learning objective
The applicant should be competent to give
information on the legal aspects of carriage by rail and
he should be able to describe rolling stock (most
important railcars)and combined traffic by rail. He
should explain how to complete consignment notes and how
to work with rail tariffs.
6.1 LEGAL REQUIREMENTS OF NATIONAL AND
INTERNATIONAL RAIL TRANSPORT
UIC = International Railway
Union (world-wide)
CIM = (International Convention
for rail transport, mainly Europe)
SMGS (International Convention
for rail transport in Eastern Europe
including Russia and some Asian
countries
rights and duties of the Railways and
its customers (e.g. forwarders)
Requirements regarding handling,
labelling and loading of Dangerous
Goods (RID, mainly for Europe)
www.uic.asso.fr
6.2. WAYS AND MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION
A) Conventional transport by rail (railwagons)
complete wagon loads (part loads have
nearly disappeared)
Types of railwagon (railway-owned or
private railwagons)
Special railwagons (e.g. with
changeable axles, container
carrying railwagons)
Loading gauges
B) Combined transport by rail
(road-rail
transport)
Piggyback (transport by rail of road
semi-trailers)
Container traffic by rail
(unaccompanied combined transport
Swap-bodies (similar to containers),
Euro (pallet wide) containers
www.uirr.com
www.icfonline.com
6.3 WAYBILLS AND ACCOMPANYING DOCUMENTS
Preparation of national and
International consignment notes
Accompanying documents (customs
documents, commercial invoices
etc.)
6.4 TARIFFS (CONVENTIONAL OR COMBINED
TRANSPORT)
A) Conventional transport by rail
Conditions of application of rail
tariffs Charges based on loading weight per railwagon,
lumpsum rates per railwagon, per complete trainload
Minimum charges to be considered Distances to be taken
into account
Payment of the freight charges (e.g.
prepaid, collect, up to border etc,)
B) Combined transport by rail
Contract of carriage Rates per
Intermodal Transport Unit (ITU) which can be container,
swap body or semi-trailer, suitable for
intermodal transport Special agreements (e.g.
trainloads, quantity rebates etc.)
6.5 GEOGRAPHY AND OPERATIONAL ASPECTS IN
RAIL TRANSPORT
Main national railway network
International railway network, border stations
(transit)
Rail terminals (rail/road interchange
stations, port stations)
7.
NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL
CARRIAGE BY INLAND WATERWAY
Learning objective
The student should give summary
information on how inland waterway transport is
organised. He also should be able to list the most
common barges and their particularities. He should know
the documents to be used and give information on the
pricing of freight shipped in barges. Finally he should
name the most important navigable waterways.
7.1 LEGAL REQUIREMENTS OF TRANSPORTS BY
INLAND WATERWAY
Agreements between the countries
concerned
Conditions of carriage Legal framework
Conditions for the transport of dangerous goods ADN
(International carriage of Dangerous Goods by inland
waterway
7.2 TYPE OF BARGES USED IN INLAND
WATERWAY CARRIAGE
Motor barges Tugged barges Tug
7.3 WAYBILLS AND ACCOMPANYING DOCUMENTS
Inland waterway bill of lading Inland
waterway consignment note
The most important conditions of the
bill of lading and the consignmentnote
7.4 DETERMINATION OF FREIGHT CHARGES FOR
INLAND WATERWAY TRANSPORT
Agreements/Conventions on freight
charges Surcharges such as Low water
High water Level of water-mark
Ascertain weight of goods (official verification)
7.5 GEOGRAPHY OF INLAND WATERWAYS
Network of navigable waterways Side
rivers and canals
Most important river ports
8. CUSTOMS PROCEDURES
Learning objective
The student should be in a position to
explain the necessity of customs duties and control on
imported, exported or transit cargo. He should give a
brief information on the existing international
conventions/agreements , structure of customs tariffs
(national) and the forms used in his country. He should
be in a position to calculate customs duties for a
simple consignment (one NHM position). He should also be
aware of Customs offences/frauds.
8.1 GENERAL INFORMATION ON THE NATIONAL
CUSTOMS ADMINISTRATION
Organisation
National customs territory
Duties and rights of the customs
administration and the
freight forwarder acting as customs
clearing agent
The most important laws affecting
customs clearance
Customs offences
Appeals in customs matters
Preventing drug smuggling
8.2 NATIONAL CUSTOMS TARIFFS
Structure of the Customs Tariff
Signification of the Customs
Nomenclature
Calculations of customs duties
Customs forms
8.3 NATIONAL CUSTOMS PROCEDURES
Final Customs Clearance (import,
export)
Temporary admission and other special
types of clearance, such as
transit under bond, duty free zones
etc.
Preferential duties
Simplified procedures
Administration of Bonds
8.4 LIABILITY OF THE FREIGHT FORWARDER
8.4.1 LIABILITY OF THE FREIGHT FORWARDER
TOWARDS THE CUSTOMS ADMINISTRATION
According to the local/national
legislation
8.4.2 LIABILITY ( IN THE CUSTOMS CONTEXT)
OF THE
FREIGHT FORWARDER TOWARDS THE CUSTOMER
According to the local/national
legislation
8.5 INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS
KYOTO Convention
HS - Harmonised System
GATT – General Agreement on Tariffs and
Trade
Customs preferences for goods from
developing countries
ATA Convention
TIR Conventions – Customs Convention on
the international transport
of goods under cover of TIR carnets
www.wcoomd.org
8.6 OTHER POSSIBLE DUTIES OF THE CUSTOMS
ADMINISTRATION
VAT (applicable rate and taxable value)
Control of import and export
consignments
Import Licences e.g. for certain types
of Dangerous Goods (ADR/IMDG
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