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Sea Freight:A Comprehensive Guide
What Is Sea Freight
Ocean freight is a way of transporting goods between ports in different countries and regions by using ships through sea routes. It is one of the most important means of transportation in international trade, and is particularly suitable for long-distance transportation of bulk goods, heavy machinery, large items, and goods that are sensitive to transportation costs.
Advantages Of Sea Freight
As an important mode of international cargo transportation, shipping has the following significant advantages:
Large transportation volume: Sea transportation can carry a huge amount of cargo and is suitable for transporting large quantities, heavy and large goods, such as raw materials, industrial products, automobiles, etc., and is the first choice for international trade of bulk goods.
Cost-effectiveness: Compared with air freight and land transportation, the unit transportation cost of sea freight is very low, which is especially economical for cost-sensitive goods. Ocean freight is usually a fraction of air freight.
Global network: Ocean lanes cover the world, and almost all countries have seaports, forming a transportation network that extends in all directions and can deliver goods to almost any corner of the world.
High energy efficiency: Compared with other modes of transportation, under the same transportation distance, sea transportation has the lowest energy consumption per unit of cargo and has less impact on the environment.
Strong endurance: Merchant ships have the ability to sail for long periods of time, carry enough fuel, food and fresh water, and can continue sailing for weeks or even months, making them suitable for long-distance transportation.
Flexibility and adaptability: Ocean shipping can adjust routes as needed to avoid conflict areas or adverse weather. It is highly adaptable and can transport a variety of goods, including oversized items, sensitive goods and dangerous goods.
Promote international trade: Maritime transportation is vital to international trade and is a key factor in the economic growth of many countries, helping to reduce the cost of goods and promote global economic integration.
Low infrastructure dependence: Maritime transportation does not rely on specific roads or rail systems. The use of natural waterways makes its traffic capacity unrestricted and maintenance costs are relatively low.
High labor productivity: Although a single voyage takes a long time, the ship has a large load and can be operated by a relatively small crew, so the overall labor productivity is high.
Stability: Ocean shipping is relatively less affected by seasonality and emergencies, and is more stable and reliable for long-term supply chain planning.
Disadvantages of sea shipping
As one of the most important modes of transportation in international trade, shipping has significant advantages such as low cost and large transportation volume, but it also has some shortcomings, including:
Slow shipping: Compared to air freight, sea freight is much slower and can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months, which may not be suitable for goods that have strict delivery time requirements.
Restricted by climatic conditions: Maritime navigation is susceptible to severe weather, such as typhoons, heavy fog, storms, etc., which may lead to navigation delays, diversions, or cargo losses.
Poor accessibility: Maritime transportation can only sail on fixed water routes and cannot achieve “door-to-door” transportation. It usually requires connections from other transportation modes (such as trucks and railways) to complete the entire transportation of goods.
Restricted port operations: Port loading and unloading capacity and the number of berths may limit the operation of large ships, especially during busy periods, which may result in long queues and additional storage and detention costs.
Cargo risks: Long periods of sea transportation increase the risk of damage or loss of cargo, including but not limited to moisture in the cargo, collision damage and the threat of piracy.
Long customs clearance time: The customs clearance process for sea freight may be more complex and time-consuming than air freight, especially when it involves inspection and quarantine, which may extend the time for the goods to reach their final destination.
Environmental issues: Although the carbon emissions per unit of shipping cargo are low, the total amount is huge. Greenhouse gases, oil pollution and noise pollution emitted by ships are still issues of environmental concern.
Seasonal fluctuations: Some routes may be affected by seasons. For example, ice-covered waterways in winter may restrict access and affect transportation plans.
Some Situations That Occur During Sea Transportation
here may be many situations during sea transportation, which may affect the transportation time, cost and even the safety of the goods themselves. The following are some common sea transportation problems:
Ship schedule and route changes: Due to bad weather (such as typhoons, tsunamis), maritime events (such as closures), port congestion, ship failure or maintenance, etc., the original ship schedule and route may change, resulting in delayed arrival of goods.
Abandonment: When the ship is overloaded or in order to ensure navigation safety, the shipping company may randomly cancel some booked cargo loading (i.e., abandonment of containers). In addition, if the cargo information provided by the customer is incomplete or the loading operation is delayed, the goods may also be abandoned.
Additional costs: In addition to the scheduled freight, additional costs may also be incurred, such as manifest fees, storage fees, port fees, etc. These costs may suddenly increase for various reasons, resulting in an increase in the total transportation cost.
Cargo damage and shortage: During transportation, the goods may be damaged or the quantity may be short due to improper loading, sea turbulence, mutual squeezing between goods, or water ingress caused by poor sealing of containers.
Dangerous goods handling issues: If the cargo owner conceals or falsely reports dangerous goods, not only may the goods be detained, but also fines may be imposed, and even the reputation and business of the freight forwarding company may be affected.
Mismatching ships: Operational errors may cause the goods to be mistakenly loaded onto another ship, which may not only cause serious delays, but also increase additional transshipment costs.
External factors interference: External factors such as political instability, strikes, and wars may affect port operations and hinder cargo transportation.
Document issues: Errors or omissions in documents such as customs declarations, bills of lading, and certificates of origin may hinder customs clearance and delay delivery.
Cargo safety risks: including theft, shortage, damage, or deterioration of goods, especially before and after shipment and during storage at the terminal.
In the face of these problems, planning in advance, purchasing appropriate insurance, providing cargo information in a timely and accurate manner, and formulating emergency plans are all effective measures to reduce risks, ensure cargo safety, and ensure smooth transportation. So we recommend that it is best to choose a professional logistics freight forwarding company to transport your goods for you, and don’t cause greater losses because of saving a small part of the cost.
