Print Post - International Sea Freight Forwarding: Your Gateway to Global Shipping

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International Sea Freight Forwarding - Custom Brokers

In the last 5 years, Australia has seen a massive surge in demand for quality sea freight forwarding services. This has been due to an increase in trade with China, increased demand for raw materials, and new free trade agreements signed by Australia. To meet these new market demands, sea freight forwarding companies offer international sea freight service to the customers.

Sea freight is the process of transporting large volumes of goods via cargo ships. Containers are packed with goods, then loaded onto a vessel, which transports them to their destination country.

When shipping goods across borders, it's crucial to have all your documents, goods, and accounts in order. This is no simple task and involves several processes. Here are a few things you need to understand before using this service to send your goods internationally!

Understanding the Sea Freight Process to Australia

It's important to note that there are exceptions to the general import sea freight process. These should be discussed with your international freight forwarder. The process typically consists of the following 9 stages, although there can be exceptions:

1. Origin booking – The shipment is usually booked at the origin, e.g. Shenzen for an import from China to Australia.
2. Origin clearance, loading and trucking – The goods are cleared, loaded and trucked to the vessel.
3. Sea freight – The freight is shipped to the Australian port of destination.
4. Docs issued – The required documentation is issued and handed to the shipper and/or the importer.
5. Arrival at the wharf – Freight arrives at the Australian destination seaport, e.g. Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Fremantle (Perth), Townsville.
6. Import clearance – Import clearance should be underway prior to arrival at the wharf. Advance preparation and planning, such as ensuring all necessary documents are in order and goods are properly packed, will contribute to a smooth arrival and a quick release of your shipment.
7. Customs / Quarantine – Depending on the type of goods duty may apply and certain Quarantine actions have to be taken.
8. Wharf availability – The window advised by the terminal for each vessel in which freight must be collected in order to avoid storage penalty.
9. Delivery to the site – The freight is delivered to the importers’ site.

Exploring Types of International Sea Freight

There are four types of sea freight: FCL, LCL, RORO and Break Bulk Shipping. Here is a brief explanation of each.

1. FCL

FCL or Full Container Load allows you to have a container filled with cargo. It can be 20ft or 40ft, including flat racks and open-top containers. If you have enough goods that can fill your container, FCL is the right choice for you. It can also ship massive items like furniture, cars or machinery.

2. LCL

LCL or Less than Container Load is a type of shipment wherein the goods don’t fill the whole container. And in order for the container to be filled, it will be shared with other consignees to maximise the space. When the ship arrives at the designated port, the goods will be ungrouped to avoid confusion, especially because it’s international cargo shipping.

3. RORO

RORO or Roll On, Roll Off is the perfect choice for those seeking cost-effective vehicle shipping solutions. The vehicles will be driven into the RORO ship – blocked, secured, braced and tied to make sure they won’t be damaged on the shipment at any time.

4. Break Bulk Shipping

If you have bulk cargo that is too large for containers or not self-propelled, you can opt for break bulk shipping.

International Sea Freight Forwarding - Custom Brokers

The Main Difference Between Sea Freight and Air Freight

One question that often arises when considering international shipping options is the difference between sea freight and air freight. This is a crucial consideration as it impacts cost, delivery time, and the type of goods that can be transported.

The primary difference between sea freight and air freight is the speed of delivery. Sea freight is generally much cheaper than air freight, but it takes longer to transport goods by ship. Air freight is more expensive but much faster, making it a good option for time-sensitive shipments. When deciding which shipping method to use, you’ll need to consider factors like cost, transit time and the type of goods you’re shipping. If you’re shipping perishable goods or high-value items, for example, air freight may be the better option.

Additionally, delays sometimes happen in sea freight. Supply chain delays and soaring consumer demand have led to shipping containers backing up around the world including transhipment ports, meaning inordinately long wait times for consumers and making it much more expensive for companies to ship their goods.

Another common cause of delays is local port congestion. The high docking fees and port congestion have caused significant delays, with some ships waiting over a week outside the port (at sea) before they can berth and unload. Rising transportation costs have also delayed item deliveries from heightened consumer demand.

