Sea Cargo

Sea cargo is not a new trend, as it is one of the oldest methods used in transporting goods across continents, but the development is still continuing in the field of maritime cargo to make ships more powerful, faster, and more capable of accommodating goods of all kinds. What is sea cargo, and what distinguishes it from other types of cargo, and what are its types? Does it have downsides? You will find the answers to these questions and more in the following article.

What is sea cargo?

It is the process of transporting goods from one place to another or from one country to another by ships and steamers, and it is one of the most important and most common means of cargo in the world as well, as most countries of the world depend on it, for the ability of ships to travel long distances, in addition to the large carrying capacity of ships, which enables them from transporting goods of all sizes, and in very large quantities.

Transport is often carried out using containers that are loaded onboard giant cargo ships, which can reach a maximum load of 400,000 tons!

Maritime cargo is one of the most important pillars of economic development in countries, a large part of which overlooks the sea.

Sea Cargo Features

In terms of costs, sea cargo is characterized by its low cost compared to air cargo, but it should be noted here that the cost of insurance for goods may be high compared to air cargo, and the reason for this is that sea cargo takes longer than air cargo.

In terms of cargo weights, sea cargo is characterized by its high flexibility when it comes to dealing with large volumes and huge weights, so exporters use it when they need to transport heavy metals or museum exhibits.

The cargo cost decreases as the quantity of goods increases, which means fewer losses and more profits for the seller.

Also, the goods transported by sea cargo are completely safe from burglary and theft.

Disadvantages of sea cargo

Sea cargo is not in line with saving time, as the cargo period may take a long time to reach several weeks in some cases, in addition to the many legal procedures associated with it and the many necessary services associated with it, such as storage, renting port berths, and so on.

Types of sea cargo

The types of sea cargo vary according to the type of ships and containers used in cargo.

In general, there are 4 types of ships used in cargo goods:

1- General cargo ships

It is designed to transport goods that do not need special storage standards and have a double-deck or three decks to facilitate the stacking of goods inside the ship, and the goods are placed in boxes or drums.

These ships are characterized by their speed and their arrival on the exact dates specified for them.

2- bulk cargo ships

Casting goods mean unwrapped agricultural and animal products, and this type of ship is designed to transport bulk goods, and they usually have one deck, and are equipped with special equipment and wooden spacers, and are also used to transport raw materials such as iron ore, and are provided with dogs to facilitate the process of loading and unloading.

3- Custom Ships

These ships are designed according to the type of goods they are shipped through, and their types are:

Refrigerator ships: They are intended for transporting perishable goods such as vegetables, fruits, meat, and seafood.

Live animal transport vessels: They are divided into wards, equipped with a ventilation and temperature control system, and contain corridors for transporting live animals.

Container ships: They are ships equipped with containers to facilitate the operations of loading and unloading, arranging goods within the ship, and protecting them from overcrowding.

4- Tankers and ships of gases

Tankers are specialized in cargo liquid materials such as oils, oil, and its derivatives, and they are equipped with special equipment to control the temperatures of liquids to prevent them from freezing or dangerously high temperatures.

Types of containers used in sea cargo

We have already mentioned the advantages of container cargo, and containers have many types, including regular containers, reefer containers, metal containers, flat containers, and many more.

The difference between full container shipment and partial container shipment

FCL Full container cargo

In this type of shipment, the container is fully booked in favor of one customer, and it is recommended when the shipment is perishable goods or dangerous materials, regardless of the size and type of container. The full container cargo is suitable for large shipments, and it is one of the most secure cargo methods, as the container is intended for the goods of one customer only, and the shipment reaches the customer directly without stopping at any other station.

LCL partial container cargo

This type of cargo is suitable for small and medium shipments, as several customers share one container, and despite its low cost, the customer cannot control the quality of the goods that will be loaded with his goods, and this may not suit some sensitive goods.

If you are looking for the best way to ship your goods by sea, contact Şark Cargo Company to get the best cargo and customs clearance services at the best prices.