Be in the Know when Sending Goods Overseas via Ocean Freight

When it comes to sending goods overseas, if you have a small amount of goods to send overseas, then you may simply opt for air freight, especially if the goods are needed urgently. However, if you have a substantial amount of goods at hand, and it needs to travel quite the distance plus isn’t urgent, then you may opt to choose ocean freight when sending goods overseas.

Whilst sending goods overseas can be a tricky business, when done correctly, it is quite easy and that’s why Transco Cargo is committed to helping you with your shipping needs. As our motto says “we love to deliver!” There are many players involved when sending goods overseas via ocean freight. These include shipping lines, the booking agents, freight forwarders, and not to mention customs brokers. As Transco Cargo handles door-to-door delivery of ocean freight goods, you can trust us with it all.

There are four main key players in the ocean freight transactions for sending goods overseas. They include the shipper, consignee, freight forwarder and the shipping line. You may not ever communicate directly with the shipping line, which is responsible for carrying your goods overseas.                It will be the freight forwarder (that is us, Transco Cargo), with whom you will be dealing with the most, whereby we as the freight forwarder will be arranging the transportation from you (the shipper – the party that shipment origin) to the consignee (at the destination who will receive the goods).

During the process of sending goods overseas via ocean freight, there are 5 physical steps involved along with a few documentation steps too. For every single shipment, there is a cost involved and must be settled either by the shipper or the consignee (and denoted in the shipping terms). The five physical movements are as follows;

  1. Export Haulage (Shipper to Origin Warehouse
  2. Origin Handling (Origin Warehouse to Origin Port)
  3. Ocean Freight (Origin Port to Destination Port)
  4. Destination Handling (Destination Port to Destination Warehouse)
  5. Import Haulage (Destination Warehouse to Consignee)

Of course, after export haulage, export customs clearance must be carried out to make sure all customs formalities are handled before the goods can leave the country. This process involves ensuring all regulatory requirements are met and a declaration is carried out and all required customs documentation for shipping are handed over the authorities accordingly.  When the goods reach the destination port, import customs clearance will also need to be carried out similarly.

Stay tuned for more insights in the shipping industry. Let Transco Cargo take the burden out of sending goods overseas via ocean freight for you with our turnkey shipping solutions.