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Toni Klym McLellan

Guide to Ocean Freight Shipping

Getting your goods on the water with the right freight shipper


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Small businesses that need to ship goods by sea face a confusing array of options, vendors and regulations. Ocean shipping also carries an equally baffling array of insider terminology. Many businesses use an agent or a freight shipper to coordinate freight shipping. Finding the right information and ocean freight companies to guide you through these murky waters is essential. Some preliminary questions to consider include:
  1. How much cargo do I need to ship?
  2. How often will I be shipping freight by sea?
  3. What's my transportation budget for ocean freight?
  4. Where do I need to ship my goods?

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Get your feet wet in ocean shipping


In many cases, shipping cargo by ocean transport means understanding the ins and outs of import/export and logistics. Take some time to learn the freight shipping lingo and basic facts before deciding whether and how to ship goods with a freight shipper.

I recommend: The U.S. Department of Commerce site Export.gov contains a Basic Guide to Exporting with a good intro to shipping issues and an explanation of what a freight shipper is and does.

Locate a freight shipper to ship your goods


Ocean freight companies act on behalf of your company by coordinating shipping overseas. A freight shipper compiles the costs of ocean shipping into a single quote encompassing items such as freight shipping costs, customs fees, insurance and handling.

I recommend: LogLink contains an alphabetical listing of ocean freight companies. Forwarders.com also contains an extensive listing of freight shipping forwarders. Research freight shipping carriers yourself by perusing the listings on World Wide Shipping. The National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America provides export businesses with information on its members.

Know the relevant rules and regulations of ocean freight shipping


Whether or not you'll need to obtain special permission to ship your products by ocean transport depends upon the type and amount of product and the country or region.

I recommend: The U.S. Department of Commerce provides a guide to export regulations and licenses and a listing of government departments that regulate exports. To get a feel for international conventions and freight shipping regulations, visit World Customs Organization. Los Angeles law firm Countryman & McDaniel provides an extensive listing of links related to maritime law and regulation of ocean freight companies.

Tips & Tactics
Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

  • Also make sure your freight shipper carries "errors and omissions" insurance in the event a carrier's insurance policy doesn't cover loss or damage during ocean transport.
  • Be sure to ask ocean freight companies whether they’re licensed by the Federal Maritime Commission for ocean shipping as required by law.
  • Ask for and verify credit references from ocean freight companies.
  • Make sure your freight shipper is willing to explain all freight shipping terms and conditions in a non-technical manner so you're clear on all aspects of your transactions.

The official source of Ocean Freight Shipping is the Ocean Freight page at Business.com

Featured Vendors

Ocean and Maritime Transport
Provider of worldwide cargo services. Minumum 45 kg to any size/weight. International move from door to door in all countries by air and sea.
www.air7seas.com

Ocean and Maritime Transport Sales Leads - Free Trial
TradeIQ provides you with Ocean and Maritime transport sales leads and supplier information. View everything being imported to the US.
www.zepol.com

Insurance & Underwriting
Provides customs import bonds, marine, and cargo insurance brokerage and underwriting services.
www.traderiskguaranty.com

Air Charters by AirCharterGuru.com
Be Enlightened! The source for Air Charter. Passenger/Executive Travel, Urgent or Emergency Air Cargo. Call now.
www.aircharterguru.com

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