Sea freight is a very common transportation solution in international freight. It can be divided into different types according to different entry points. Each type has its specific application scenarios and advantages. In actual shipping work, the nature of the goods, transportation needs, cost budget and other factors should be comprehensively analyzed to select the most appropriate shipping method. The following are some common classification methods and their corresponding types:
Bulk shipping: This mode of transportation is suitable for goods that have no fixed packaging and need to be transported in bulk, such as coal, ore, grain, etc. The ship used for bulk shipping is a bulk carrier.
Container shipping: A very common mode of shipping, which requires the goods to be loaded into standardized containers and then shipped by sea. This method has the advantages of high loading and unloading efficiency and good cargo protection. It is suitable for various types of goods, including ordinary goods, dangerous goods, refrigerated goods, etc.
Roll-on/roll-off shipping: Suitable for goods that need to keep the original packaging, such as cars, motorcycles, etc. This type of goods can be transported by roll-on/roll-off ships to achieve fast loading and unloading.
Direct sea transport: After loading from the port of departure, the ship arrives at the port of destination directly to unload without changing ships or changing routes. This method usually has the advantages of short transportation time and low cost.
Transit sea transport: After the goods are loaded at the port of departure, they need to pass through one or more intermediate ports to change ships or change routes before they can reach the port of destination. If the distance is far or a special route is required, transshipment sea transport can be considered.
Liner shipping: Cargo transportation is carried out according to a fixed schedule, fixed route, fixed port and relatively fixed rate. The transportation time is predictable and the service is standardized. It is also a very common sea transportation method.
Chartering: According to the provisions of the charter contract, the shipowner rents the ship to the cargo owner for cargo transportation. This method is usually suitable for transporting bulk goods or goods with special requirements for transportation.
FCL sea transport: One or more full containers of goods are packed, sealed and delivered to the carrier by the shipper for transportation. This sea transport method is suitable for situations where the cargo volume is large and the integrity of the cargo needs to be maintained.
LCL shipping: The goods of multiple shippers are assembled in the same container for transportation. It is suitable for situations where the quantity of goods is small and cannot fill a container alone.
