Note : Cargo should be handed over to VIA cargo after completion of MNDF/Customs and if ULD loading required, after the loading.(ready for carriage)
Packing
Packing should be such that it will be able to withstand normal handling and the conditions encountered during air transportation. Goods must be packed and labeled in such a way that they will not cause any damage to the aircraft and other goods. Any packages with improper packing will not be accepted for uplift and such packages shall be rejected thereof.
Packing Materials
Many countries forbid the use of packing material such as hay, straw, jute-sacks...etc. IATA TACT Rules, Section7, must be referred to specific rules
Small Packages
Shippers should be advised to make packages sufficiently large, in order to prevent them from being misplaced. Small, thin envelopes, received for carriage, must be attached to an AWB. In such cases the wording “Cargo Attached to the Air Waybill” must be inserted in a prominent way in the handling information column of the AWB and the same should also be indicated in the cargo manifest
For all aspects of packing of Dangerous Goods refer to current edition of IATA Dangerous Goods Regulation.
Packing of all live animal shipments must be in accordance with the instructions given in the current IATA Live Animal Regulations. These regulations cover container acceptance standard, labeling, marking, general requirements.
Valuable Cargo must be adequately packed and must reveal any attempt to tamper with the package. Any Valuable Cargo which appears to be damaged or with substandard packing should not be accepted. Shippers may be advice to make packages of minimum dimension to specific carriers depending on the size of the Dip locker or service container avoid them being misplaced.
Packing of all perishable shipments must be in accordance with the instructions given in the current IATA Perishable Handling Book.
When not cremated, HUMAN REMAINS must be contained in a hermetically sealed lead or zinc inner coffin placed inside a wooden coffin. The inner may be protected from damage by an outer packing and covered by canvas or tarpaulin so that the nature of its contents is not apparent.
Each package must be clearly and legibly marked, showing the name, address of the consignee, shipper and other details as shown on the AWB. In case of domestic cargo, individual pieces must be marked with the weight so that correct loading procedures can be followed.
All packages must be labeled with an airline identification label. This can be done with the sticker type or tie-on type of label. The label must be completed showing all the relevant information.
All labels (hazard and handling) used on packages of Dangerous Goods and outer packs containing Dangerous Goods must confirm in shape, color, format, symbol and text to IATA DGR section 7.
Ensure containers bear consignee’s name and address and “LIVE ANIMALS” and “ORIENTATION” labels. Special SPF labels should be attached to containers carrying SPECIFIC PATHOGEN FREE animals. (For details please refer IATA Live Animal Regulation current edition.
Each package must bear the name and address of the consignee and clearly the Air Waybill number, Destination, number and weight of the packages.
Note: There must be NO marking or Description on the package indicating that the contents are valuable.
It is MANDATORY to attach an orientation label and a cargo identification label.
Note : No Cargo must be uplifted without proper Making & Labeling.
Payments are collected based on the chargeable weight. The chargeable weight is derived out of gross and volume weight. Gross weight is the weight received after weighing the cargo. Volume weight is the weight calculated with regard to the dimensions of the cargo. Additional charges are involved in case of Special cargo like Dangerous Goods (DG), Perishables, Lives Animals and Valuables. Any cargo accepted and received from airlines and CSA’s will be subjected to a demurrage charge after the 3rd day in the warehouse. Additional cold storage and valuable charges are also included
The export and import cargo is stored in the respective locations after reconciliation, by the warehouse staff based on the information provided on the air waybills, cargo manifest, dangerous goods declaration, telexes, mail from the customer airlines, instructions from cargo sales agents, shippers and consignees and the labels pasted on the packages. Dangerous goods are stored in the spaces allocated for storing DG at exports and import terminals. Perishables will be stored in import and export cold storages. Each shipment should be separated from other shipment to avoid any mishandling. Any cargo exceeding the 30 days storage time will be subjected to auction.
All Import cargo should be tallied against arrival of each flight by the warehousing staff. All the pieces must be examined carefully for any discrepancy and advised immediately to the airline by mail or telex. Damage report will be filled for any damaged cargo. Any cargo requiring special handling should be handled as per instructions and stored according to its requirements in locations. The cargo location should be fed in to the cargo system and the Import Service Report and Checklist should be signed by the tallying staff.
Cargo department has to provide all information of arrival of cargo to the customers. The arrival has to be sent on the day of arrival via fax or phone. A second remainder and has to be sent on the fourth day and the last remainder will be sent on 10th day of arrival. Finally the cargo will be auctioned after the 30th day.
Upon arrival of all import cargo, import flight handler has to feed the data into cargo system and generate a delivery order deliver the cargo to the customer. Before clearance the cargo will be subjected to the examination of the customs and the MNDF. After the delivery is endorsed by the regulatory body the cargo is ready to be released. Customer services staff at cargo will release cargo to the customer.