What to Do If Your Freight is Damaged in Shipment

If your freight is damaged in shipment, the first thing you should do is contact the carrier to file an intent to claim. If your shipment is insured, the second thing you should do is contact your marine insurance company and submit a claim to them along with a copy of the intent to claim notification made to the carrier. Typically the carrier and insurance company will talk directly to establish a settlement/outcome whilst the insurance company pays you out per the terms of your insurance coverage minus any excess and liabilities.

If you do not have marine insurance, getting settlement from the carrier can be difficult. The terms and conditions of the bill of lading provided by the carrier also limit their liabilities significantly. So even if they agree that the cause of the damage is their fault, you may only be given a settlement equivalent to a fraction of the value of the goods. Therefore, it’s important to take out a marine insurance policy.

What to Look For in a Sea Freight Forwarder

When you’re looking for a reliable sea freight forwarding partner, there are a few key things that you should keep in mind. First, find a company that can handle all of your logistics needs. While many smaller companies offer a wide range of services, they may not have the resources to handle larger or more complex projects. You want to make sure that your company has the right resources to handle whatever types of projects you have in the pipeline.

Next, look for a company with a strong customer service and support team. While logistics are important, service is key. So, make sure you choose the right customs broker to handle your logistics.

International Sea Freight Forwarding - Custom Brokers

International Sea Freight Forwarding Services by Custom Brokers

If you’re looking to import or export goods from Australia, you need Custom Brokers, the right partner and a reputable sea freight forwarding company that understands your business needs and has strategic locations to help you get your goods where they need to go as quickly as possible. As one of the biggest global sea freight forwarders, we offer smart solutions customised to every client.

What Custom Brokers Offers to Help You

Custom Brokers is a sea freight and freight forwarding company that provides high-quality, inexpensive, and on-time freight forwarding of freight and cargo. With our global network of suppliers and freight forwarding agents, Custom Brokers can customise our services to your demands and deliver your items from the supplier’s door to yours on time and on budget. We, as experienced freight forwarding agents, keep our customers updated and inform them frequently about the status of their shipments. You will always know what is happening with your freight forwarding and get an accurate sea freight quote for delivery charges and times.

Our Sea Freight Forwarding Services Include:

Import & export sea freight forwarding
Containerised shipping - 20’ & 40’ containers (FCL), less than container loads (LCL), special equipment, flat rack & open top containers
Break bulk cargo & RoRo
Consolidation of shipments (FCX) – If you purchase from multiple suppliers, we can consolidate the cargo into one container

Our specialists will determine the most economical and secure paths for your freight forwarding. In addition, we will assist you in obtaining and evaluating all the necessary documents. Choose our door-to-door international sea freight forwarding service for peace of mind, which includes pick-up to your door and comprehensive management from beginning to end.

Benefits of Shipping by Sea to and from Australia with Custom Brokers

When you’re shipping by sea, the journey can take several weeks or even months. An added benefit of sea freight forwarding services with Custom Brokers is that clients can select the routing that’s best for your goods and your business needs. This opens up a number of options that are generally not available when you’re looking at air freight forwarding services. With Custom Brokers’ sea freight forwarding services you also have more control over the timing of when your goods will arrive. While air freight forwarding services are often quicker, sea freight forwarding services are more reliable. If there is an issue along the way, with Custom Brokers you can be assured that your goods will arrive at their destination on schedule.

Why Partner with a Sea Forwarding Company Like Custom Brokers

There are many reasons to partner with a sea freight forwarding company like Custom Brokers. One of the most important factors is that we can provide you with a single point of contact for your logistics needs. When you’re shipping goods across different countries and borders, you want to make sure that all of your documents are in order, that the goods are properly marked, and that everything is accounted for.

All of these details can be challenging to manage without the help of an expert. Custom Brokers, a sea freight forwarder with years of experience in the industry, can act as a single point of contact for you and your suppliers so that you don’t have to spend your time managing details such as bills of lading. Custom Brokers can also help you to find the best shipping options so that you can get your goods to their destination as quickly and efficiently as possible, saving both you and your customer’s money.

Let us know how we can help you!