Mənbə (Almaniya Federal İqtisadi Əməkdaşlıq və İnkişaf Nazirliyinin

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What is ocean freight?
‍Ocean freight is simply the process of sending goods from one place to another via ship.
As early as the 12th century, fleets of ships have crisscrossed the globe carrying all varieties of goods. Today, ocean freight is still the most cost-effective way of getting things from point A to B. Around 90% of the world’s traded goods are carried over the waves.
As centuries passed, advancements in shipbuilding, navigation, containerization, and communications have improved efficiency and reduced cost such that today you can ship a 40-foot container from Shanghai to Los Angeles in about 50 days for under US$ 2,000.
Types of ocean freight
There are five major types of sea transport used for freight purposes. These are:
Barges
Tankers
Bulk carriers
General cargo ships
Container ships
Bulk carriers and general cargo ships are the largest ships measuring anywhere from 500 ft to 800 ft long. Container ships are the most commonly used ships for transporting freight. Tankers carry liquids and gasses and can be up to almost a quarter of a mile long! Barges usually need a tugboat to assist them.

Typical freight container sizes

Ever since 1956 when American truck driver Malcolm Mclean used stackable metal containers to transport goods for the first time, container shipping has been more popular than any other mode of transportation,moving 95% of the world’s manufactured goods.
Mclean’s excellent idea revolutionized the industry, and soon afterward, shipping container sizes were standardized for easy administration and cost calculation.
Typically, freight containers come in four sizes.
20 GP (General purpose 20ft long).
40 GP (General purpose 40 ft long).
20 HC (High cube, which is 1 ft taller than GP but still 20 ft long).
40 HC (High cube, which is 1 ft taller than GP but still 40 ft long).
To share or not to share your container
Less than Container Load (LCL)
LCL, or “less than container load”, means the goods only fill part of a container, and you will share the rest of the container with other importers. This can cut costs, but the downside is that you may have to wait a little longer for your delivery because the container won’t be shipped until it is full.
Full Container Load (FCL)
FCL, or “full container load”, means that the goods take up almost all of a full container. The container can be packed on the seller’s premises and driven straight to the shipyard.
How to ship via ocean freight
The easiest way to ship via ocean freight is to use our freight calculator. Enter your shipment size, your route, and select the rate that works best for you. Bookairfreight handles all the details, from pick-up at your factory/supplier to drop-off at your delivery address.
Here’s how the ocean freight shipping process works in detail.
Send goods to your freight forwarder’s warehouse
The freight forwarder you chose will organize for collection, storage, and shipping of your goods. You must ensure they have the correct documentation before they set your goods in motion.
Standard documents required
Bill of Lading (BL or BoL) – this legal document contains the quantity, type, and destination of the goods transported. It doubles as a receipt when the carrier delivers the goods.
Commercial Invoice – this document is issued by the shipper and contains details about the shipment, including a description and the value of the goods. It is also used as a customs declaration for moving goods across international borders.
Packing list – this is an itemized list of the contents of each package or container. It consists of measurements, weights, and other relevant information. The list is either fixed to the outside box or packaged with the goods inside.
Other product-specific documents – certain products require permits to transport. Any other documents related to your goods, or the transportation of your goods, should be included. For instance, if you are transporting dangerous goods, you will need a “dangerous goods” form.
Pick the correct incoterms
Incoterms are the agreed-upon terms between you and your overseas contact. Incoterms include regulations and rules regarding payment and delivery. They also list risks involved in the delivery and sale of your goods.
Incoterms were last updated in 2020 and there are 11 in total. Seven of the terms are for any mode of transport and four terms are exclusively for sea and inland waterway transport.
Incoterms that apply to any mode of transport:
EXW - Ex Works
FCA - Free Carrier
CPT - Carriage Paid To
CIP - Carriage and Insurance Paid To
DPU - Delivered at Place Unloaded
DAP - Delivered at Place
DDP - Delivered Duty Paid
Incoterms that apply to sea and inland waterway transport only:
FAS - Free Alongside Ship
FOB - Free on Board
CFR - Cost and Freight
CIF - Cost, Insurance, and Freight
When you negotiate an Incoterm with your supplier, do remember that what works best for you may not be the best for them (and vice versa!).
Transfer of cargo
When transporting your goods from their port of origin to their port of destination, the following steps will have to be followed:
Export haulage
Origin handling
Ocean freight
Destination handling
Import haulage
Your incoterm will determine who is responsible for these arrangements.
Let’s take a look at these steps in more detail.
1. Export haulage
Moving the goods from the shipper’s property to the freight forwarder's origin warehouse is called export haulage. Export haulage can take a few hours to a few weeks, depending on the distance and transportation available.
2. Origin handling
This involves transporting the goods from the origin warehouse to the port. Here, the cargo is unloaded from the truck or train and put into a holding area where it is checked. The shipment is stored until the vessel is in port and ready to be loaded.
3. Ocean freight
Ocean freight is carried out by a shipping line. Note that with LCL, you cannot decide the other goods with which your cargo should be transported.
4. Destination handling
Destination handling consists of quite a few activities. First of all, the relevant documents are received. The container is then fetched from the port and transported to the destination warehouse. At this point, the cargo is unpacked and inspected. The freight forwarder is always in charge of the destination handling.
5. Import haulage
This involves moving goods from the import warehouse to their final destination, either by truck or train. Alternatively, you can collect the shipment yourself. Your incoterm will determine whether you or your freight forwarder make transportation arrangements for your goods.
Calculating ocean freight rates
While you can easily check your rates using Bookairfreight’s freight calculator, it’s always good to understand how these things are calculated.
FCL vs. LCL
You need to choose if you will use a full container load or a less-than-full container load. Sometimes it can get confusing when trying to choose between the two. These few simple points should make the decision easier for you: