What came to mind the moment you knew your container of premium shisha charcoal had just left the factory and was on its way to you? Can’t wait to receive your shisha charcoal shipment? Figuring out how to receive it and handle it? Planning how to sell your high quality shisha charcoal once it arrives? Thinking about happy customers using the product and watching your brand grow?
Amidst all these exciting thoughts and thrilling anticipation, there is one essential aspect that you need to know as soon as your container is on its way and that’s keeping track of your container’s whereabouts. It’s the final piece of the puzzle that will bring you peace of mind while you eagerly wait for your shisha charcoal shipment to arrive.
In this article, we’re going to show you how to track your shisha charcoal shipment and read your tracking results effectively. We’ll break down all those tracking terms that might have seemed like a foreign language before so you can better understand where your container is at a given time and date. We’ll also talk about the important things you need to pay attention to so that not only can you set realistic expectations for your shisha charcoal shipments but also fine-tune your plans as soon as the shisha charcoal shipment is about to hit the shore! It’s all about making this process as smooth and profitable for you as possible!
Direct vs Indirect Shisha Charcoal Shipment
Before we get into the nitty gritty details of tracking, let’s take a look at the different types of shisha charcoal shipment based on the number of transit points it has: direct shipment vs indirect shipment.
Direct Shisha Charcoal Shipment
In a direct shisha charcoal shipment, the cargo goes directly from the port of load (also known as port of origin) to the port of discharge (also known as port of destination) without changing into other vessels. The cargo might have a few stopovers at certain immediate calls typically for 24 – 72 hours but the container is never removed and transferred into another vessel.
Take an example of a direct shisha charcoal shipment below departing from Port of Tanjung Priok, Jakarta, Indonesia to Port of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia. The container is loaded on Vessel CALI V. FC338A and departs from Port of Tanjung Priok on the 26th of September 2023. The vessel stops at different major ports in Australia such as Fremantle, Perth and Adelaide along the way before arriving at the final destination of Port of Melbourne on the 10th of September 2023. Note that the cargo stays on the same vessel CALI V. FC338 A throughout the whole journey.
Indirect Shisha Charcoal Shipment
In an indirect shisha charcoal shipment, the cargo stops over in one or multiple transit points, where it is relocated to a different vessel each time before reaching the final port of destination. The amount of time for the stopover and relocation varies between 5 – 10 days depending on how busy the port of destination is at that time.
Take an example of an indirect shisha charcoal shipment below departing from Port of Tanjung Priok, Jakarta, Indonesia to Port of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia. The container is loaded on Vessel MSC OLIA V. HW339R and departs from Port of Tanjung Priok on the 2nd of October 2023.
The vessel first stops at Port of Tuas, Singapore and is transferred to a new vessel called MSC LIDIA V. FC340A on the 5th of October 2023 which then continues its journey to different major ports in Australia such as Port of Fremantle (Perth) and Port of Adelaide (Adelaide) before arriving at the final destination of Port of Melbourne on the 22nd of October 2023. In this case, the cargo changed ship once in Singapore as its intermediate call.
Another example of an indirect shisha charcoal shipment is shown below departing from Port of Tanjung Priok, Jakarta, Indonesia to Le Havre, France. The container is loaded on Vessel MSC ALDI III V. HW338R and departs from Port of Tanjung Priok on the 28th of September 2023.
The vessel first stops at Port of Tanjung Pelepas, Malaysia and is transferred to a new vessel called MSC CLAUDE GIRARDET V. QG338W on the 1st of October 2023 which then continues its journey to different major ports in Europe such as Port of Sines (Portugal), Port of Felixstowe (United Kingdom), Port of Antwerp (Belgium) and Port of Rotterdam (Netherland) before arriving at the final destination of Port of Le Havre on the 6th of November 2023. In this case, the cargo changed ship once in Malaysia as its intermediate call.
In some cases, it is possible to have direct and indirect shisha charcoal shipments for the same port of destination. A direct shisha charcoal shipment is generally faster than an indirect shisha charcoal shipment. So, it is worth checking with your shipper whether a direct shisha charcoal shipment option is available for your port of destination before a booking is made. We understand that time is money in business. At our factory, we always optimize your booking by finding the shortest route for your shisha charcoal shipment in order to keep shipping times as short as humanly possible.
