Logistics

Sea freight can be shipped in four different ways .

CONVENTIONAL
The first way cargo can be shipped is called Conventional. This is where cargo is stowed loose in the hold of the ship. In this way freight is charged based on a dollar rate per unit of weight or measure (*/m). For example, a conventional rate from Baltimore to Dakar may be written as: Conventional - US$ 350.00 per w/m.

Weight is determined in units of 1000 kilograms. If your crate weighs 2,350 kilograms you will have 2.35 units of weight.

Measure is determined in units of cubic meters. If your crate measures l.5m x 2.5m x 1.5m you will have 5.625 cubic meters or 5.625 units of measure.

The freight forwarder will charge you whichever method yields the greatest number of units. In this example you will be charged for 5.625 units at a rate of US$ 350.00 = US$ 1,968.75.

If your measurements are in pounds and inches you will need to convert them into metric. For assistance on how to do this please see the example on the AIRFREIGHT SHIPMENTS page.

LCL
A second way cargo can be shipped is LCL or Less than Container Load. As the name implies, cargo is put into containers and then the containers are loaded on board the ship. You may not always have enough cargo to fill an entire container but yet you may want the added security a container offers. As such, your cargo is consolidated with other cargo and then used to fill a container. Freight is charged for LCL the same way it is charged for conventional sea freight (see weight/measure example above). A LCL rate from Baltimore to Dakar may be written as: LCL - US$ 385.00 per w/m.

FCL
The third way of shipping cargo is by FCL or Full Container Load. In this way you will be charged a flat rate depending on the size of the container and the composition of the cargo. There are two sizes of commonly used containers, 20 foot and 40 foot. For example, a 20-foot container rate from Baltimore to Dakar may be written as: 20' Container - US$ 4.800.00.

RO-RO
The final way of shipping cargo is by RO-RO or Roll On - Roll Off This method only deals with cargo that can literally be rolled onto and off of the ship, namely vehicles. This method is charged based on a dollar rate per unit of cubic feet. There may be different rates if the cargo is drivable or not drivable. For example, a RO-RO rate may be written as: Drivable - US$ 1.50 per cubic foot, Not Drivable - US $ I.75 per cubic foot. If your cargo is originating outside of the United States will receive rates based on cubic meters.