Ocean freight, also known as sea freight, is transporting goods across the sea in large containers aboard ships. Businesses worldwide rely on ocean freight to import and export products, making it an essential part of global trade.
It’s one of the oldest and most cost-effective methods for moving large volumes of goods internationally.
How Does Ocean Work?
Goods are loaded into containers, transported to a port and loaded onto a cargo ship. Once the ship reaches its destination port, the containers are unloaded and transported to their destination.
Types of Ocean Freight Services
- Full Container Load (FCL): When a shipper has enough goods to fill an entire container. This option offers higher security and efficiency as the goods are not shared with others.
- Less than Container Load (LCL): For shippers with smaller amounts of goods that won’t fill a whole container. LCL involves sharing container space with other shippers, making it a more affordable option for smaller shipments.
- Bulk Cargo: Goods unsuitable for standard containers, such as raw materials and commodities, are shipped in bulk carriers without containers.