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Monday 08:30 - 16:30 Tuesday 08:30 - 16:30 Wednesday 08:30 - 16:30 Thursday 08:30 - 16:30 Friday 08:30 - 16:00

Federal Clearing & Forwarding co - Pty Ltd

Name: Federal Clearing & Forwarding co - Pty Ltd
Address: 42 Cole Street Observatory, Cape Town, 7925, ZA
Telephone: +27214485043

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Freight forwarding, customs clearing agent. Federal Clearing and Forwarding was established in 1969

Federal Clearing & Forwarding is a medium-sized freight forwarding and customs clearing agency with branches in Observatory, Cape Town; Kempton Park, Johannesburg and Victoria Embankment, Durban. Started in 1969 by our late parents Federal Clearing has always been a family business and, naturally, we are proud of who we are and where we come from. Now managed by 3 siblings Federal Clearing is not just another company – we differentiate ourselves from our competitors by our strong values, our ability to build long-lasting relationships and our personal service. Over the years we have developed trusted business partnerships (with both clients and suppliers). We take the long-term view – steady, dependable and in it for the long run. At Federal Clearing we’ve always seen our staff as extended family. With owners/managers leading the company and committed loyal staff, we guarantee a professional and personal service. We place strong emphasis on being a family business and like to think we combine the best of both. Family: traditional values and people who care for our customers. Business: commercially orientated to make the relationship win-win.

13/10/2026

Please be advised that for any shipment departing to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on or after October 1, 2026, a mandatory MPCI (Maritime Pre-Load Cargo Information) security filing will be required for all inbound maritime cargo.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is comprised of seven emirates:
Abu Dhabi (Khalifa Port)
Dubai (Jebel Ali Port)
Sharjah (Port Khalid & Khor Fakkan Port)
Ajman (Ajman Port)
Umm Al Quwain (Ahmed Bin Rashid Port)
Ras Al Khaimah (Ras Al Khaimah Port – RAK Ports)
Fujairah (Port of Fujairah)

MPCI applies to all containerized maritime cargo that is:
Imported into the UAE
In transit through UAE ports – including LCL shipments loaded in a Dubai/Jebel Ali consolidation & trans-loading into another LCL consolidation from Dubai/Jebel Ali to another country.
Transshipped via UAE ports – filing only required by the vessel operators.
Freight Remaining on Board (FROB) at UAE port calls – filing only required by the vessel operators.

The following information must be provided with your Export BL instructions:
6-digit HS code with a complete and accurate cargo description (General descriptions such as “accessories,” “spare parts,” or “electronics” will not be accepted.)
Complete and accurate cargo description
Actual shipper name and full address (including email and telephone number)
Actual consignee name and full address (including email and telephone number)
MPCI Party ID number for forwarders or agents

Incomplete or inaccurate submissions may result in delays or penalties imposed by UAE authorities.

02/09/2026

We would like to inform you of ongoing operational challenges at the Port of Durban, specifically at Durban Gateway Terminal (Pier 2), which is currently impacting vessel schedules and cargo movements. The disruption at DGT has been one of the most serious periods of operational constraint at Pier 2 in recent years.

Recent reports indicate vessel waiting times of approximately 8-12 days, with some services experiencing even longer delays due to terminal congestion and operational constraints.

The delays have been attributed to a combination of factors, including terminal system implementation challenges, reduced productivity levels, equipment availability issues, and container backlogs. These conditions are affecting both import and export cargo flows through Durban.

Potential impacts include:

- Severe Delays: Ships face long wait times at anchorage, stretching past 10 days and reaching up to 20 days for some individual services. This is causing vessel schedule disruptions and revised ETAs.
- Individual container bookings/collections are expected to reach up to 10 days turnaround from the wharf operator.
- Extended cargo dwell times within the terminal.
- Possible rollover of export bookings to subsequent sailings.
- Landside Bottlenecks: Heavy truck queues and road congestion around terminal gates.
- Equipment Shortages: Ongoing shortages of straddle carriers and broken quay cranes, leading to low productivity of about 20 moves per hour.
- System Migration: Problems following the transition to DGT's new independent Navis N4 container management system by terminal operator ICTSI.

The Southern African Association of Freight Forwarders (SAAFF) declared an official crisis and escalated the matter to the Presidency, which deployed a delegation to investigate the port.

25/08/2026

According to the latest requirement issued by the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), a mandatory Advance Cargo Declaration (ACD) requirement will be implemented for all containerised cargo destined for Kenya, effective for Bills of Lading dated 03 August 2026 onwards. The requirement applies where the cargo's actual/final destination is Kenya and/or the consignee is domiciled in Kenya.

Please note that cargo transiting through Kenya to other countries remains exempt from this requirement.

All Merchants shipping goods to Kenya must obtain an ACD Reference Code via the KRA ACD Portal prior to shipment.

The ACD Reference Code should be obtained by the shipper, exporter, or freight forwarder before cargo is shipped to Kenya.

The responsibility for obtaining and ensuring the validity of the ACD remains solely with the Shipper/Exporter.

