Connecting Czech Republic to the world

MSC has been helping customers to ship cargo to and from the Czech Republic since 1995. Today, we offer tailor-made solutions to our clients, with a wide intermodal network designed to ensure the smoothest transport of goods to and from the region.

Contact our team to request a quote, book or find out more about our local services

LOCAL OFFICES INFORMATION

What is Demurrage?

Demurrage is the charge applicable, after the free time expires, for the use of the carrier’s full container inside and outside the marine terminal, railroad facilities or container yard. This charge can also apply while the container is undergoing customs inspections, or while the cargo inside the container is being reworked for safety reasons, etc.

What is Storage?

A storage charge is applicable, after the free time expires, for containers left inside the marine terminal, rail ramp or container yard (for the use of the land).

What are the applicable conditions?

Please get in touch with us at cze-exp@msc.com for export shipments or cze-imp@msc.com for import shipments to get valid demurrage and storage conditions for your shipment.

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.

In line with SOLAS (Safety of Lives at Sea) regulations, all marine terminals in the USA are now allowed to use their certified scales to record Verified Gross Mass (VGM) of shipments.

What do I need to include in my VGM instructions?

You must include the following on all VGM instructions:

Booking or Bill of Lading (BL) number
Container number
VGM + weight measurement unit (lbs. or kgs.)
Responsible Party Name
Digital signature of the authorized signatory in all capital letters.

How can I submit my VGM instructions?

myMSC (free of charge)
3rd party platforms (via INTTRA; GT NEXUS; etc.)
Manually (contacting cze-exp@msc.com although manual submission fee will be applied)

Guidelines for submitting your VGM instructions

Most of the European Ports of Loading require to have VGM submitted prior to container gate-in otherwise shippers face a risk being charged for incorrectly declared container weight.
MSC prefers to receive a Shipper-Verified Gross Mass (VGM) before cargo is delivered. This helps to avoid any unexpected weighing charges being levied against the cargo at the European Ports of Loading, which will be billed to the Merchant or the Booking Party.
Please check your respective Booking Confirmation for specific VGM deadlines or refer to myMSC for updated schedule and closing details.

Questions about VGM?

Waiting time

For truck positionings in Czech Republic in the MSC’ care there is free time for loading and eventual custom procedures 4 hours since delivery of the container to the first delivery place (unloading place or custom office). There’s not counted in this time the time of driving between stops. By exceeding this free time there will be charged waiting time for each commenced hour till the end of all activities or stops. Merchant is obliged to confirm the trucker the end of loading or unloading on a special form or in electronic device which are at driver’s disposal.

Overweighted shipments

In case the axle pressures of the road or railway limits are exceeded due to incorrect distribution of the cargo loaded in a container, the Merchant and the booking party will be charged a possible fine and any associated costs, as well as all costs and penalties incurred by incorrectly declared weight of goods.

Positioning cancelation

If cancellation of the transport by truck is done after 11:00 a.m. of the workday before appointment date, the Merchant and the booking party will be charged with all actual incurred costs connected with the transport.

If the Merchant or the booking party cancels the train from or to the port less than 72 hours before the scheduled departure, he may be charged with Dead Slot Fee for all actual incurred costs.

Container weighing

MSC can arrange weighing for VGM purposes in case of Carrier’s haulage shipment as an additional service. If the Merchant or the booking party submits a request to arrange weighing for VGM purposes within EDI booking, the service is subject to a fee; if afterwards once a booking is already processed, the fee is different.

VGM certificated is shared with Merchant or the booking party after the container is loaded with cargo by the Merchant or its subcontractors and once the certificate is available.

Container inspection prior cargo loading

In case of Carrier’s haulage, the Merchant is responsible for inspecting the empty Container for its suitability to carry the specific shipment booked at the time of arrival to place of receipt. Any later refusal of a Container will cause additional costs for the account of the Merchant and neither MSC nor its agents shall be held liable for the costs of changing/replacing a Container accepted during empty positioning unless the defect affecting the Container was not detectable during a reasonably careful inspection; in which case the costs of the Container changing shall be shared equally. Notwithstanding the generality of the above, a light-test (visual verification of any light entry from within the Container with closed doors) is compulsory prior to each empty Container’s acceptance and no liability shall be borne by the Carrier or its agents for costs of exchanging a Container found with holes or cracks at a later stage if this could have been detected by a light test.

