The aim of this section is to provide guidelines for procurement and shipping by providing general
information on the mechanisms of transportation and their associated risks. This guide provides
basic facts about shipping, and thus detailed legal aspects of trade and answers to specific
problems that could arise are beyond the scope of the publication. It is hoped, however, that the
guide will be useful to procurement staff in their day-to-day work.
Transport is the essential link between supplier and receiver, and the aim is to receive the goods
in good condition, when and where they are needed. This necessitates close collaboration between
procurement staff, the supplier and the transporter. The journey involved, whether over
land, sea and/or air, may introduce certain costs and risks that can be mitigated by appropriate
methods of dispatch, insurance coverage, suitable packaging instructions, and by considering the
roles and responsibilities of the parties involved in the chain of transport events up until final
delivery to the client.