1. Procedure:
For obtaining rail priority, the exporter should apply to the Station Master of the Railway Station concerned, with the following documents:
(i) Copy of shipping order or a letter from the shipping company stating that shipping space has been reserved for a particular date.
ADVERTISEMENTS:
(ii) A letter stating the date by which the cargo should be moved in order to catch the sailing.
A shipping company’s certificate as at (i) above is however, not necessary in case of cotton textiles, power alcohol and raw tobacco, deoiled cake from solvent extraction plants, etc.
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2. Indent for Wagons:
The exporter should send a forwarding note duly filled in along with the prescribed fee for indenting a wagon. The type of wagon, open or covered should also be indicated.
3. Railway Receipt:
On booking the cargo, the Railways issue to the consignors a Railway Receipt (RR). It may either be ‘Freight Paid’ or ‘Freight-to-Pay’.
ADVERTISEMENTS:
It can be endorsed in favour of the consignee who may be the exporter’s Agent/Branch at the Port of loading. With such endorsements, the endorsee is enabled to take delivery of the goods at the destination.
4. Shipping Documents:
Any export shipment whether by Sea, Air or Post and Land route involves several documents. The format of some of these documents/forms although common for all ports, differs at some. Contact your clearing and Forwarding Agent for proper knowledge and guidance.
For shipment of cargo, several documents are required to be presented to the Customs/Port Authorities. It is on the basis of these documents/statements, etc. that necessary permission is granted to export goods.
Therefore, a deeper knowledge about these documents is necessary for quicker clearance of goods at the Customs and Port Offices. Some of the important documents have been explained in the foregoing paragraphs.
5. Shipping Instructions:
The Railway Receipt (RR) [or the Goods Receipt (GR) in case the export consignment is by road to the port of shipment] along with other documents (particularly and usually the Invoice and Packing list) should be sent to the Clearing and Forwarding Agent retained by the exporter.
ADVERTISEMENTS:
Such documents should be sent under the cover of Shipping Instructions, detailing:
(i) Cargo details
(ii) Name of the Vessel
(iii) Date of sailing or flight no.
(iv) Shipping company/Airlines
(v) List of Documents being sent.