Incoterms® guide

FAS — Free Alongside Ship

The seller places the goods alongside the buyer's vessel — on the quay or a barge — at the named port of shipment, cleared for export.

Transport
Sea only
Main carriage
The buyer books and pays the sea freight.
Risk passes
When the goods are placed alongside the vessel at the port of shipment.
Insurance
Not required

Who pays and who carries the risk

Seller Buyer
  1. Export clearanceSeller
  2. Loading at sellerSeller
  3. Transport to terminalSeller
  4. Risk passes to buyer
    Origin terminal & loadingBuyer
  5. Main carriageBuyer
  6. Destination terminal & unloadingBuyer
  7. Import clearance & dutiesBuyer
  8. Delivery to buyerBuyer
  9. Unloading at buyerBuyer

Seller

  • Clear the goods for export
  • Deliver the goods alongside the nominated vessel
  • Provide proof of delivery

Buyer

  • Nominate the vessel and pay sea freight
  • Pay loading onto the vessel
  • Bear risk from delivery alongside
  • Clear the goods for import and pay duties

When to use it

Bulk and breakbulk cargo — grain, timber, steel, project cargo.

Watch out

Not suitable for containers, which are handed over at the terminal well before the ship arrives — use FCA.

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Other Incoterms® rules

EXWEx WorksFCAFree CarrierCPTCarriage Paid ToCIPCarriage and Insurance Paid ToDAPDelivered at PlaceDPUDelivered at Place UnloadedDDPDelivered Duty PaidFOBFree On BoardCFRCost and FreightCIFCost, Insurance and FreightIncoterms® guide

Incoterms® is a registered trademark of the International Chamber of Commerce. This guide is Cargo 4S's own summary for everyday use; for the complete rules see the official ICC Incoterms® 2020 publication.

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