Shipping Agent

As a Shipping Agent you act as the key liaison between ship owners, cargo operators, port authorities and customs officials in Irish ports such as Dublin, Cork, Waterford and Foynes. You arrange the clearance of vessels, their crews and their cargo through customs and immigration, ensuring all documentation — including bills of lading, manifests and dangerous goods declarations — is accurate and submitted on time. Your daily work involves calculating duties and taxes on imported goods, managing import and export licences, and coordinating the movement of cargo to and from the port. You communicate constantly with freight forwarders, Revenue's Customs Division, the Port Authority and shipping line representatives to keep cargo moving efficiently and in full compliance with Irish and EU trade law.

A Leaving Certificate with subjects such as Business, Mathematics and a language is a useful foundation for entering this field. Many entrants hold a QQI Level 5 or Level 6 award in Logistics, Freight Forwarding or a related area, available through PLC courses in Colleges of Further Education across Ireland. Some employers accept school leavers and provide on-the-job training, with staff working towards a Higher Certificate (NFQ Level 6) in Logistics and Supply Chain Management offered at institutes such as TU Dublin or ATU. A degree in Business, International Trade or Supply Chain Management at NFQ Level 7 or 8 can accelerate progression to more senior roles. Knowledge of Revenue's Automated Import and Export Systems (AIS/AES) and familiarity with the Irish Customs Trader Extranet are increasingly expected. No statutory registration body applies to shipping agents, though membership of the Irish International Freight Association (IIFA) is widely recognised in the industry.