There are three main shipping methods used by individuals and companies around the world today. These are air, land and sea freight that transport billions of tons of cargo around the world every year.
Freight is usually done with some combination of these options, but there are some key differences that may affect which method is best for the purpose. Ocean freight transports large quantities of products, up to 20,000 containers on a single vessel.
The high density of cargo that can be stored in containers and the density of cargo on these ships makes it one of the most cost-effective and sustainable ways to transport bulk cargo internationally. Ocean freight can be further divided into several cargo categories.
Full Container Load (FCL) is where you rent one or more full containers to fill your cargo and ship it to your desired destination. A Less Than Container Load (LCL) is the purchase of a portion of the space in a shared container when your load does not warrant the space value of the entire container.
Roll-on-roll-off (RORO) is an option in which people send vehicles instead of containers on cargo ships, and the sender can store the cargo safely in their vehicles. There are other categories, such as dry bulk shipping, that offer more specialized services for goods that require special care.
In fact, more than 90% of the world’s freight transport is carried by the international shipping industry. But with other options such as air, road and rail transport, why should shippers consider ocean freight? Read on to learn about the top five benefits.
1. Economy There is no doubt that the maritime industry offers shippers the most competitive freight rates, especially for long-haul shipments. By contrast, some estimates suggest that ocean freight is typically four to six times cheaper than air freight. With statistics like this, it’s easy to assume that ocean shipping is the cheapest option for international shipping.
2. Efficiency No matter how big your cargo is, ocean shipping companies can usually meet your needs. Smaller shipments can be combined with other shipments to fill a container, splitting the cost of shipping services. Larger shipments can fill one or more containers, giving shippers unmatched bulk options. In fact, ships are an ideal way to transport large quantities of goods, as they are designed to transport large quantities of goods or raw materials.
3. Ocean freight is a mode of transportation that can transport the largest quantity of materials due to its large storage capacity.
4. Sea transportation makes it easier and more reliable to handle heavy or large cargo. It’s also less affected by distance, and since these ships carry thousands of containers at a time, it’s the greenest way to ship internationally.
5. In terms of shipping, the route ships are adjusted in a short period of time. Weather conditions rarely change or delay the departure of the ship.
In the end, you must consider what is best for you and what is best for your shipping needs. As mentioned earlier, ocean freight is more cost-effective, versatile, carbon-efficient and not constrained by size than any other shipping method. Of course, it will be slower, but if the size and scheduling are for FCL or LCL, there is no clearer answer as to what is good for you by sea freight.
