Senegal, customs fines, cargoes Home Publications Articles Senegal: Customs fines Senegal: Customs fines Publications Steamship Mutual Published: November 08, 2019 Contact author Download article pdf     Image Club correspondents TCI report a significant change in the attitude of the Senegalese customs re fines which will now be imposed on bagged and bulk cargoes if shortages are found on discharge, either by customs surveyor or based on stevedores outturn report, which hitherto has never been the case. Here is the text of the circular from Correspondents TCI Africa, Dakar "We would like to warn against reinforced Customs control as Authorities have recently taken the decision to follow up discharge operations of vessels carrying bagged or bulk cereals and other bulk cargo in order to sanction any substantial shortage or excess of cargo recorded by their own surveyor or by stevedores. A precautionary tally survey is therefore strongly recommended to ascertain the discharged quantity and defend ship’s interests against disproportionate Customs fines. Please be informed that Senegalese Customs have decided to become less tolerant and have taken a new stance on the level of fines which has significantly increased over the last weeks. For instance, recently a fine of Euro 2,333,025 was imposed for mere mistakes on the declaration of cargo manifest and finally negotiated at Euro 304,898. We would therefore strongly recommend that your Members instruct their ship’s Masters calling at Dakar port to 1. Prepare their Dakar Customs declarations prior to berthing 2. Personally receive the Customs officers on board for formalities in company with the ship’s agent. 3. Ensure that All consumables on board, including bunkers, Lube Oil and stores (food, chemicals, CO2, foam, extinguishers, paint, crew personal effects etc) are accurately declared. 4. Properly declare the cargo manifest for Dakar (together with the cargo in transit, if any) 5. Place all the Customs papers