Ocean Questions Answered

Get Answers To Your Questions About Ocean Freight Transportation

If you are considering ocean freight as a means of transportation for your goods, you may have some questions about the process. Here are some common ocean freight questions answered:

What is the difference between LCL & FCL?

LCL and FCL are two different shipment options. FCL stands for Full Container Load and refers to a container filled with cargo by one shipper. LCL, on the other hand, stands for Less than Container Load and means that multiple shippers share a container. LCL is cheaper for small shipments, but costs more per unit of freight than FCL.

What size are standard shipping containers?

The most popular container sizes worldwide are 20ft, 40ft, and 40ft high cube, which are all standard dry van containers.

What are the most common types of shipping containers?

Ocean freight containers come in a variety of sizes and configurations, each designed to accommodate specific types of cargo. The most common container types include:

• Dry van containers: Standard containers for general cargo, offering a dry and secure environment.
• Reefer containers: Equipped with refrigeration units, ideal for perishable goods requiring temperature control.
• Open-top containers: With a removable roof, suitable for oversized or heavy cargo that cannot be loaded through the standard door.
• Flatrack containers: Designed for flat cargo, such as machinery or vehicles, with a flatbed platform.
• Tank containers: Specialised containers for transporting liquids or gases in bulk.

What does the term TEU & FEU mean?

TEU stands for twenty-foot equivalent unit, while FEU (sometimes refered to as FFE) stands for forty-foot equivalent unit. These terms are used to indicate the size of a shipping container and serve as standardised measurements for the volume being shipped.

What are detention and demurrage charges?

Detention: Shipping lines charge detention fees when importers fail to return the empty container to the designated depot before the permitted free time expires.

Demurrage: Shipping lines charge demurrage if the importer does not take delivery of a full container and take it out of the port premises within the free days.

What is container congestion?

Container congestion is similar to a traffic jam, but on a much larger scale. It occurs when too many vessels need to dock at a port to unload/reload, but the port is already full.

Modern container vessels can carry over 24,000 TEUs and can take a number of days to unload/reload. Ports and shipping lines pre-book slots for this process to take place at each port on the vessel's route, but a number of factors can impact this, such as weather conditions, port strikes, driver and equipment shortages, and a spike in demand for goods.

Can hazardous items be shipped by sea?

Yes, the majority of dangerous goods can be transported through ocean freight services, provided they are packaged and shipped in compliance with global regulations. Davies Turner's ocean freight specialists are available to assist you.

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