In a port such as Le Havre, goods come and go aboard ships. To forward them to the port or to clients in France, inland waterways are more and more favored.

In Le Havre, several operators are specialized in the transport of goods by barge: more and more of these convoys full of containers or bulk (building material, raw materials or waste) can be seen running down canals, the Seine river and anchor in port terminals. Very precise logistics, requiring a high level of organizational skills, hide behind each of these barges.

Regardless of the goods handled, one must indeed anticipate all the steps that will take those goods to the barge but also to their destination: either marine ships if they are exported or a river port (and beyond that a client) if it came by sea.

Relations and contact with bargemen or clients is common in the profession of inland waterways transport organizer: order taking, receipt of goods, transshipment operations monitoring, barge booking, lock schedules checks, etc. All these operations must allow the client to receive his goods as fast as possible and if needs be while managing and coordinating other forwarding means such as road transport.

The Grenelle environmental summit defined that, by 2020, 20% of goods carried in France would have to be transported by other means than by road. In such a prospect inland waterways have an important role to play. In Le Havre, important investments have currently been made to meet these requirements, especially thanks to the creation of a multimodal terminal.

With ever more goods on the river and operators to handle them, employment prospects are positive for those who can boast the right profile. Bachelor degree holders in transport and logistics or inland waterways specialists (ISNI BTS) are welcome.

In Le Havre, close to 400 directs jobs are related to inland waterways and this fast-developing profession will continue to recruit.

Testimonial

Sébastien, an inland waterways operations agent for a maritime company graduated from Institut supérieur de la navigation intérieure (ISNI) in Elbeuf.

After working for five months as an intern (inland waterways crew on a pusher boat along the Seine River) he graduated with a BTS (bachelor degree). “I chose a profession that has different aspects thanks to daily contact and which allows to travel down the Seine river. Thanks to this trade I developed autonomy, thoroughness and good communicational and organizational skills”.

Source: multiple Internet sources, specialized literature, testimonials (Pratic-Export, Pôle-emploi cards, Wikipedia, Onisep, CNRTL, Umep à la Page…)

Working in perfect unison with global trade stakeholders, insurers and brokers are true specialists. As trusted partners they propose custom made insurance products for ever-evolving specific professions.

The world of transport and logistics mobilizes impressive means and invests massive capital: just think about the enormous amount of goods carried by road, sea, inland waterways or by plane across the world; but also consider the amount of ships, vehicles, warehouses necessary to their transit and to make them available in the most suitable manner.

From the initial cover of maritime risk in which they specialized, Le Havre insurers and marine insurance brokers now offer their expertise to the whole supply chain: shipowners, road or waterways haulers, brokers, import and export stakeholders today represent many different profiles intervening at any level of a chain which itself proves international.

A very active and powerful center developed in Le Havre with the expertise of insuring logistics professions: a great global company; 5 specialized brokers also acting for local, national or global clients and about fifty other agents make Le Havre a stronghold of marine insurance.

In a world in which exchanges are more and more subject to contracts, legal responsibility is very subtly segmented; the role of insurers and brokers has become essential for logistics operators whose field of action is multifaceted (i.e. wider and wider): consulting and customer support to assist continuing growth have now become part of the insurers’ and brokers’ mission.

Insurers, for the subscription of more and more specific and accurate products that meet custom made requirements and ever changing issues, use the help of technical sales agents who know their customers’ professions well. Claims managers are legally trained. Brokers also use the help of lawyers specialized in transport law (a special course is taught at Le Havre University) as well as transport specialists: continuing education is an asset. Other bachelor profiles (always with a solid transport law background) or sales agents are also wanted. These professions represent close to 500 direct jobs in Le Havre and experience solid growth.

Source: multiple Internet sources, specialized literature, testimonials (Pratic-Export, Pôle-emploi cards, Wikipedia, Onisep, CNRTL, Umep à la Page…)

This term replaced the term ship broker when the latter saw their privilege disappear under European Law.

Customs brokers are service providers representing the shipping agent. They stand in for foreign captains with authorities, especially Customs.

The mission of Customs brokers encompasses two main functions:

• One, administrative, takes them to calculate and pay harbor dues for ships. They are collected from shipping agents and paid to Customs authorities. They also translate the manifest.
• The other, related to business, takes them to act as intermediaries between ship and other naval equipment buyers and sellers.

This professional is in a relationship with:

• Shipowners who are the “clients of his clients”.
• Shipping agents who are their direct clients.
• Port authorities in which they officiate.
• Customs authorities, since the Customs broker perceives harbor dues and is responsible for their collection after a deposit was agreed.

