International Ocean Freight

Sea route is the oldest way of cargo transportation that has not lost its role to this day. International ocean freight has a wide geographical footprint, as more than half of the world countries have access to the sea.

International transportation is subject to the UN Convention Rotterdam Rules 2009. They establish the arrangement of a global goods transportation regime.

The main forms of international ocean freight are liner, i.e. regular, and tramp, which depends on freight, i.e. a kind of a charter. A bill of lading is the main liner shipment document that serves as a signed acknowledgement of goods acceptance for carriage by sea.

In case of a multimodal freight involving ocean transport it is advisable to use the services of a company arranging a door-to-door shipment. Thus, transportation costs are reduced and risks are minimized.

International ocean freight advantages

This type of goods transportation accounts for the major part of the world cargo turnover. There are objective reasons for this.

1. Low cost due to the enormous capacity of ocean goers. The largest container vessels can carry 21,000 TEU (equivalent to 20-foot container).
2. Flexibility. Ocean transportation is suitable for any amounts and any kinds of goods, except for some perishables. Moreover, certain types of cargoes, such as oil platforms, can be transported only by sea.
3. Ease of handling in case of container freight. The majority of operations with containers can be automated, as they are manufactured in accordance with international standards.
4. Reliability and security. The cargo is effectively protected by container casing and sealed before the shipment.

At the same time, international ocean freight is not a quick way of oversize cargoes delivery. In some cases transportation can last up to 50 days. Moreover, there are other disadvantages:

• seasonality, meteorological dependence;
• port and channel capacity dependence;
• anthropogenic factor – piracy is still rampant.

Since the sea is not accessible everywhere, ocean freight is generally a part of multimodal schemes, involving goods delivery by land.

Ocean shipment types

ATC Group performs international ocean shipment of any cargoes:

• oversize and outsized goods;
• food stuffs;
• plants and animals;
• medicines;
• special equipment;
• agricultural products;
• refinery industry products;
• metallurgy and engineering spare parts;
• household appliances;
• clothing and footwear;
• textiles and many other things.

Suitable vessels are chosen based on cargo type.

1. Dry bulk cargo barges. These large cargo transportation platforms can be of a holder, open or closed type. Such vessels may carry bulk cargoes and containers.
2. Tankers. These are vessels with double skins and a bottom. They are intended for liquid bulk oil-products transportation in tanks and cargo compartments.
3. RO/RO vessels. Vessels of this type are used to transport large equipment, engineering machines and vehicles in a horizontal position.
4. Bulkers. These vessels are used for liquid and solid bulk cargoes transportation. Bulkers are divided into ore-and-oil, coal, grain, cement and ore carriers.

International ocean freight can be regular and tramp. The first option involves scheduled voyages. The second option involves private vessels chartered for goods deliver according to an individual route and schedule.

Types of cargoes

International ocean freight is a low-priced and reliable way of goods delivery to any mainland. The choice of a vessel depends on the type of cargo which can be as follows:

• liquid bulk (oil, fuel oil, gasoline, diesel, kerosene, mineral oils, varnishes, alkalies, acids, paints, alcohol, animal fat, molasses);
• gaseous (nitrogen, propane, methane, oxygen, ammonia, argon, nitrogen, fluorine, hydrogen sulphide and other types of gases);
• solid bulk (grains, cement, building materials, coal, crushed rock);
• general (packaged goods).

Our advantages

ATC experts will chose an optimal cost effective logistic scheme. There is no need to pay extra and charter a whole vessel for a a small consignment delivery. We will rent a container, a tank or any other kind of a package unit on a vessel.

International turnkey ocean freight includes the following services:

• searching for suppliers;
• making a sales contract;
• customs clearance;
• certification;
• labelling and packing;
• handling operations;
• cargo escorting;
• door-to-door delivery.