Incoterms® 2020 · F: main carriage unpaid

FAS Free Alongside Ship

The seller places the goods alongside the buyer's vessel at the named port. Used for bulk and heavy cargo.

Delivery point: Alongside the vessel nominated by the buyer, at the named port of shipment
Risk passes: When the goods are placed alongside the ship, on the quay or in a barge
Transport mode: Sea and inland waterway only
Export clearance: Seller
Import clearance: Buyer
Insurance: Not required of either party

Responsibility matrix

Costs and risk, stage by stage

Under FAS the seller delivers the goods next to the ship the buyer has nominated, on the quay or on a barge, and clears them for export. The buyer pays for loading on board, the main carriage and everything after, and bears the risk from the moment the goods are alongside.

Seller pays
Buyer pays
Depends on the contract of carriage or the named place
Risk passes to the buyer

01 Loading at seller's premises Seller pays
02 Pre-carriage to export terminal Seller pays
03 Export clearance Seller pays
04 Origin terminal and loading on board Buyer pays
05 Main carriage Buyer pays
06 Destination terminal charges Buyer pays
07 Import clearance, duties and taxes Buyer pays
08 Carriage to named destination Buyer pays
09 Unloading at destination Buyer pays

Who does what

The seller must

Place the goods alongside the buyer's vessel at the named port on the agreed date
Clear the goods for export
Bear the risk until the goods are alongside
Provide the usual proof of delivery
Notify the buyer of delivery

The buyer must

Nominate the vessel, loading point and delivery time
Pay for loading on board and the main carriage
Bear the risk from delivery alongside the ship
Clear the goods for import and pay duties and taxes
Insure the goods if it wants cover

When to use it

Bulk commodities, steel coils, heavy lifts and project cargo loaded by ship's gear
The buyer charters the vessel and controls loading

Be careful when

Container cargo: use FCA
The quay where the goods wait is not secure, as the risk is already yours

Tip for buying from Vietnam

For break-bulk steel from Vietnamese ports, agree FAS only if the loading stevedore and the time the cargo may wait on the quay are clear.

How to write it

FAS Phu My Port, Ba Ria – Vung Tau, Vietnam, Incoterms® 2020

Compare with

This guide summarises the Incoterms® 2020 rules in plain language for planning. It is not the official text. Incoterms® and the Incoterms® 2020 logo are trademarks of the International Chamber of Commerce. For the full rules, see ICC publication No. 723E.

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