Source: multiple Internet sources, specialized literature, testimonials (Pratic-Export, Pôle-emploi cards, Wikipedia, Onisep, CNRTL, Umep à la Page…)

The Napoleonic code established the corps of commissaires d’avarie (damage commissioners, surveyors).

They were the first marine surveyors in known history and were in reality public administrators in charge of the coordination and the planning of sailing boats maintenance after they were damaged at sea or during a military campaign.

Before World War 2 the profession of marine surveyor did not really exist as such.  Marine surveyors were then marine engineers for what was related to commerce and naval architects for what was related to leisure boating but also retired deck officers or mechanics.

In the 1950s insurance companies started publishing lists of experts which they assigned according to strictly economic criteria. In the 1960s and 70s the profession changed and diversified.

Today surveyors are technicians who show great knowledge of all marine technologies they acquired thanks to technical education and experience. All the necessary skills required for this activity may be acquired by self-teaching or through engineering education or marine colleges.

About 100 marine surveyors are registered in France in the French yachting directory (Annuaire du nautisme) according to the FIEM (Fédération internationale des experts et conseils maritimes – International Marine Accredited Surveyors Association) which was created in 1983.

Marine surveyors can work for any client in the maritime world: professionals, insurers, institutions, etc.

They may, when working with insurers, advise conservation measures, identify damaged properties, determine the origin of damages, file a liability claim, describe damages, calculate their cost, evaluate wear rates and the coming obsolescence of a ship, etc.

On an administrative level, surveyors may work with Customs authorities to determine, for instance, the value of a ship which is being imported or work with tax services to determine the value of a ship which is included in inherited assets or also work with civil or trade courts for legal expertise.

When working with professionals they may be hired by resellers to inspect ships for sale in order to assess their state, determine the different repairs to perform or by shipyards to monitor works, take note of failures, etc.

They may also come to perform, for cross-examination, damage checks on ships, goods, port equipment, etc.

Marine surveyors may perform their job within the framework of a liberal profession or as employees but may also work for ship classification companies. Marine surveyors, like any other expert, are technicians but are not legally trained.

Source: multiple Internet sources, specialized literature, testimonials (Pratic-Export, Pôle-emploi cards, Wikipedia, Onisep, CNRTL, Umep à la Page…)

The term “transport organizer” relates to several professions:

• Consolidators group together goods coming from different shippers in order to fill containers or trucks as well as possible. Consolidators have a warehouse with platforms, handling equipment and staff.
• Charterers make the needs of clients meet common carrier solutions in exchange for a chartering fee. They bear the transport expenses which they negotiate (sales and purchase) but do not own any warehouse, handling equipment nor do they employ any staff. They have to organize transportation by expediting the carrying vehicle to the shipper to organize a direct delivery to the consignee. They must deal with heavy batches: it used to be considered that chartered batches should at least weigh three tons. Today charterers deal with batches of 1 ton or more.
• Town office operators deal with parcels or LTL shipments and deliver them separately to carriers or other brokers.  They do not take care of transport but only of the transmission to the carrier or to the client depending on whether they ship or receive goods.
• International transport organizers are also often called forwarders. They are, in reality, freight forwarders and customs brokers who manage the multimodal logistical chain from the shipper to the consignee, sometimes at the other end of the world. They act on behalf of the client regarding transport, insurance, Customs clearance, modal choice, etc. They have an extensive network of correspondents abroad.

Source: multiple Internet sources, specialized literature, testimonials (Pratic-Export, Pôle-emploi cards, Wikipedia, Onisep, CNRTL, Umep à la Page…)

As the name suggests, Customs clearance agents are in charge of the Customs clearance of goods (import and export). They act as intermediaries between the client’s transit and accounting departments and Customs authorities.

They must be authorized by French Customs (mandate).

They state the amount of duties and taxes and forward all required information about the goods to Customs authorities. They check the regulatory compliance of the documents provided by the client, sign the file once processed and forward it to the Customs authorities.

In some cases, especially when Customs require it, agents control goods themselves.

Customs clearance agents hold a bachelor degree with a transport and logistics specialization at a minimum and shall prove thorough, organized and show determination and diplomacy. They shall also be able to handle stress well. A very good command of a foreign language, English most of the time, is mandatory. Customs clearance agents shall know  Customs regulations and transit techniques (import and export) perfectly well.