NEW SPEED Logistics has a professional logistics team and has been serving buyers from all over the world for more than 12 years.
We will also have professional logistics exhibitions
What Are The Best Sea Shipping Companies For Shipping From China To The World?
COSCO SHIPPING: As China’s largest shipping company, COSCO SHIPPING provides a wide range of container shipping services worldwide, with routes covering all continents and a strong fleet and logistics network.
China Shipping Container Lines (CSCL): A subsidiary of China Shipping Group, it focuses on international container transportation and provides global logistics solutions.
Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL): Although headquartered in Hong Kong, OOCL is also one of the world’s leading shipping companies, known for its efficient transportation network and information technology applications.
Evergreen Marine: Taiwan’s Evergreen Marine has an important position in the international shipping market, especially in trans-Pacific and intra-Asian route services.
Wan Hai Lines: Although it initially focused on regional Asian routes, Wan Hai Lines has expanded to Europe and America in recent years, providing global transportation services.
Yang Ming Marine Transport: Another large Taiwanese shipping company, known for its global route network and professional services.
CMA CGM: Although headquartered in France, CMA CGM also has a strong presence in China and is one of the world’s major shipping companies.
MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company: MSC, founded in Italy, is the world’s second largest shipping company. Its business in China is very active, providing a wide range of shipping services around the world.
Maersk: Denmark’s Maersk is the world’s largest container shipping company. It has a deep presence in China and provides comprehensive international logistics services.
Hapag-Lloyd: Germany’s Hapag-Lloyd also has an important market position in China, characterized by high-quality services and a global network.
Speaking of Matson, everyone will definitely think of the good name of “Mason Express”. This is enough to prove that the corporate mission of “providing customers with efficient, fast, reliable and high-quality value-added services” is by no means an empty slogan, but a promise that Matson has been fulfilling since it developed the Chinese market. The long-term good reputation has made Matson have a group of absolutely loyal customers. In the process of all shipping companies making profits in 2020, Matson also made a lot of money.
Matson Express is used to transport military materials. Its predecessor was engaged in arms shipping. It has an arms background and has a high accuracy in timeliness. At the same time, it also has its own port, and there is no port congestion.
But some people say that Matson’s real advantage is speed, but there are other ships on the market that arrive at the port in 11 days, such as Evergreen. Why is Matson so popular?
The main reasons are:
At present, the Matson Express we usually call departs from Shanghai Port and goes directly to Long Beach Port (LB) in the United States. From the route map, it crosses the Pacific Ocean without stopping at other ports in the middle, and goes directly to Long Beach in the west of the United States. Therefore, the route time is short, and the normal sailing time is 11 days.
The Matson Express has a fixed weekly liner, with five cuts and three starts, and stable time. (If departing from Ningbo, it is fixed to four cuts and two starts, and then stop in Shanghai for one day, departing from Shanghai on Wednesday and going directly to Long Beach)
Matson Express has a dedicated loading and unloading platform in Long Beach, and the loading and unloading time is fast and efficient (which can avoid congestion in container terminal loading and unloading).
How Much Does Shipping Cost From China?
NEW SPEED Shipping provides weekly shipments to the main ports around the world. For every single shipment, NEW SPEED Shipping offers two types of full containers:
The 20 feet, with an internal capacity of 33 cubic meters
40 feet, able to carry up to 66 cubic meters.
This solution ensures a safe and reliable shipping process, as your container will be sealed from the point of departure to the final destination address.
This option is more cost-effective for lower volumes, as only one part of the container will be used for the transportation of your goods.
This solution allows you to rationalize your shipping costs significantly. Your goods are loaded in the container alongside those of other customers, and you will end up paying only for the space you need.
LCL is recommended for a volume between 0-15 CBM. However, it may vary depending on the port of departure. Please contact us for more information.
Is Sea Freight Always the Cheapest Option?
Which means of transport is appropriate, as well as the choice of the proper service often raise many questions for the customers.
Your parcel is equal to 1 cubic meter, or even less? You wonder which transport service would represent the most cost-effective option for your shipment.
In this case, it is important to note that the minimum weight / volume charged for an LCL shipment is 1 CBM or one ton.
Many people tend to think that sea freight is always cheaper than air freight. But in reality, express freight tends to offer much more competitive solutions for the smallest volumes.
In general, air freight is recommended for a billable weight of less than 100 kg, and sometimes even 200 kg for certain destinations.
For that purpose, NEW SPEED Shipping has adapted to the needs of its customers by offering highly competitive air freight services between China and countries around the world. Our long-term partnerships allow us to provide you with high-quality services at very competitive rates.
Your shipment must be protected appropriately to go through the various stages of the chain. First, your goods will be transported from the factory to the port of loading.
Then, your parcel will be loaded into a container before departure. After that, it will be transported to a warehouse at the destination for unloading before being loaded again onto a truck.
With all these handling operations, decent packaging is one of the most important aspects that has to be taken care of. The main goal is to ensure a safe shipping process from start to finish while minimizing potential additional costs in the event of damage.
To do so, NEW SPEED Shipping will ensure an excellent packing service for your goods in full compliance with international standards.
Cartons: 5 layers
Plastic packaging: yes
Pallets: Yes (IPPC ISPM 15 standard)
Freight Note: Yes (Printed on outer carton)
Here are the standard sizes of the pallets:
Europe: 1200 * 1000mm or 1200 * 800mm
Australia: 1140 * 1140mm
United States: 40 * 48 inches (1016 * 1219 mm)
If necessary, you can provide the shipper with explicit and clear packaging specifications according to your needs, expectations and the nature of the goods to be transported. Make things as clear as possible and provide pictures if possible to avoid misunderstanding.