The ACD Reference Code must be provided at the time of Shipping Instruction (SI) submission and must be shown in cargo description on the Bill of Lading.

Failure to obtain, declare, or accurately transmit a valid ACD Reference Code may result in documentation delays, customs clearance restrictions, cargo holds, administrative sanctions, financial penalties, or other enforcement measures imposed by the competent Kenyan Customs authorities. Customers are therefore strongly encouraged to ensure timely compliance to avoid disruption to cargo movement and clearance.

15/07/2026

The South African Bureau of Standards (SABS), in partnership with the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic), has announced that the implementation of the Pre-Export Verification of Conformity (PVoC) Programme for certain unregulated products imported from the People's Republic of China has been temporarily suspended. This decision follows comments received through the World Trade Organization (WTO) Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) process and feedback from industry stakeholders.

During the suspension, all implementation activities including exporter registration, inspections, verification, certification, and programme readiness have been placed on hold while further consultations are conducted. Stakeholders are encouraged to continue submitting comments and recommendations, which will be considered alongside WTO member feedback, diplomatic engagements, and implementation considerations. The review will also assess the potential expansion of the programme beyond China to ensure a transparent, fair, non-discriminatory, and internationally aligned framework.

Existing South African import, customs, and regulatory requirements remain unchanged. SABS and the dtic reaffirm their commitment to implementing a PVoC Programme that strengthens quality assurance, consumer protection, regulatory compliance, fair trade, and the facilitation of legitimate trade through continued stakeholder engagement.

11/06/2026

Important Notice: We wish to inform you of a security matter regarding our payment information.

Please be advised that we have not changed our bank details. We have become aware that fraudulent bank details are being circulated by an unauthorised party, and we ask you to remain vigilant.

Please do not make any payments to new or amended bank account details unless you have independently verified them directly with us using your usual contact details.

If you receive any communication claiming that our bank details have changed, please contact us before making payment.

We apologise for any concern this may cause and appreciate your cooperation in helping us prevent fraud.

12/05/2026

Please ensure when unpacking cargo from the contianer that all dunnage, debris and contamination is completely removed. Failure to comply with this requirement will result in additional costs being levied by the shipping line.

Residues should be cleaned by customers before empty containr is returned to terminals, depots and/or rail ramps.

Shipping lines have recently reported that empty containers arrived with goods or residues inside. Such containers would not only be shipped back to POL as requested by Customs, but also incur additional time-consuming procedures and charges including customs penalty, slottage, handling, storage, etc

Based on the past returning-cargo cases, average cost is over USD 2,000.00 per unit and it would be recorded by Customs. If similar cases continuously occur, punitive actions such as more inspections for empty containers will be taken by Customs which would incur extra cost.

To avoid above-mentioned circumstances, please ensure that no goods or debris is left in containers before returning to terminals or depots.

04/03/2026

Following the recent military escalation in the Middle East and the subsequent closure of the Strait of Hormuz, the global maritime landscape in the area has suddenly changed. Major shipping companies have announced possible suspensions, delays, alteration of routings-schedules in the area.

Several countries including Iran, Israel, Qatar, UAE, Iraq, Jordan, Bahrain, and Kuwait have closed or heavily restricted their airspace. Over 4,000 flights have reportedly been canceled, and major Gulf hubs are heavily affected.

Get in touch with us if you have any cargo to/via the Middle East.

30/01/2026

Chinese New Year starts on 17 February 2026 and ends on 03 March 2026.

Chinese factories and our freight partners shut down over the Chinese New Year holidays, therefore, trucking deliveries and collections will be affected over this time, causing signifigant delays.

If you have any upcoming shipments to/from China, we recommend that you speak to us as soon as possible to facilitate your shipping prior to the holiday period.

01/12/2025

The Federal Clearing team would like to thank you for your support this year. We look forward to working with you in 2026 and beyond.

To ensure smooth planning over the festive period, please note that our offices will be closed on the following public holidays:

16 December 2025 - Day of Reconciliation
25 December 2025 - Christmas Day
26 December 2025 - Day of Goodwill
01 January 2026 - New Years Day

Year-end operating hours:
On 24 December and 31 December, we will close at 12:30.

For urgent or time-sensitive cargo, please contact the FEDERAL CLEARING Import Team.

14/10/2025

NON-HAZARDOUS BATTERIES:

To ensure compliance and safe handling, we request you clearly and accurately declare non-hazardous batteries included in your shipments, whether or not contained within equipment.

Proper classification is essential for meeting regulatory standards, ensuring safe handling of your cargo and avoiding delays. Failure to correctly declare lithium batteries and/or dangerous goods may result in severe penalties.

Address

42 Cole Street Observatory
Cape Town
7925

Opening Hours

Monday	08:30 - 16:30
Tuesday	08:30 - 16:30
Wednesday	08:30 - 16:30
Thursday	08:30 - 16:30
Friday	08:30 - 16:00

Telephone

+27214485043

Website

http://www.fedclear.co.za/

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