In case of cancellation of the placed booking, a Booking Cancelation Fee (BCF) will be applied and charged to the Merchant or the Booking Party. There are multiple tiers of BCF that varies based on the day the cancelation is requested.

For more information on Booking Cancelation Fee please get in touch with us at cze-exp@msc.com.

Ports and terminals

Czech Republic is intermodally connected to and from the following European ports and terminals, with local teams in each location to support our customers wishes and needs.

Port of Loading	Country	Terminal 1	Terminal 2
Antwerp	Belgium	MPET
Bremerhaven	Germany	MSC Gate	NTB
Hamburg	Germany	Eurogate	HHLA
Koper	Slovenia	PCCT
Rotterdam	Netherlands	ECT DMT
Trieste	Italy	TMT

Imports

Merchant’s delivery instructions should be addressed to cze-imp@msc.com latest 5 working days before vessel arrival.
The instruction for a container release in port of discharge can be considered as an email message that must contain:

Bill of Lading number and container number as a reference and such should be mentioned in the subject of the mail and
requested empty return location and anticipated date of empty return.

The instruction for a delivery of a container to its place of delivery can be considered as an email message that must contain:

Bill of Lading number and container number as a reference and such should be mentioned in the subject of the mail.
Appointment date and time.
Place of delivery including full name of the company, where delivery should take place, street name including building identification number, city, ZIP code and telephone contact details.
For T1 issuance purposes please specify HS codes consisting of 8 (eight) digits and cargo description.
Additional transport documents as commercial invoice, packing list, DG related documents and other related documents are to be submitted to MSC Czech Republic.

We cannot accept any shipments for individuals (for example, but not limited to household goods, personal effects, and vehicles).
Consignee must be a company (forwarder or direct account) with valid Tax ID.
In case of concerns, do not hesitate and contact us cze-imp@msc.com.
For ports of discharge located in Bremerhaven, please do not forget it is mandatory that the cargo description and HS code of the goods is manifested in correct way.
Each commodity must be manifested with the specific details (HS code, number of packages and cargo weight) as one separate item on Bill of Lading. It is not permitted to manifest different commodities under one item as a continuous text in 'description of cargo’ (for example "100 cartons of trousers, 10 cartons of socks, 50 cartons of shoes, etc.").
This must be done within first 120 characters of the cargo description.

Questions about import requirements?

Exports

The booking request must consider following mandatory information:

port of loading,
port of discharge,
origin inland location and requested mode of transport if applicable requests including full address details, requested date and time of positioning, customs procedure details and VGM method details. GPS coordinates are not sufficient.
Preferred empty pickup location and empty pickup date for Merchant Haulage,
destination inland location and requested mode of transport if applicable,
cargo description including preliminary HS code,
cargo weight for each container,
quotation reference and

payment method for origin, freight and destination charges.
Please always consult import local requirements of respective destination prior shipping your cargo. It is mandatory to comply with all regulations and requirements of the local government and authorities.
Non-compliance with such regulations and requirements can lead to undesirable dwell time that can generate extra costs.

Questions about export requirements?

At MSC, we believe that your success depends on local solutions, local expertise, and tailor-made solutions.

Wide intermodal network
Rail, rail/truck, truck deliveries or pick up
Reefer services
Container weighing
Off/on dock container freight station
Insurance
Customs Clearance

We are ready to offer you customs clearance both in export and import at one of our intermodal depots. No need to perform customs clearance at shipper’s or consignee’s premises. This solution brings more flexibility and options for planning of your shipments’ loading and unloading.

Cargo Loading

MSC's cargo handling facilities are strategically located to ensure the efficient and timely loading of goods for export and import. We also provide cargo consolidation, loading and re-loading, packing, unpacking and cross-loading services from containers to trucks.

Container Weighing (VGM)

All MSC local offices provide certified scales to record and verify container weight (verified gross mass or VGM) in line with Safety of Lives at Sea (SOLAS) regulations. VGM instructions are mandatory for all shipments for safety reasons and vessel operators can only load a container if its weight has been appropriately verified. Contact your local MSC team for more information and support.

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