Track Your Shisha Charcoal Shipment
How to Track Your Shisha Charcoal Shipment with MSC in 3 Simple Steps
Step 1:Go to MSC website and click on the Tracking option.
Step 2: Insert your Container Number or Bill of Lading Number or Booking Number
The container number can be found on the top right-hand corner of your container door. It consists of 4 letters and 7 digits. In the above image, the MSC container numbers are MEDU 6246078 for the yellow container and TCLU2736581 for the maroon container. The container number can also be found under the Container Numbers, Seal Numbers and Marks column in your Bill of Lading.
The Bill of Lading Number can be found in the top right-hand corner of the Bill of Lading. Typically it consists of 6 letters and 6 digits.
The Booking Number can be found in the BOOKING REF. section in your Bill of Lading.
We personally found using the container number to track your shisha charcoal shipment is the easiest as it is readily available in almost every shipping document you have.
Step 3: Click Enter to view your tracking results
Understanding Tracking Terms
In the world of logistics, tracking results are full of terms that might just be plain confusing. However, understanding these jargons is important to help you stay informed, anticipate potential problems and make informed decisions on your cargo. Let’s discuss the key tracking terms in order, starting from the moment the container is delivered to the charcoal factory as the shipper.
Empty to Shipper
Empty to Shipper indicates the date on which the empty container is delivered to the charcoal factory as the shipper as per the Container Delivery Order. Typically, the container will arrive within 12 hours of the scheduled stuffing date and time.
Export Received at CY
Export Received at CY means the container that has been fully loaded and left the charcoal factory is now received and located at the Container Yard (CY) at the port of origin while waiting for the vessel’s arrival. At this point, the container is ready to be loaded onto the designated vessel. It is advised that the cargo is received at CY at least one day prior to the cut-off date so it has a sufficient amount of time to clear customs at the port of origin and prevent potential delays that could result in rescheduling to the next available vessel.
Export Loaded on Vessel
Export Loaded on Vessel confirms that the container has now been successfully loaded into the designated vessel en route to its international destination. The corresponding indicates the actual departure date of the vessel which will also be marked on the Bill of Lading. Note that the estimated delivery time listed on the shipping website or given by the shipper usually refers to port-to-port. This means that the time starts from the day the vessel leaves the port of origin.
Full Transhipment Discharged (Indirect Shipment Only)
Full Transhipment Discharged only applies to indirect shisha charcoal shipments. This term informs that the shisha charcoal shipment has arrived at its intermediate port and is fully unloaded from its initial vessel and will not continue its journey on the same vessel to the final destination.
It is then temporarily stored in a container yard or a designated area at that intermediate port until it is ready to be loaded onto another vessel to continue its journey. At this stage, the cargo may be inspected, have its paperwork checked, and get ready for the next part of its trip. It stays in the care of the shipping company or the port officials until plans are made to load it onto a different vessel that will take it to the next destination port.
Full Transhipment Loaded (Indirect Shipment Only)
Full Transhipment Loaded only applies to indirect shisha charcoal shipments. This term alerts that the cargo has been fully loaded to the next vessel that carries it to the next destination port. The corresponding indicates the actual departure date of the new vessel to its next destination.
Import Discharged from Vessel
Import Discharged from Vessel refers to the process of unloading the cargo from the respective vessel upon its arrival at the final port of destination. This marks the arrival date of the vessel as well as the beginning of the cargo’s journey through the customs and distribution process within the importing country.
Import to Consignee
Import to Consignee indicates that the imported cargo has been successfully cleared at customs and is now being made available to the consignee ready to be delivered to their warehouse. At this point, the cargo is under the possession or under the responsibility of the designated consignee.
Empty Received at CY
Empty Received at CY explains that the container, having been fully unloaded at the consignee’s warehouse, is being returned by the shipper and received at the Container Yard or a designated area at the port of destination, where it will be prepared for the next outgoing shisha charcoal shipment.
Reading Your Tracking Result
Let’s analyze an example shipment of coconut charcoal briquettes for shisha that went out of Port of Tanjung Priok, Jakarta, Indonesia to Port of Beirut, Lebanon to get a better understanding of the tracking result.
On the 12th of May 2023, the empty container was sent to the charcoal factory as the shipper for container stuffing on the same day. Four days later on the 16th of May 2023, the container was successfully received at CY. Typically the container is received at CY on the same day it left the factory. In this case, there were some delays at the customs after a long holiday that resulted in the container being received at CY later than usual.
