SOUTH

 SUDAN  LOGISTICS  CLUSTER  

Transport  and  Logistics    
Standard  Operating  Procedures  (SOPs)  
1st  March  2012  

This   document   provides   an   overview   of   the   Inter-­‐Agency   transport   and   logistics   services   as   well   as  
coordination   mechanisms   established   by   the   Logistics   Cluster   (under   WFP   leadership)   to   support   all  
humanitarian  cargo  consigned  within  South  Sudan,  in  support  of  the  humanitarian  community’s  response  to  
the  earthquake.    
The   objective   of   the   Logistics   Cluster   is   to   provide   -­‐   in   an   efficient,   coordinated   manner   -­‐   assets,   facilities,  
services   and   staff,   to   ensure   an   uninterrupted   supply   chain   of   life   saving   relief   items   to   the   affected  
populations.  
These   services   are   not   intended   to   replace   the   logistics   capacities   of   the   agencies   or   organisations   but   rather  
supplement  through  the  provision  of  common  services.  
These  services  will  be  offered  for  a  limited  period  of  time,  in  part  or  in  full,  for  the  following  reasons:  
• Changes  in  the  situation  on  the  ground  
• No  longer  a  perceived  need  for  prioritisation,  facilitation  or/and  coordination  
• Funding  constraints  
This  document  will  be  regularly  updated  as  the  situation  evolves  and  operational  requirements  develop.    
Please  check  for  updates  at:  www.logcluster.org/ops/ssd11a    

• These  logistics  services  are  only  for  humanitarian  cargo  destined  for  South  Sudan  
• Cargo  despatch  planning  is  based  on  the  priorities  set  by  the  Humanitarian  Coordinator  
• Dangerous  Goods  or  Cold  Chain  commodities  cannot  be  accepted  
• Cargo   movements   and   Storage   requests   will   only   be   accepted   through   the   use   of   an   electronic  
Service   Request   Form   (SRF)   and   with   a   clearly   defined   consignee   which   must   be   submitted   48  
hours  prior  to  the  requested  time  of  service  
• The  maximum  period  of  storage  shall  be  21  days  
• All  cargo  must  be  clearly  marked  and  accompanied  by  a  complete  set  of  paperwork.  I.e.  Waybill,  
Packing  List  and  copies  of  SRF  
• A    Release  Order  (RLO)  signed  by  an  authorised  person  (user  or  final  consignee)  is  needed  before  
cargo  will  be  handed  over  by  the  Transit  Hub  Staff  to  a  transporter  
 
(1)  Logistics  Cluster  services  available  at  no  cost:  
§ Transport  modes:  
o Trucking  to  and  from  most  key  humanitarian  locations  
o Barge  operations  from  Juba  to  Malakal  only  
o Boat  operations  between  Bentiu,  Malakal  and  Renk    
o Helicopter  airlift  to  locations  inaccessible  by  road.  
§ Temporary  storage,  at  17  key  humanitarian  locations  within  South  Sudan  
§ Temporary  storage  is  defined  as  a  maximum  period  of  21  days  
 
(2)  How  to  access  the  services:  
§ Individual   requests   for   movement   of   cargo   and   storage   are   to   be   made   using   the   Service   Request  
Form  (SRF)  template  available  at  www.logcluster.org/ops/ssd11a/service_request_form/view    
§ The   point   of   contact   for   all   enquires   related   to   Cargo   and   Storage   (SRF   submissions)   to:  
[email protected]      
§ The  point  of  contact  for  all  South  Sudan  enquires,  except  cargo  is:  [email protected]    
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Logistics  Cluster  –  South  Sudan                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  1  March  2012  –  Page  1  of  3  
 § Receipt  of  SRF’s  will  be  confirmed  by  return  email  and  or  phone  calls.  
§ After  the  details  of  the  SRF  have  been  checked  by  the  Logistics  Cluster  the  User  will  then  be  informed  
by  email  that  the  SRF  has  been  ‘accepted’  for  further  processing  and  a  tracking  number  assigned  to  
the  cargo.  
 
(3)  Prioritisation    
§ The  Logistics  Cluster,  on  behalf  of  the  humanitarian  community,  aims  to  provide  the  greatest  level  of  
support  by  moving  cargo  with  the  highest  priority.  
§ The  level  of  priority  will  be  defined  by  the  Humanitarian  Country  Team  (HCT)  and  not  by  the  Logistics  
Cluster.    
 
