A Guide To Ocean Freight Forwarders - Part I

By Author: Ricardo Lumbardo
Total Articles: 1135
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Different Types of Shipping

There are several types of ships that ocean freight forwarders use. The main differences in the way they operate would make it a little easier for choosing the right method for sending various types of freight. The main types of ships which are used by shipping companies are as given below:

* The roll on and off or the ro-ro ships are used for carrying haulage vehicles as well as passengers
* Container vessels are used for transportation of the standard containers
* Tankers are used for transportation of liquids like oil and gas.
* The normal ships are used for transportation of loose packed materials
* Bulk carriers are used for transportation of large volume single loads like coal, ores and grain.

The Operating Methods

The ships used by these ocean freight forwarders generally operate in two ways:

* Chartered vehicles that operate according to the client's demand
* Liner vehicles operating as per fixed rates and routes.

The Transport Methods

There are various which in which the items would ...
... be transported to the vehicles:

Through Containers

The containers are used generally for international shipping. The benefit of using this method is ease of transit because the containers can be un-loaded and transferred directly to the road or rail vehicle. Speed, efficiency and flexible services are the other benefits. The type of containers which are used tend to vary according to the items which have to be sent like the refrigerated or the open topped containers. However, most of these tend to be either 20 feet or 40 feet containers.

Through Break Bulk

Break bulk is the process where the goods are transported through crates, pallets, drums and sacks. This type of transport method is used for items like fruits, vegetables and special goods.

Bulk

Large quantities of commodities like ore, coal and oil are sent through bulk.

The Main Routes

Knowing which routes are more common and are widely used by the ocean freight forwarders would help you understand the cost which you would have to pay for your shipment. For example, sending items to UK is generally through China and Far East. The North Atlantic route that covers US, Canada and Europe also tends to be quite busy. The other routes which are also very busy are India, Australia, South America and Middle East. Understanding the main routes through which your items would be shipped would give you a better idea about the time that you can expect for your shipments to reach their final destination. In some cases the goods would have to change containers once or twice before they reach their destination.

There are many different options available through which your shipment would reach the destination. It is important to discuss the details with the ocean freight forwarders with whom you are planning to work to come up with a cost effective, fast and efficient route for sending out your goods. The right company would be able to suggest you several different options which would make it easier for you to send across your goods in a timely fashion.

To know more about ocean freight forwarders and efficient and stress free international shipping, please visit http://www.globalforwarding.com/.