On the 23rd of May 2023, the container was successfully loaded onto the designated vessel MSC NAGOYA V. HW320R and departed the port of origin, making its way to its first intermediate transit port at Port of Tuas, Singapore. After arriving in Singapore on the 27th of May 2023, the cargo was discharged off the vessel and was temporarily stored in the container yard for 10 days before it was loaded onto a new vessel MSC INGY V. FT320W and departed Singapore on the 8th of June 2023 to its next transit port in Port of Piraeus, Greece.
The cargo arrived in Greece on the 26th of June 2023 and was successfully discharged from the vessel before being transferred to the next vessel LUEBECK V. XA325A 9 days later on the 4th of July to its final destination in Beirut.
Finally, the cargo arrived in Beirut on the 8th of June 2023 where the cargo was fully discharged from the vessel ready for customs clearance. Typically, the consignee is given 5 to 9 free demurrage days depending on local port regulations, type of cargo, shipping line involved and specific contractual agreements between shippers, consignees and carriers.
In this case, as there might be some issues with customs clearance at the port of destination, the cargo was successfully cleared customs in 18 days on the 26th of June 2023 and was handed over to the consignee to be transported to their warehouse. After the cargo had been completely offloaded from the container the following day, the empty container was returned to the CY at the Port of Beirut. This last step completes the entire shipping process.
Setting Expectations Right: 3 Key Shipment Insights for Better Management and Planning
Unlike air shipment, the reality is that it can be as difficult to predict the exact arrival timings of ocean shipments as it is to predict the weather. Ocean vessels are more limited by routes and schedules than planes, which can change quickly. It also involves more volume of goods being transported on large container ships making the loading and unloading of cargo more complex and time-consuming. While delays are inevitable in the ocean shipping industry, being prepared for them will help you organize and manage your charcoal business more effectively. Here are three important insights that you need to know when it comes to navigating the unpredictable world of ocean shipping.
Departure Delays
Just as it sounds, the Estimated Time of Departure (ETD) displayed on the website is really just an estimate. Based on observations from past shipments, the actual departure time is generally 2 – 7 days later than the ETD. The delay is often caused by the late arrival of the vessel at the port of origin which could be due to adverse weather conditions, port congestion, labor strikes and public holidays. In some instances, the designated vessel could face technical difficulties causing the cargo to be relocated to the next available vessel whose ETD could be a week away from that of the original vessel.
Arrival Delays Due to Multiple Transit Points
Ocean shipments often involve multiple stops at different ports along the way to their final destination. Transshipment can lead to delays as cargo is transferred between vessels, and each port may have its own operational challenges and congestion. Typically we observe up to 1-week delays in transit time port-to-port for direct shisha charcoal shipments and up to 2-week delays port-to-port for indirect shisha charcoal shipments.
Extra Free Demurrage Days Request for New Importers
The term “free demurrage days” often refers to the number of days that goods can be held at a port or terminal before additional fees apply. Depending on the shipping line, the type of goods and the port regulations, the number of free demurrage days given by MSC is generally between 5 and 9 days. This should be sufficient as most of the time the cargo is cleared in a matter of days.
If you are new to importing any goods into a port of destination under a particular consignee name and have not had a long history of imports, customs will conduct a thorough inspection of your cargo and may hold up your shisha charcoal shipment for a week or longer, regardless of how far in advance you have prepared your customs documents.
To anticipate this situation and help you avoid demurrage fees, which can range from USD 60 to 150 per day, we will proactively request additional free demurrage days with the potential to extend the limit to up to 12 days, especially if it is one of your first shisha charcoal shipments to the importing country.
At Grand Royal Coco, we know how important it is to keep you up to date every step of the way. That is why we are pleased to send you regular updates about your shisha charcoal shipment from the time your shisha charcoal shipment leaves our warehouse to the time it arrives at your port. You can count on us to ensure transparency and peace of mind throughout the entire shipping process. Our proactive planning makes sure that your shisha charcoal shipments arrive smoothly and effectively, so you can focus on your charcoal business while we handle the logistics and delivery updates.
Ready to start and scale your charcoal business? Schedule a free consultation with our trusted advisor today to learn more about our coconut charcoal briquettes for shisha and how we can help you ship your charcoal briquettes with the utmost compliance and professionalism.
