About SeaFreight

Bulk Cargo

Bulk Cargo is commodity cargo (such as oil, grain, coal, gravel, etc.) Unpacked or loose commodities quantities in the hull of a ship for transport. Merchant vessels that carry this variety of cargo are often called bulk carriers, bulk freighters or bulkers.

Break Bulk Cargo/RORO

Break bulk is non-containerized cargo packed in individual units. It is generally used for large items that cannot fit into a container. Non-containerized cargo is at a higher risk of theft and damage. If the cargo is sufficiently packed to offer the needed protection then it would be the carriers fault for the damages, however insurance is often required by the carrier to cover the risks.

RORO (abbreviation for roll-on/roll-off, RORO) is a logistics term which refers to sea freight vessels designed to carry wheeled cargo, such as cars, buses, trucks, etc. Vehicles can be driven on and off the ship via built-in access ramps, avoiding the need and expense of packing and craning cargo (as required for containerised freight).

Subject to limited availability (depending on the origin and destination of merchandise), RORO services are a cost-effective sea freight option for all vehicles in working condition, particularly when cargo does not match standard dimensions (oversized). In such cases, out of gauge (OOG) flatrack shipments are generally considered a less attractive alternative based on transport costs.

Chartering

Vessels and crew can be hired for specific sea freight voyages, permitting full customisation of sailing routes and schedules. Rates vary based on a variety of factors which are outlined in the charter party agreement (legal contract between the ship owner and charter).

Oversized

Large sea freight consignments that exceed standard dimensions such as boats, trucks, agricultural equipment, mining machinery, tanks, etc. Oversized cargo does not provide the same level of efficiency in terms of vessel space/capacity afforded by containerised freight. For this reason, resulting transport costs can be high, exacerbated further if specialist equipment is required to crane and transport goods.

Shipping Rates

The way in which sea freight rates are calculated varies between carriers and transport providers. Charges typically pivot on the following:

• Origin and destination.
• Vessel availability and market saturation.
• Fuel prices.
• Port congestion.
• Seasonal demand.
• Cargo size and weight.
• The type of shipment (i.e. RORO, bulk, containerised, refrigerated, oversized, etc).

Containerised shipments are a common sea freight option, as services are widely available, reasonably priced and suitable for a variety of cargo types (including refrigerated goods). Even smaller consignments (LCL shipments) are grouped with other mixed goods to collectively fill a single shipping container, optimising the space and resulting costs. Charged at a minimum of one cubic metre or one tonne (whichever is greater) it is sometimes cheaper to send low quantity items through a local courier who specialises in the delivery of small parcels.