Shipping agency companies, ship agency companies, and foreign ship agency companies are all so-called "shipping agents". "Shipping agents" serve shipping companies and can be simply understood as "agents of shipping companies", while "freight agents" are "agents of cargo owners". "Shipping agents" and "freight agents" serve different objects.

Ship agency is a service industry.

The English name of ship agency is Shipping Agency, such as:

China Marine Shipping Agency Co., Ltd

China Ocean Shipping Agency

Shanghai United Int'l Ocean Shipping Agency Ltd

China Association of Shipping Agencies & Non-Vessel-Operating Common Carriers, referred to as CASA.

According to the common practice of the international shipping industry, the main business scope of "ship agency" includes:

1. Ship entry and exit business

Such as handling customs and related port joint inspection procedures, dispatching tugboats for pilotage, berthing at the port, inspection and maintenance, cleaning or cleaning the cabin, fumigation and disinfection, handling maritime rescue, maritime handling, ship handover procedures at the port, etc.

2. Freight-related business

Such as arranging the loading and unloading of containers or other goods, tallying, transshipment and handover, storage and transportation, assisting in claims, issuing bills of lading on behalf of shipping companies, calculating fees, paying fees on behalf of shipping companies, signing demurrage and dispatch agreements with ports and calculating fees on behalf of shipping companies, booking ships on behalf of cargo owners and related work, etc.

3. Ship materials and goods supply business

Such as handling fuel supply for ships, providing fresh water, materials and food required by ships and crews, and purchasing and sending ship spare parts and other materials on behalf of shipping companies.

4. Other service businesses

Such as handling entry and exit procedures for crew members, crew replacement, repatriation, medical treatment, sightseeing, family visits, letter delivery, and other matters entrusted by shipping companies, etc.

There are big differences between "shipping agent" and "freight forwarding":

1. Shipping agent mainly serves shipping companies and is a bridge between shipping companies (carriers) and ports; freight forwarder mainly serves cargo owners and is a link between cargo owners and carriers.

2. In addition to mainly operating ship agency-related businesses, shipping agents can also undertake cargo and issue bills of lading. This part of the business overlaps with freight forwarding. Therefore, when shipping agents undertake cargo, they have advantages over ordinary freight forwarders in terms of freight rates, ship schedules, and bill signing. After all, shipping agents can rely on the support of the shipping companies they represent, and those who are close to the water get the moon first!

3. Shipping agents feel more advanced and have a higher entry threshold; freight forwarders feel relatively low and have a very low entry threshold.

4. There are not too many shipping agents (compared to freight forwarders); there are countless freight forwarders.

5. Ordinary people have less contact with shipping agents, after all, shipping agents mainly deal with shipping companies and ports; ordinary people have more contact with freight forwarders, because freight forwarders mainly deal with shippers and carriers.