Sea Freight Solutions

Sea freight, also known as ocean freight, is the transportation of goods via a sea vessel from one seaport to another. Cargo is often consolidated by a freight forwarder into shipping containers or placed directly onto the vessel.

A sea freight forwarder will arrange shipping and warehousing distribution services to ensure that your ordered goods arrive from their overseas source to your intended location. This includes helping you prepare the relevant documentation to obtain customs clearance by both the exporting and importing countries’ customs. Additionally, they will have specialized knowledge about international shipping and can advise you on the laws and fees that both ports abide by to ensure a smooth shipment.

The Process of Sea Freight

Imagine you’re a business owner in the United States who has ordered 500 pairs of sports shoes from a factory in China. You’ve partnered with Express Freight Management to transport the shoes to your store. Let’s explore what happens behind the scenes.

Container Packing and Sealing

Express Freight Management arranges trucking services to bring a container to the Chinese factory. The 500 pairs of shoes are expertly packed into a 40 ft. container, along with other goods. The container is securely closed, bolted shut, and sealed with a high-security seal by Express Freight Management.

Contracting Cargo Freight Services

Express Freight Management selects shipping from the Guangzhou port as the most economical choice and contracts with cargo freight services there. These services submit relevant documents to both exporting and importing countries’ customs, with guidance from Express Freight Management.

Container Loading onto Ship

Once packed and sealed, the container is loaded onto the designated ship by experienced personnel, marking the start of its sea journey. Express Freight Management ensures proper loading techniques for stability and weight distribution.

Submission of Ship’s Report

During transit, Express Freight Management ensures the ship’s captain submits a report to the US government detailing vessel, crew, and cargo information.

Container Unloading at Port of Arrival

Upon clearance to enter the US port, the container is efficiently unloaded using large cranes under the supervision of Express Freight Management.

Customs Inspection

Express Freight Management assists customs officials in inspecting selected containers to ensure contents match submitted documents.

Transportation to Warehousing Center

After clearance, Express Freight Management arranges for the container to be trucked to a commercial warehousing center. Skilled professionals oversee warehousing and distribution management services, ensuring efficient handling.

Receipt of Goods at Shop

Finally, you receive your 500 pairs of shoes at your shop, courtesy of Express Freight Management’s seamless logistics services. Our door-to-door approach guarantees a streamlined process and reliable delivery.

Speak To Our Experts +1 562 283 5440 or nick@expfrt.com

Sea Freight vs. Air Freight

Speed

Air freight excels in speed, often delivering within 3-5 days compared to approximately 30 days for sea freight. This is especially beneficial when you need to swiftly bring your products to market.

Ecological Footprint

Sea freight takes the sustainability prize. Despite its slower pace, air freight leaves a larger carbon footprint due to the significant CO2 emissions from aircraft. While profit is crucial, it’s equally important to consider environmental impact whenever possible.

Cost

Sea freight is generally more cost-effective, with air freight expenses reaching up to 5-6 times the cost of sea freight, largely due to higher fuel costs. However, total cost considerations also include potential additional expenses, such as inland trucking from seaports to inland destinations.

Reliability

Air freight boasts reliability, with airlines typically responding promptly to flight delays, often causing delays of only 1-2 days. In contrast, delays in sea freight schedules can set you back 1-2 weeks due to the more relaxed control over shipping lines.

Capacity

Sea freight triumphs in capacity. Shipping vessels dwarf even the largest cargo planes currently in existence, making it the preferred choice for transporting large volumes of goods.

Geographical Reach

Sea freight offers broader geographical coverage, reaching more destinations worldwide compared to air freight. While air freight may have faster transit times, sea freight provides access to remote and landlocked regions that may not be easily accessible by air. This extended reach makes sea freight a preferred choice for businesses looking to penetrate diverse global markets and serve customers in various locations.

Who is Sea Freight Suitable For?

Large Volume Shippers: Sea freight is ideal for businesses that need to transport large volumes of goods. With the ability to accommodate bulky items and substantial quantities, sea freight offers cost-effective solutions for companies shipping in bulk.

Non-Urgent Shipments: Businesses with flexible timelines can benefit from sea freight services. While sea freight may have longer transit times compared to air freight, it offers significant cost savings, making it suitable for non-urgent shipments where delivery speed is not a critical factor.