When a consignment arrives to any destination, a fax transmission should be sent to the consignee immediately, this should include following information.
In an absence of acknowledgment from the consignee, two reminders should be sent. First one after 07 days after the actual notification and final reminder should be sent after 21 days of arrival of cargo. If consignee fails to collect delivery within 30 days the goods will be auctioned in public auction.
Note: all shipments arriving at Male' should carry a fax number on the master airway bill for notification, if not VIA cargo will not be held responsible for any demurrage caused by the delay in delivery.
Any consignment may only be delivered to
Upon arrival of all import cargo, import flight handler has to feed the data into cargo system and generate a delivery order deliver the cargo to the customer. Before clearance the cargo will be subjected to the examination of the customs and the MNDF. After the delivery is endorsed by the regulatory body the cargo is ready to be released. Customer services staff at cargo will release cargo to the customer.
CLAIMS
Most Airlines legal liability is USD 20.00 or equivalent per kilogram. This limitation is not applicable when the shipper has declared a higher value for carriage and paid the applicable valuation charge. For such cases the limit of liability will be equivalent to the declared value.
Claims for damage, known to have taken place while the goods were under the control of the airlines or its handling agent are to be considered. Written notification of claim must be given within the prescribed time-limit otherwise the claim shall no longer have legal impact. But all cases reasonable evidence supporting the claim should be obtained.
Settlement can be made on satisfactory evidence of loss while the shipment was in custody of airline or its handling agent. Liability shall be assessed on the basis of the weight indicated in the airway bill, if a value declared in the Air waybill, then liability shall be assessed as being the declared value of the goods. Anticipated profit or losses of consequential nature are non claimable items. Written notification of claim must be given within the prescribe time-limit otherwise the claim shall no longer have legal impact.
These claims are dealt with in the same way as total loss but the limitation of liability is based on the weight f the items partially lost or pilfered.
The person entitled to deliver must make a complaint to VIA Cargo Services Department, provided that such damages is supported by written evidence from the concerned authorities, in writing in the case If visible damage to the goods, immediately after discovery of the damage and before delivery of goods. No damage or missing claims will be accepted after delivery of the shipment.
No action shall be maintained incase of partial loss or non delivery of goods unless a complaint is made to VIA Cargo Services by filling the CARGO CLAIM FORM by the person entitled to delivery. Such complaints shall be made within 120 days of the date of issue of the airway bill or the date of the shipment record, which is applicable.
Receipt by the person entitled to delivery of the cargo without complaint is prima facie evidence that the same has been delivered in goods condition and in accordance with the contract of carriage. No action shall be maintained in the case of loss of the goods unless a complaint shall be to VIA Cargo Services with a fully completed CARGO CLAIM FORM by the person entitled to delivery as follows. -In the case of partial loss of the goods, immediately after it’s discovered and before delivery of the goods. -In the case of non-delivery of goods, within 90 days of the date of issue of the air waybill or the date of the shipment, which ever applicable.
For claims against loss of cargo, the claim will be processed after 120 days from the date of issue of AWB.
For any delay the claim will be processed 07 days from the date (from written notification of arrival) the goods are placed at the consignee/agent’s disposal.
For visible damage/pilferage the claim should be made immediately on delivery of the damage and the claim will be processed after 14 days. However, if any claim is made or submitted, the good may be retained under VIA Cargo Services custody for further investigation.
Cargo Services Department consists of 04 warehouses allocated for imports and 01 warehouse for exports.
The Imports terminal consists of warehouse 1 (Perishable warehouse), 2 (Customs checking area and courier cargo storage locker), 3 (Main general cargo storage, dangerous goods and a valuable cargo storage) and an area to store and transshipment with a separate storing cage respectively. There are 03 cold storages located outside of these warehouses to accommodate perishable cargo, with separate temperature limits. The temperatures for the 03 cold storages are cool room 1.-0°C to 10°C, 2.0°C-5°C and 3. -15°C -18°C respectively. The import terminal also contains a bin to accommodate Post Office mails. There is a separate area for storing Dangerous Goods.
The export terminal consists of a weighing machine, weighing bridge, Chiller with temperatures of -1°C to -5°C, a freezer of -12°C to -18°C and an area for holding dangerous goods before exported. It also contains an X-ray screening machine operated by the Aviation Security Command to screen all export cargo. Specified bins are provided for storing export Post Office mail bags & courier cargo.
The cold storages in both import and export terminal is subjected to calibration from the maintenance department quarterly every year. The weighing machine and weighing bridge also undergo quarterly calibration.
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