Shipping & Service Terms
Booking and roles
Abiet coordinates sea freight, air freight, door-to-door services and customs assistance for agreed routes, primarily Canada to Sierra Leone. Its capacity for a particular booking (carrier, freight forwarder acting as principal, or agent arranging carriage) must be stated in the accepted quote, contract, receipt or bill of lading.
A booking is confirmed only when Abiet communicates acceptance and any stated payment and documentation conditions are fulfilled. The customer must review the confirmed scope, collection point, destination, consignee, service level and delivery arrangements.
Shipper representations
The shipper represents that they have authority to ship the goods; descriptions, quantities, weights, dimensions, ownership, value and consignee details are correct; and cargo is lawful for export, transit and import. The shipper must promptly disclose hazardous, restricted, fragile, perishable and high-value goods and any special handling needs.
Abiet may inspect, reject, isolate or hold suspected unlawful or unsafe cargo subject to applicable law and reasonable procedures. The customer remains responsible for reasonable costs arising from materially inaccurate declarations or non-compliant cargo to the extent lawfully recoverable.
Packaging and handover
The sender must prepare and package goods suitable for the selected mode and handling, unless Abiet has separately accepted responsibility for packing. All packages should be clearly labelled. Record the condition and number of packages at handover and retain receipts and photographs.
Abiet must confirm whether pickup, packing, unloading and final-mile delivery are included in each booking.
Prices, payments and extras
The accepted quote must identify currency, freight charge, applicable tax, deposits, payment due dates, estimated third-party and destination charges, and any agreed exceptions. No undisclosed surcharge is automatically authorized. If changes are necessary, Abiet will notify the customer and seek approval as required by law or contract.
Customs duties, taxes, demurrage, inspections, storage and redelivery charges may fall to the shipper or consignee according to the written booking and applicable law.
Customs and delivery
Customs authorities, not Abiet, decide examinations, duties, release or seizure. The shipper and consignee must provide requested lawful documentation and cooperate with clearance.
Estimated transit and delivery dates are not guaranteed unless an express written service guarantee says otherwise. Abiet will communicate material known delays within a reasonable time and identify available options.
Liability, insurance and claims
Carrier, forwarding and cargo liability depend on the actual contractual role, transport documents, applicable law and international conventions. Mandatory remedies and liability cannot be waived merely because the customer declined optional cargo insurance.
Insurance is separate from any legal carrier liability. Coverage, exclusions, insured value, deductibles, insurer identity and the purchase process must be provided in writing when available. Never assume a declared cargo value automatically creates insurance.
Customers must inspect received cargo, document discrepancies, preserve packaging, take photographs and contact Abiet promptly. Statutory or convention notice and claim periods prevail over any inconsistent website statement.
Undeliverable cargo and disputes
If a consignee refuses or fails to collect goods, Abiet will provide notice where reasonably possible and disclose legally permissible storage, redelivery, return or disposition options and fees. Disposal will only occur according to law and the governing agreement.
Mandatory law takes precedence. For other disputes, parties should first contact contact@abietlogistics.ca with the shipment reference and documents.