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Important Notice for Shipowners and Maritime Carriers Operating in Angola.

This article summarises  a recent regulatory change which affects shipowners and maritime carriers transporting cargo to or from Angola.

Key Updates:

• New Licensing Body: The Angolan National Council of Loaders (CNCA) has been replaced by the Angola Regulatory Agency for Cargo and Logistics (ARCCLA) as the licensing body responsible for issuing permits.
• Expanded Licensing Requirement: Previously, only liner operators required a license. Now, all shipowners and maritime carriers transporting cargo to or from Angola must obtain a license.
• Registration Fee: The annual registration fee is USD 10,000.00, or the equivalent in the local currency (Kwanza) at the official exchange rate.
• Renewal Period: Registration is valid for one year and must be renewed annually between 1 December of the current year and 31 January  of the following year.
• Failure to Renew: Not renewing your registration by the deadline will result in a USD 3,000.00 fine, or the equivalent in Kwanzas.

Relevant Excerpts from Presidential Decree No. 189/19:

We have translated the relevant articles from the decree:

• Article 4: Requires annual registration for all shipowners and operators transporting cargo to or from Angola.

Without prejudice to the registration provided for by the legal regime that governs the access and exercise of the maritime transport industry in the Republic of Angola, all shipowners or operators interested in participating in ocean-going trade to or from Angola must register annually with the National Council of Loaders.

• Article 5: Outlines the information required for the initial registration process.

When registering for the first time, all shipowners, importers, and exporters interested in participating in ocean-going trade to or from Angola must apply to the National Council of Loaders for a license. They will be asked to complete an identification sheet containing the following information:

(a) the type of company;

(b) the company’s commercial registration number;

(c) Registration number as a shipowner, importer or exporter.

• Article 6: Defines the registration period, fee, and consequences of non-renewal.

1. Registration for the purpose of participation in ocean-going  trade with Angola Angola begins on 1 December of the previous year and ends on 31 January of each year, based on the forms of the National Council of Loaders of the model annexed to this Regulation.
2. A license card for ocean-going trade from/to Angola is delivered to the interested party upon the payment of USD 10,000.00, or the corresponding amount in the national currency at the official rate of exchange to owners or national operators. 
3. Failure to renew license cards by the deadline specified in paragraph 1 is sanctioned by a fine of USD 3,000.00, or the corresponding amount in the national currency at official rate of exchange to owners or national operators.

For more information:

Please don’t hesitate to contact Budd’s office in Angola  (budd.angola@budd-pni.com) for further details.

Sources

Budd Angola

Decreto Presidencial n° 188/19

ARRCLA Circular n° 003/2022