Definition
A spare part flown or shipped to a port for a vessel has not been bought by anyone in that country; it is passing through. Most customs systems let such consignments move under bond to the ship, without import duty, if they are marked and documented as ships' spares in transit — typically "Ship spares in transit — for M/V [name], IMO [number] — c/o [agent]" on the packages, the airway bill and the commercial invoice.
Spares are not stores, and customs treat them differently. Singapore Customs, for instance, states that ship spares are not sea stores and are dealt with separately for GST, while its sea-stores scheme covers provisions and consumables. Check the port's own rule before choosing the routing.[1]
The usual failure is paperwork: a spare consigned to the agent without the vessel's name gets treated as an import, attracts duty and waits for clearance while the ship sails. Send the agent or forwarder the AWB, packing list and invoice before the cargo lands, with the ETA and whether delivery is at berth or by launch.
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Sources
- [1] Singapore Customs — Supply of air and sea stores — https://www.customs.gov.sg/businesses/exporting-goods/export-procedures/supply-of-air-sea-stores
A working definition for buyers, not legal advice — the contract, the convention text and your club or class have the last word.