Shipping Agent

Port de Nice, panorama
As a shipping agent for vessels at the main ports in the South of France, we offer all the shipping services you need to facilitate your operations.
Our services:

Shipping agent for cargo ships on the French Riviera and beyond.

As a “shipping agent“, we handle cargovessels, ferries, cruise ships and yachtsat all the ports of the French Riviera – Menton, Monaco, Villefranche, Nice, Antibes, Cannes, Saint-Raphaël, Saint-Tropez, as well as Toulon, La Ciotat, Saint-Mandrier, Marseille, Sète, and in Corsica, Bastia, Portovecchio, Calvi & Bonifacio, etc.
We also provide assistance at major port projects and construction works.
Our activities in Monaco and with the yachting and cruise industries are handled by MATHEZ MONACO, the sister company of MATHEZ FREIGHT in Monaco.

Shipping agent:

For ship owners, we provide:
  • Port services pre-arrival Preparation for call at port, reservation (berth reservations, piloting, mooring services), towing reservation at arrival and departure.
  • On-board services at arrival Preparing security staff and equipments, water connection, waste collection, special waste, collection of oily water, black water, waste water.
  • Crew services at port Transfers and assistance with immigration, transfer and medical assistance, receipt and shipment of express or regular packages, Cash to Master courier.

Vessel consignor:

As an authorized representative for ship owners, we perform all the technical, practical, and administrative operationsfor every port of call, and fulfill the needs of the vessel:

  • Supply and logistics services: supplying food and small exchange parts, logistics, and customs for loading and unloading of all types of parts, 24/7 technician assistance, certificate renewals (fire, sanitation, SOLAS standards, etc.)
  • Advising and support for operations: Optimization at ports of call (redundancies, cargo loading plans), support for ship owners and charterers to optimize costs and time frames selected in the charter party, project support and constructions: synchronizing units deployed, and coordinating the various contributors, …

  1. Pro Forma Shipping Request

    Your requirements

    For the vessel

    Your contact details

We plan for and coordinate operations with all the actors so that every port of call will be a successful experience.

Atanas Bozev,
MATHEZ FREIGHT Nice

Your Guarantees & Benefits

The leading agent on the French Riviera

We have been active for nearly 70 years on the French Riviera, and we are renowed at all its ports and beyond. We have in-depth knowledge of local issues.

Quality, security & safety

We are a cargo ship agent with FONASBA quality certification through the ex-FACAM (AMCF). Our AEO-Full and DGR certifications guarantee the best security conditions for your operations.

Customs & VAT specialist

As a customs broker since 1950, our group has developed specific expertise on customs and VAT questions in the yachting and maritime sectors. Take full advantage!

Negotiated Freight Rates

As a shipping agent, our purchase volumes will allow you to benefit from negotiated rates from airlines and cargo ships for your deliveries at port.

A powerful freight network, worldwide

We handle your spare parts and merchandise all over, through 16 agencies in France and partners in 191 countries.
Our Network
FAQ

Your questions about calling at ports

  1. 1

    Is it absolutely required to make use of a shipping agent?

    Regulation in France is under modification, requiring that the ship owner designates an agent at every port of call.

    The shipping agent accompanies the legal representatives of the ship owner while at port with respect to administrative and procedural tasks (acting on behalf of…).

  2. 2

    Why is better to work with an independent shipping agent?

    Some owners use integrated shipping agents which belong to the ship-owning group.

    However, there are several advantages to working with an independent agent:

    • Often the independent cargo ship agent has deeper local competencies.
    • Working for several ship-owners, the independent agent can achieve economies of scale.
    • The independent cargo ship agent often brings together several types of expertise, and particularly those of a shipping commissioner and licensed customs broker.

    MATHEZ FREIGHThas an excellent foundation at the ports of the French Riviera and shares with its clients its expertise as a freight forwarder, with its IATA & FIATA accreditations, and its status as a Customs Broker, and Authorized Economic Operator (AEO). The group also has unparalleled VAT expertise.

  3. 3

    What advantages are associated with the FONASBA label and the FIATA, IATA, and AEO-Full accreditations?

    MATHEZ FREIGHT is FIATA, IATA and FONASBA certified and since 2013 it has also had AEO-Full status, which includes the AEO "streamlined customs" certificate and the AEO"safety and security" certificates.

    • Since 2007, the FONASBAquality standard (Federation of National Associations of Ship Brokers and Agents) offers distinction to agents that satisfy criteria of financial stability, and show the highest quality commitments in terms of professionalism and quality.
    • The FIATAcredential demonstrates the security of the relationships between loaders and other actors in the field of sea-based shipping, and the FIATA regulation is the reference in the event of a dispute.
    • "AEO" accreditation (Authorized Economic Operator) is awarded by the Customs Administration to companies that satisfy strict customs criteria and continuously demonstrate quality, conformity, and reliability on the international logistical chain.
    • Our IATA certification allows you to use any commercial airliner and their AWB.

    When you work with MATHEZ FREIGHT, you can rest assured that all your operations will be performed with precision, reliability, and professionalism, according to the highest standards.

  4. 4

    What paperwork is required when making a port of call?

    Required documents vary a great deal from one port to another, from one vessel to another, and depending on the tasks performed by that vessel. Make a Pro Forma request and we'll provide you with a price, a feasability report, and all the information you need to ensure a successful call at port.

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