
Shipping to and from South Africa
Your complete guide to shipping to and from South Africa. Find the right route, get Maersk office locations, discover local solutions, payment options and more.
Importation
Obtenez les dernières informations locales à propos des procédures et des restrictions à l’import, des frais de surestaries et de détention, des prises en charge de conteneur, etc.
WK 14 2025 Empty Import turn in’s (This is valid until and includes 06/04/2025)
All customers to ensure turn in instructions to be followed, as non-allocated depots will reject turn in's.
Important request from Grindrod Bluff Road and Gale Street for those who are collecting seals for direct turn in Durban Terminal turn-in.
We have further enhanced the Delivery Oder functionality on Maersk website.
Our latest enhancements include:
- SARS Release Status can now be viewed online while processing the Delivery Order
- No more uploading Cargo Dues receipts. Instead of uploading Cargo Dues proof of payment you can tick the Cargo Dues Indemnity checkbox and thereby acknowledge that all cargo dues have been settled
To avoid any EDI failures with merchant shipments please be sure to update your Transporters/Truckers Details in the “Release Container to” field when requesting the Delivery Order.
A one-page guide to using our Self Service Delivery order and Payer assignment feature can be found by clicking below downloadable PDF file.
Commodity
- Hazardous classes 1 and 7 are subject to approval before acceptance.
- Used Tyres acceptance subject to legitimate ITAC permit
- No acceptance on DG charcoal
- No acceptance of Asbestos
- Textile waste and used clothing and shoes acceptance subject to legitimate ITAC permit
Weight & Measurement- The general road weight limitation is 24 tonnes/20’ and 28 tonnes/40’ including cargo and container tare. Overweight containers are subject to a fine imposed by the Government. Requests for movement of overweight cargo can be obtained from your nearest Maersk office.
45' Containers- No acceptance of 45' containers in South Africa.
Should your container be stopped and detained by Customs (South African Revenue Services, SARS); SAPS (South African Police Force) or the NRCS in South Africa, and you do not have representation for the inspection at the depot, MAERSK can arrange with one of our trusted vendors to be present and represent you at the depot for inspection.
By using this service, the safety and integrity of the cargo is kept intact, where photographs will be taken at each stage from breaking of seal – completion of inspection, creating complete visibly and peace of mind.
If you have any questions about a customs stopped shipment or the Maersk inspection service, please feel free to contact us: (Phone) +27 21 408 6888 or (email) za.stops@maersk.com
Durban port
Class 1 / Class 4.1 (Un NO 1944) - all UN numbers require police permits; packing declarations and rail transport except class 1.4 UN 0012 (road haul only).
Direct Delivery to and from a rail truck is allowed except class 1.4 UN 0012 (road haul only). Not allowed to be stacked at the terminal.
The following documents are required to be sent through to us in order for us to apply for acceptance of the commodity with TNPA by eta -7 days.
- Police permits
- DGD
- Trem Cards
- Stamped CTO
- Transporter details (namely transporter name, contact person, after hours contact number, truck registration, driver’s name and driver’s identification number)
The above required documents must reach us by eta -7 days to prevent additional costs and penalties. If we cannot complete the application with TNPA by the required deadline, these units will not be discharged from the vessel and all costs to retain on board will be for the consignees account.
In addition to the above documents, we will require release to be taken of the shipment 48 hours prior to arrival in order for our port system (NAVIS) to reflect release prior to the vessel berthing. Please note any cargo not released within this 48 hours prior ETA for any commodities that must be discharged in daylight direct to vessel, we will perform carrier haulage to a depot to avoid putting TPT and the vessel at risk. Charges to be recovered from the client. This applies to stopped containers even if the release is received after the 48 hour mark.
New procedure:
Please note, as per Port’s request, we will be updating NAVIS with the Driver details as provided by you - the driver name, cell phone no, vehicle reg and wagon no. The purpose of this is that, just before the container is discharged, TPT will call the driver to ensure that he is in the queue waiting to collect. Please note, if the driver is NOT in the queue, or, if we cannot get hold of the contact person, the container will be retained on board.
This will be our process going forward as well - please ensure that all driver details issued are correct. If they are amended in any way, please ensure you contact Maersk for us to update the system on your behalf.
Point Durban only
All other hazardous classes not listed on the advisory requires the following:
- Stamped CTO
- DGD
Important to Note:
A Cartage Booking Request (for Direct Delivery to and/or Upliftment from the Vessel and/or Delivery into &/or from Vessel Hazardous Stack) must be forwarded to the Terminal’s Cartage Booking Office prior to RMT(s) reporting to the Terminal.
When the driver reports to the terminal he must have a copy of the above-mentioned documents and all RMT(s) must have Harbour Carrier Permits. In addition they must have an Approved Cartage Booking Request.
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