Global Exporters: For businesses involved in global trade and exporting goods to various international markets, sea freight provides extensive coverage and accessibility to ports worldwide. It enables exporters to reach a broad range of destinations efficiently and economically.

Eco-Conscious Companies: Companies committed to reducing their carbon footprint may prefer sea freight over air freight due to its lower environmental impact. Sea freight emits fewer greenhouse gases per ton of cargo transported, making it a more sustainable option for environmentally-conscious businesses.

Express Freight Management

Express Freight Management is your one-stop shipping solutions provider. With a global reach and a commitment to customer satisfaction, we ensure smooth and efficient shipping from start to finish.

Commitment to Customer Satisfaction

We are committed to providing exceptional customer service and ensuring your complete satisfaction with our shipping solutions. Our dedicated team goes above and beyond to address your needs, resolve any issues promptly, and ensure a smooth shipping experience from start to finish.

Ensuring your satisfaction every step

Global Reach

By being located in one of the world’s busiest port-of-call with free-trade zone benefits, we have served a multitude of clients from around the world. To do so, we have partnered with many companies worldwide such as sea carriers like NVOCCs and VOCCs. This ensures that you get the most efficient routes at the most competitive prices.

Efficient routes, competitive prices

Personalized Experience

We understand that each of our clients needs is unique. Hence, you will be assigned a personal consultant who will assist you with all your shipping enquiries. The consultant will keep you up to date on the status of your shipments and ensure that your goods arrive at your destination safely and promptly.

Dedicated consultant for your needs

FAQs About Logistics Services

What is Sea Freight?

Sea freight, also known as ocean freight, refers to the transportation of goods via sea vessels from one seaport to another across the globe. It is one of the oldest and most economical modes of transporting goods internationally. Sea freight involves the consolidation of cargo into shipping containers or loading directly onto the vessel for transportation. This method is particularly suitable for large volumes of goods or items that are not time-sensitive. Sea freight offers cost-effectiveness and flexibility in shipping various types of cargo, ranging from raw materials to finished products, across long distances.

  1. Cost-effectiveness: Sea freight is often more economical, especially for transporting large volumes of goods over long distances, compared to air or road transportation.
  2. Suitable for bulky and heavy goods: Sea freight is ideal for transporting bulky and heavy items that may not be feasible or cost-effective to transport by air or road.
  3. Environmentally friendly: Despite the longer transit times, sea freight generally has a lower carbon footprint compared to air freight, making it a more environmentally friendly option.
  4. Flexibility: Sea freight offers flexibility in terms of the types of cargo it can accommodate, including oversized or irregularly shaped items, as well as hazardous materials.
  5. Reliable schedules: While sea freight may have longer transit times compared to air freight, shipping schedules are typically reliable, providing predictability for planning supply chains.
  6. Global reach: Sea freight allows access to a vast network of ports worldwide, enabling businesses to reach international markets efficiently.

Overall, sea freight is a cost-effective, reliable, and environmentally friendly option for transporting goods internationally, particularly for bulky or heavy items and those not constrained by tight delivery deadlines.

While sea freight offers several advantages, it also comes with its own set of challenges:

  1. Longer transit times: Sea freight generally takes longer than air or road transportation, which can lead to delays in delivery schedules.
  2. Weather-related disruptions: Sea freight operations can be affected by adverse weather conditions such as storms, hurricanes, or heavy seas, leading to delays and potential damage to cargo.
  3. Limited accessibility: Not all destinations are easily accessible by sea, especially landlocked areas or regions without well-developed port infrastructure, which may require additional inland transportation.
  4. Risk of damage or loss: Cargo transported by sea is exposed to the risk of damage or loss due to factors such as rough handling, improper packing, or maritime accidents.
  5. Customs and regulatory complexities: International sea freight involves navigating complex customs procedures and regulatory requirements, which can vary from country to country and may lead to delays or additional costs.
  6. Container security concerns: Sea freight containers are vulnerable to theft, tampering, or smuggling, posing security risks for both cargo owners and carriers.
  7. Environmental impact: While sea freight is generally considered more environmentally friendly than air transportation, it still contributes to marine pollution and ecosystem degradation through emissions, ballast water discharge, and oil spills.

Despite these challenges, sea freight remains a vital mode of transportation for international trade, offering cost-effective solutions for transporting large volumes of goods over long distances. Effective planning, risk management, and collaboration with experienced logistics partners can help mitigate these challenges and ensure successful sea freight operations.