Source: multiple Internet sources, specialized literature, testimonials (Pratic-Export, Pôle-emploi cards, Wikipedia, Onisep, CNRTL, Umep à la Page…)

The duty of import/export employees is to import and export goods on behalf of a client, to comply with contracts agreed, regulations and processes in force.

Depending on the type of goods entrusted by the client they must search and select the different service providers involved, on their own or in collaboration with a sales department.

They must keep up to date with the progress of the transport, provide information to the chain stakeholders and issue invoices. These employees, generally holding a bachelor degree in transport, transport and logistics or International business, must show good interpersonal and organizational skills, thoroughness and readiness. They must master computer technologies.

They may work for shipowners, maritime agents, freight forwarders or logistics providers.

Source: multiple Internet sources, specialized literature, testimonials (Pratic-Export, Pôle-emploi cards, Wikipedia, Onisep, CNRTL, Umep à la Page…)

Roads, roundabouts, docks, dikes, warehouses, industrial parks, etc.: the port area gathers numerous activities and infrastructures coordinated by professionals specialized in port planning.

Let’s focus on 3 of these professions ranging from upstream business start-up assistance to the execution of civil engineering works “on site”. These professionals operate for one reason: to propose the planning most suited to companies needs.

Planning the organization of the port area: finding the right balance

The port area gathers over 1000 companies ranging from the industrial sector to logistics over 25 000 acres, which is twice the size of Paris. There is a great diversity of companies, each expressing very different needs in terms of services (water, power and gas supply) and servicing (road, rail or inland waterways connections, access to the sea, etc.)

Herve’s mission (planning project manager) is to welcome new companies, anticipate, plan and offer the most relevant areas. “The port is built like a huge network which we commit to develop by offering plug and play proposals to our clients, that is to say customized and integrated solutions specific to their needs” adds Herve. We design and execute planning schemes that integrate specific needs while ensuring the overall consistency of this huge territory showing great potential for growth.

Testimony

After graduating with a DESS Génie Portuaire et Côtier (Masters in Ports and Coastline Planning), Herve specialized in the planning of business parks before he reached that position. “It is a cross-disciplinary profession in which one benefits from everybody’s experience. I am in contact with experts in all trades: economical, logistical, etc. in order to offer the smartest planning that will meet or clients’ requirements.”

From on site works planning to engineering office

Each day new road infrastructures are being built or undergo renovation. It is Sebastien’s mission (manager in an engineering office specialized in roads and median strips). Once he had passed his DUT Génie civil (civil engineering) he became a research technician and worked for seven years at the port planning office.

The success encountered during that mission owned him a promotion as manager. “My role is to manage a team of research technicians in order to turn drawings or planning research into market projects. We first refine all the technical components of the projects: outline, leveling, etc. Then, after we have proceeded to a sizing study, we define the project structure (number, nature and thickness of the constituent layers of that structure). All these elements, once they have been validated, allow us to design the technical specifications and to establish the market project.

In some specific cases the reliability of planning according to traffic flow absorption capacity is verified thanks to software and with the help of another service from Grand Port Maritime du Havre. That step allows us to simulate the flow of vehicles in real life condition and, depending on the case, leads to project amendment. “Finally, I act as an intermediary for the works teams that will perform operations on site. In this regard this profession demands a lot of thoroughness and good interpersonal skills.

Perform new infrastructures and maintain older ones is the core mission of New Works and Maintenance

Planning the port area also means planning maritime infrastructures! Before any new construction (dike, dock, etc.) professionals check the project feasibility and perform presizing studies. For instance, specifications are established according to precise elements: dimensions, quality criteria and imposed constraints, remuneration mode, etc. Once that expertise has been accomplished the works are performed by a company selected by call for tender. “I am responsible for the proper writing of the works agreement and for the monitoring of execution until the works are completed. My mission is, for instance, to check that a major work has been properly executed according to specifications in order to obtain quality infrastructures at a fair price which meet the client’s requirements”, adds Christian, the manager of the New Works, Maintenance and Monitoring department.  “I deal both with the construction of new works but also with the maintenance of the estate to keep it in good conditions”.

Le Havre port infrastructures total 40 km of docks and 20 km of dikes and are therefore the subject of expert research in order to be repaired and maintained. To be able to practice this profession Christian graduated as a civil engineer. His skills expanded thanks to much professional experience over twenty years, especially on civil engineering sites or lately during the construction of Port 2000.