(4)  Calling  forward  of  cargo  
§ After   a   SRF   is   submitted   to   the   Logistics   Cluster,   the   User   will   be   advised   when   to   deliver   its   cargo   to  
the  requested  staging  or  loading  area.      
§ The  calling  forward  of  User’s  cargo  will  be  based  on  the  priorities  set  by  the  Humanitarian  Country  
Team.      
§ These  delivery  lead  times  are  clearly  indicative  and  are  subject  to  change.    
 
(5)  Notes    
1. For  barge  operations  the  User  is  responsible  for  loading  in  Juba  and  off-­‐loading  at  destination.  
2. There   are   no   heavy   lifting   equipment   at   any   discharge   ports   so   for   out-­‐sized   cargo   prior  
arrangements  for  unloading  need  to  be  arranged  for  and  paid  by  the  User.  
3. Users   are   reminded   that   the   cost   of   unloading   barge   and   boat   cargo   at   destination   is   the  
responsibility  of  the  user.  
               
Summary  of  documents  needed  for  the  dispatch  of  commodities:    
o SRF  approved    
o Release  Order  Form    
 
(6)  Cargo  updates  and  enquiries:  
o All   enquiries   on   the   status   of   cargo   call   forwards   and   cargo   deliveries   should   be   made   by  
email  to:  [email protected]    
ANNEX  1  
 
CONDITION  OF  SERVICES  
• When   providing   services   under   the   SOPs,   WFP   acts   as   agent   for   the   service   users.   WFP   assume   no  
responsibility   for   the   transportation   and/or   for   any   loss   or   damage   to   the   goods   carried.   Service  
users  are  responsible  for  making  adequate  arrangement  for  the  insurance  of  their  goods.  
• WFP   warehouses   and   Mobile   Storage   facilities   have   been   made   available   to   all   agencies.   However,  
they   are   not   intended   for   longer   term   storage.   This   requires   that   organisations   carefully   manage  
their   pipeline.   To   meet   this   requirement,   organisations   should   prepare   and   provide   a   forecast   of  
intended   shipments   to   the   Logistics   Cluster   in   advance   prior   to   [email protected]  
(same  Haiti  hyperlink)  submission  of  actual  request.  Notification  should  be  sent  to  using  the  Service  
Request   Form   form,   which   is   available   at:    
www.logcluster.org/ops/ssd11a/service_request_form/view    
• Organisations   delivering   relief   cargo   to   Logistics   Cluster   storage   facilities   for   temporary   storage   need  
to  provide  full  details  of  the  consignment  and  necessary  documentation.  
 
COST  
• At  the  onset  of  the  humanitarian  response,  WFP  will,  in  its  role  of  Logistics  Cluster  lead,  provide  the  
services  at  no  cost  to  the  users.      
• Any   additional   or   exceptional   service   provided   by   the   Logistics   Cluster,   over   and   above   the   proposed  
services  under  these  SOPs,  will  be  charged  to  the  User  
 
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Logistics  Cluster  –  South  Sudan                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  1  March  2012  –  Page  2  of  3  
CARGO  PACKAGING  REQUIREMENTS  
• All  cargo  being  delivered  into  a  hub  or  staging  area  must  be  clearly  marked  on  multiple  locations  with  
the  consignee  organisation’s  name.  The  Logistics  Cluster  will  only  accept  cargo  with  final  destination  
South  Sudan.  Cargo  in  transit  should  be  clearly  marked.    
 
LARGE  AND  OVER-­‐SIZED  ITEMS  
• Large,  long,  over-­‐sized  etc  items  will  be  handled  according  to  available  capacity  
 
HAZARDOUS  GOODS  AND  TEMPERATURE-­‐CONTROLLED  ITEMS  
• Logistics  Cluster  is  not  able  to  accept  hazardous  goods  for  transportation  in  South  Sudan  
• Logistics  Cluster  is  not  in  a  position  to  offer  temperature  controlled  transport  or  storage.  
 
COSTS  THAT  MAY  BE  INCURRED  
Any  unexpected  costs  will  be  charged  to  the  User.    Examples  of  such  costs  are:  
• Truck  detention  charges  incurred  if  no  one  is  available  to  receive  cargo  delivered  to  final  destinations  
within  South  Sudan  
• Any  other  costs  incurred  due  to  circumstances  beyond  the  control  of  the  Logistics  Cluster  and/or  the  
Service  Providers  
 

st
Logistics  Cluster  –  South  Sudan                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  1  March  2012  –  Page  3  of  3