What is detention?

Detention is the charge applicable, after the free time expires, for the use of the carrier’s full container inside the marine terminal, railroad facilities or container yard.

Demurrage is the charge applicable, after the free time expires, inside the terminal for the use of the land. 
 
Import cargo delivery procedure, weight limitations and restrictions

To collect delivery order, below documents are necessary:

Endorsed OBL/Seaway Bill

Civil ID copy

Any amendment requests after manifest filing will be charged with a fee of KD 10 per amendment.

Container guarantee letter should be provided by customers locally valid for entire calendar year on their official letterhead, stamped and signed by the authorized signatory of the company.

Weight limitation

20ft - 24.0 tons incl tare
40ft - 30.0 tons incl tare

For containers exceeding above weight an overweight THC of KWD 22/20ft & KWD 38/40ft is applied as per port tariff.

Vehicle restrictions

Cars more than 5 years of age cannot be imported by companies
Cars more than 5 years can be imported only by individuals - only one car per individual per year.
An individual can import only one car irrespective of the year of manufacture per year.
Bill of lading must be strictly issued per car, per individual. 
Vehicles manufactured before 1975 are allowed to import only by individuals as Antique, one vehicle per year/individual
Year of manufacture, vehicle identification & engine number, vehicle type/model, color, brand is a must for all the car shipments.

Hazardous cargo restrictions

Below IMCO class categories of cargo is only accepted on direct delivery/load basis at Shuwaikh port
IMCO Class 1 (1.1 to 1.5)
IMCO Class 2 (2.1 and 2.3)
IMCO Class 4 (4.1 to 4.3)
IMCO Class 6.1
 
No hazardous cargo of any IMCO class is accepted at Shuaiba port.

Palletization of Cargo
As per customs regulation, w.e.f 19th October, 2017, all cargoes that can be palletized (no specific list of cargoes to be palletized has been published by the customs)  must arrive / depart Kuwait on pallets.
This is to facilitate smooth inspection for customs and convenient unpacking / repacking should they decide to do so.
Hence all shipments to/ from  Kuwait must be planned in accordance to this new regulation so to avoid any inconvenience and monetary losses ( delays , customs fines , etc) to the parties concerned.

Export booking procedure

Export bookings can be placed through www.mymsc.com till 10 days prior vessel arrival.
Container release note, export order, and seal should be collected from MSC office after booking is confirmed.
Shipping instructions should be submitted 48 hours prior vessel arrival.
Full container should be gate-in 24 hours prior vessel arrival.
Original Bill of Lading/Seaway BL will be issued after vessel sailing and payment settlement.

What is VGM?

Verified Gross Mass or VGM refers to the exact, verified weight of a packed container. For safety reasons, vessel operators can only load a container if its weight has been verified.

What to include in your VGM instructions?

The following items are mandatory and must be on all VGM instructions

Booking or Bill of Lading number
Container number
VGM and unit
Authorized person’s signatory (submitter of the VGM who may be authorized to act on behalf of shippers
Responsible party Name

How to submit your VGM instructions

EDI (via INTTRA)
Fax, Emails
Standard Shipping Instruction signed

Deadlines for sending your VGM instructions

48 hours prior vessel ETA as per usual practice

Admin Fees and costs
There are no administration charges imposed by MSC for the moment. Should there be any fees we will share with you.

Recommendations

Shipper to maintain the weighment slips issued by the vendor and present the same upon request by carrier, further to check and confirm the VGM details on the final draft confirmed to MSC and to ensure that VGM weight is same as declared in the instruction template already duly signed by them.
In case of method 2 of VGM being followed, to clearly specify the verified container weight as per packing method followed, to the carrier.

Contact information

Service Desk
Tel : +965 2576 5018 / +965 2576 5017
Email: KW646-CSD-EXPORT@msc.com

It is illegal to bring the following items into or out of Kuwait

 
Imports

• Any goods imported from Israel
• Ivory in all form
• Designated narcotic substances
• Designated ozone-depleting substances
• Natural soil, whether to be imported as such, or used as potting material, e.g. for seedlings, cuttings, tubers
• Goods unfit for their intended use, e.g. spoilt foodstuffs
• Foodstuffs involving animal blood in their production process
• clothing or uniform-like textiles
• Gambling equipment
• Hazardous waste
• Radioactively contaminated products
• Bugging devices of which the power frequency is higher than 1MHZ
• Voice-changing devices
• All products which may be considered as repulsive to the injunctions of the Islamic religion and public morals
• Though the above items are the only ones prohibited, there are a number of goods that are heavily restricted. For more information, see the links below.
  
  Exports
• Illegal or unlicensed drugs
• Guns, explosives and ammunition
• Knives and deadly weapons
• Alcoholic products
• Plant and plant products
• Pork, meat and meat products
• Pets (unless permitted)
• Birds (unless from certain countries)
• Unsealed milk products and mineral water
• Fresh vegetables
• Food prepared abroad
• Animals from Iraq
• All goods from Israel
• Politically subversive material
• Counterfeit money and goods
• Pornographic material
• For full details of prohibited cargo in Kuwait please visit the following sites:
  
  

Ports and terminals

MSC manage and operate to and from  and terminals of Shuaiba and Shuwaikh, with local teams in each location to support our customers.