FOB (Free On Board) Incoterms 2020: Maritime Shipping & Turkish Port Guide
FOB (Free On Board) is a maritime Incoterm where the seller delivers goods on board the buyer's nominated vessel at the specified port of shipment (e.g., Ambarlı or Mersin) and clears export customs. The buyer assumes all costs and risks from the moment goods are loaded on board.
Understanding FOB: Comprehensive Technical Analysis
Operational mechanism and commercial application in international freight
Free On Board (FOB) applies strictly to sea and inland waterway transport. The seller is responsible for packing, local trucking to the Turkish seaport, terminal handling charges (THC origin), export customs brokerage, and loading cargo securely over the vessel's rail onto the nominated ocean ship. Once goods are safely placed on board, risk of loss or damage transfers immediately to the buyer. The buyer pays international ocean freight, marine insurance, destination port charges, and destination customs clearance. Note that ICC Incoterms 2020 rules discourage using FOB for containerized cargo handed over at inland container yards (CY), advising FCA instead.
Matrice des obligations acheteur / vendeur
Line-by-line allocation of operational duties, freight costs, and risk checkpoints
| Operational Phase | Seller Obligation | Buyer Obligation | Notes & Risk Handover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Export Packaging & Factory Loading | Mandatory (Seller expense & risk) | None | — |
| Inland Freight to Turkish Port | Mandatory (Seller arranges & pays) | None | Trucking to Ambarlı, Mersin, Asyaport, or İzmir. |
| Turkish Export Customs Clearance | Mandatory (Seller clears customs) | None | Includes electronic export declaration & port export permits. |
| Port Terminal Handling (THC Origin) | Mandatory (Origin terminal charges) | None | Paid to port operator prior to vessel loading. |
| Loading On Board Nominated Vessel | Mandatory (Risk ends once on board) | Nominates vessel & carrier | 📍 On board the vessel at Turkish port |
| Ocean Freight (Main Carriage) | None | Mandatory (Buyer contracts shipping line) | Buyer pays ocean freight directly to ocean carrier. |
| Marine Cargo Insurance | No obligation | Recommended (Covers transit hazards) | Buyer procures marine insurance. |
| Destination Port THC & Import Clearance | None | Mandatory (Pays destination charges & import duties) | Buyer handles destination import clearance. |
Operational Considerations at Major Turkish Maritime Ports
Authoritative operational insights under Turkish Customs Law No. 4458 & border regimes
FOB is standard for Turkish bulk mineral, steel, and agricultural exports from Mersin International Port (MIP), Port of İskenderun, and Port of Ambarlı. However, when shipping containerized cargo, shipping lines require containers to be gated in at the terminal yard 2 to 4 days before vessel loading. During this terminal dwell period, if a container is damaged by port gantry cranes, disputes frequently arise under FOB because risk does not legally pass until loading on board. Brosan Lojistik advises using FCA Port for containerized ocean shipments.
Key Turkish Export Compliance Points
- •Major Turkish FOB loading ports: Port of Ambarlı (Istanbul), Mersin (TRMER), Asyaport (TRASY), and İzmir Aliağa (Nemport/TCE EGE).
- •Seller must deliver cargo within the vessel's designated container gate-in cut-off window.
- •Late arrival at the port terminal can incur heavy container demurrage and miss the feeder vessel connection.
Common Shipper Mistakes to Avoid
- ⚠️Using FOB for containerized cargo rather than bulk, creating an uninsured liability gap during container terminal dwell time.
- ⚠️Buyer failing to nominate a vessel on time, leaving containers stuck at Turkish port yards incurring storage charges.
- ⚠️Disputes over whether lashing and securing on board bulk vessels falls on the seller or the ocean carrier.
Questions fréquemment posées for FOB
Direct answers to high-intent questions on responsibilities, costs, and risk
Q1:Can FOB be used for road freight or air shipments from Turkey?
No. FOB is strictly restricted to ocean and inland waterway maritime transport. For road freight or air shipments, FCA should always be used.
Q2:Who pays terminal handling charges (THC) at the Turkish port under FOB?
The seller pays all origin terminal handling charges (THC) and stevedoring fees required to load the cargo safely on board the vessel.
Q3:What happens if the buyer's ship arrives late at the Turkish port?
If the nominated vessel is delayed beyond the agreed shipping window, the buyer is liable for additional port storage, quay fees, and container demurrage incurred at the Turkish terminal.
Corridors de transport associés
Services de transport associés
Termes logistiques associés
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