Source: multiple Internet sources, specialized literature, testimonials (Pratic-Export, Pôle-emploi cards, Wikipedia, Onisep, CNRTL, Umep à la Page…)

The ship broker practices one of the most ancient professions in the sea industry and his status is duly regulated. Its origin dates back from the December 1657 edict written during the reign of Louis XIV and the November 14, 1835 order which set, once and for all, the activity of ship brokers.

In France, ship brokers are ministerial officers appointed by the Head of State. This office was abolished by the January 2001 Law with effect from March 21, 2004.

Ship brokers perform, on behalf of a shipowner, a number of administrative requirements. They are, first and foremost, business intermediaries between shippers (companies with freight to be carried) and carriers (shipowners or ships). They also negotiate chartering contracts, i.e. ship rental.

They may play a role in the sale and the construction of a ship. To work for a broker, the same skills as those needed with a forwarder are required.

The broker may also negotiate risk covers with insurance companies. They mainly negotiate:

• For the shipowner, the cover of the risk involved by seafaring,
• For the shipper, the cover of the risk related to freight.

They prepare and make the parties sign the corresponding contracts. They receive a commission.

There is no specific training. The insurance broker shall have some knowledge of insurance, transport and maritime law. Most of the training offered by universities is sufficient.

Testimonies of people working for a ship broker in Le Havre:

After training as a “Employé de transit et consignation – forwarding and brokering employee”  at the CCIH, Karl worked at different seasonal jobs for shipowners and shipping agents operating in Le Havre. Now working as an import assistant within a brokering firm, he declares: “thanks to this position I can practice my English everyday. My job allows me to better know ship turnarounds in various ports. Using AP+* each day allowed me to learn the customs clearance procedure. My experience made me benefit from the knowledge acquired in different countries and their ports as well as the alliances that may exist between shipowners. “

Isabelle trained as a Port Service Secretary at Montivilliers CCI & CAUX. After a previous experience in import consignment and a position that allowed her to translate experts reports, she became an import assistant at a brokering office. She declares: “my experience made it possible for me to put into practice the theory I learned, especially on AP+* but also to better understand the exchanges occurring between different services. This also allows me to develop relations and contacts with clients. I can now be more responsive, take initiatives and deal with ship files from the declaration of goods to their closing. “

Témoignages

After graduating in Law, Florian earned a Master’s degree in marine law and a second one in insurance law. He now works as a customer service agent for a brokering firm specialized in Transport insurance. Florian considers that: “through this profession I was able to work in cooperation with different stakeholders of the transport branch and to meet the industrials of this region”. Berangere, a claims manager for a maritime and transport insurance company holds a master’s degree in marine law and port activities from Le Havre faculty of International Business which gave her access to this profession. “This job allowed me to put into use the knowledge acquired throughout my legal education. I was also able to develop the business dimension of my curriculum, being each day in contact with our customers who are important stakeholders in the maritime and port business such as transporters, handlers, etc.”

After training as a “Employé de transit et consignation – forwarding and brokering employee” at the CCIH, Karl worked at different seasonal jobs for shipowners and shipping agents operating in Le Havre. Now working as an import assistant withing a brokering firm, he declares: “thanks to this position I can practice my English everyday. My job allows me to better know ship turnarounds in various ports. Using AP+* each day allowed me to learn the Customs clearance procedure. My experience made me benefit from the knowledge acquired in different countries and their ports as well as the alliances that may exist between shipowners. “

Isabelle trained as a Port Service Secretary at Montivilliers CCI & CAUX. After a previous experience in import consignment and a position that allowed her to translate experts reports, she became an import assistant at a brokering office. She declares: “my experience made it possible for me to put into practice the theory I learned, especially on AP+* but also to better understand the exchanges occurring between different services. This also allows me to develop relations and contacts with clients. I can now be more responsive, take initiatives and deal with ship files from the declaration of goods to their closing.

Source: multiple Internet sources, specialized literature, testimonials (Pratic-Export, Pôle-emploi cards, Wikipedia, Onisep, CNRTL, Umep à la Page…)

Ship chandlers are companies which provide ships with all the necessary goods they may need for daily life on board.

Ordering these goods may be performed by the shipowner, his agent or the ship captain. In the latter case the budget allocated to the shipowner is managed by the crew which entrusts the ship master for its execution. Sometimes food supplies may be ordered by a management company with whom the shipowner contracts to perform these operations. The ship chandler is in contact with Customs authorities for what regards the goods they receive and deliver.

Source: multiple Internet sources, specialized literature, testimonials (Pratic-Export, Pôle-emploi cards, Wikipedia, Onisep, CNRTL, Umep à la Page…)