Sea Freight

Full Container Load (FCL) and Less Than Container Load (LCL) describe the two main methods of transporting cargo in containers.

• FCL refers to a full 20-foot or 40-foot container. This option means that a container is reserved exclusively for your shipment. FCL is typically used for large cargo volumes or particularly sensitive goods.
• LCL is a consolidation container that carries cargo from multiple customers. By sharing container space, available capacity is utilised more efficiently. For smaller shipment volumes, LCL shipping is often a more cost-effective and sustainable option.

There are four Incoterms that are used exclusively for sea freight and Maritime Transport:

• FAS Incoterm (Free Alongside Ship): The seller is responsible for delivering the goods from their premises to a location alongside the vessel. The buyer assumes responsibility for loading, transport, insurance and unloading costs.
• FOB Incoterm (Free On Board): The seller is responsible for delivering the goods to the vessel and loading them on board. Once the goods have been loaded, responsibility for transport and insurance transfers to the buyer.
• CFR Incoterm (Cost and Freight): The seller covers the transportation costs from origin to the port of destination.

CIF Incoterm (Cost, Insurance and Freight): The seller covers both transportation and insurance costs from origin to the port of destination

• EXW (Ex Works): The seller makes the goods available at their premises. The buyer assumes all costs and risks from that point onwards, including transport, customs clearance and insurance.
• FCA (Free Carrier): The seller delivers the goods to an agreed location and is responsible for export customs clearance. All subsequent transport, insurance and unloading costs are borne by the buyer.
• DAP (Delivered at Place): The seller covers transport costs to the named place of destination.
• DDP (Delivered Duty Paid): The seller covers transport costs, customs clearance and import duties up to the agreed destination.
• CPT (Carriage Paid To): The seller pays transport costs to the agreed destination. Risk transfers to the buyer once the goods have been handed over to the first carrier.
• CIP (Carriage and Insurance Paid To): The seller covers transport and insurance costs to the agreed destination. Risk transfers when the goods are handed over to the first carrier.
• DPU (Delivered at Place Unloaded): The seller bears all costs and risks until the goods are unloaded at the agreed destination. The buyer assumes responsibility after unloading.

Without sea freight, transporting large quantities of goods over long distances would often not be possible. In addition, sea transport offers several advantages:

• Cost-effective: Sea freight is generally more economical than air freight or rail freight, particularly for large shipment volumes.
• Flexible: Almost any type of cargo can be transported, including oversized goods, bulk cargo, dangerous goods and sensitive products.
• Secure: Based on cargo insurance claims, sea freight is considered one of the safest forms of international transport.
• Lower emissions: Compared with air freight, Maritime Transport produces significantly lower CO₂ emissions relative to the volume of goods transported.

Depending on the type and volume of goods, cargo can be transported as bulk cargo or containerised freight.

For containerised shipments, customers can choose between:

• Full Container Load (FCL)
• Less Than Container Load (LCL)

The choice between FCL Shipping and LCL Shipping depends on shipment volume, cargo requirements and delivery schedules.

As the shipper, you are responsible for ensuring that your cargo is packaged securely to withstand shocks, vibrations, temperature fluctuations and other external influences encountered during transport.

Container cargo is typically packed on wooden or plastic pallets or in plywood crates. Packaging must be sufficiently robust, as cargo is often stacked within containers. Temperature-sensitive goods may require insulated packaging or refrigerated containers.

For LCL sea freight, pricing is based on shipment dimensions (cubic metres/m³) and weight (metric tonnes).

Shipping rates are often expressed as:

• M/G (Measurement/Weight)
• W/M (Weight/Measurement)

Charges are calculated using whichever factor produces the higher freight value.

• Bulky but lightweight cargo is generally charged according to volume.
• Dense and heavy cargo is usually charged according to weight.

For FCL shipping, pricing is generally quoted either per container or per TEU (Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit).

Standard Euro pallets used for road transport are not ideally suited to container transport because the internal dimensions of shipping containers differ from those of European trailers.

For sea freight, specialised container pallets are often recommended. Pallets measuring:

• 1140 × 1140 mm
• 760 × 1140 mm

allow efficient use of container space.

Container pallets are available in wood, pressed board or plastic. Pressed board and plastic pallets offer the additional advantage of stackability. Euro pallets can still be used, although this may reduce loading efficiency. Wooden pallets must comply with international treatment regulations.

The majority of sea freight shipments are transported in standard dry containers.

The most common Shipping Container Types are:

• 20-foot container
  Internal dimensions: 5.6 m × 2.35 m × 2.39 m
• 40-foot container
  Internal dimensions: 12.03 m × 2.35 m × 2.39 m
• 45-foot High Cube container
  Internal dimensions: 13.55 m × 2.35 m × 2.70 m

Additional container types include:

• Open Top containers for oversized cargo loaded from above.
• Flat Rack containers for heavy machinery and industrial equipment.
• Platform containers for cargo exceeding standard container dimensions.
• Refrigerated containers (Reefers) for food products, flowers and temperature-sensitive goods.
• High Cube containers offering approximately 30 cm of additional internal height.

Required shipping documents generally include:

• Commercial Invoice – the basis for customs clearance.
• Packing List – detailing cargo items and package identification.
• Customs Declaration – export or import documentation based on the commercial invoice and packing list.
• Bill of Lading (B/L) – the contract of carriage and document of title for the goods.
• Sea Waybill – a sea freight transport document similar to a Bill of Lading but without document-of-title functionality.