FCL-

   FULL CONTAINER LOAD FOR SHIPPING GOODS FROM   AND TO THE USA BY SEA


FCL – an abbreviation for “Full Container Load” for Import and Export cargo to and from the USA. This term is commonly used to describe a sea freight service that is designed for ocean freight shipments of cargo where shipper has exclusive use of sea freight multimodal container. As a rule sea freight containers are loaded and sealed by shipper at the shipper's facility. Then it transported by ocean, rail and/or truck directly to the point of final destination. 

Notice: If you have a cargo sufficient to fill a 20 foot sea freight container, we still recommend you to compare FCL toLCL options In certain circumstances you may find that using LCL sea freight service for shipping goods by sea can be more convenient and cost-effective for you than FCL or International Moving companies service. For example, when you self-deliver boxed cargo to an international transportation company ship-terminal (CFS - Container Freight Station), you eliminate sea freight containers pre-carriage and waiting charges, which may be equal or even higher than shipping cost on ocean freight (i.e. shipping cost for sailing of your goods by sea) itself. Also you are not obligated on the sea freight container return to a carrier's destination container yard. 

However, for sizable sea freight shipments that fit into 40 foot container, FCL can be the only option in order to make your Import or Export shipment by sea efficient. Shipping goods to or from the USA in multimodal sea freight containers should be safer and more cost effective than using other sea freight services such Ro-Ro or Break-Bulk.


MULTIMODAL SEA FREIGHT CONTAINERS SPECIFICATION

Besides commonly used 20'STD, 40'STD and 40'HC ocean freight containers, there are numerous of other types of sea containers including 45' High Cube, Open Tops and Flat Racks sizes of 20' and 40' etc. However, as a rule these types of sea freight containers are subject to equipment availability from Steam Ship Lines (or direct carriers or International Transportation Companies). In certain circumstances it can be limited. Then, if you ship a regular cargo by sea, we suggest planning your sea freight shipment by using one of these three types of multimodal sea  freight containers below.  

20' STANDARD MULTIMODAL SEA FREIGHT CONTAINER

 Interior Dimensions (L x W x H): 5.919 m x 2.340 m x 2.380 m (19'-5'' x 7'-8'' x 7'-9' 1/2'')
Door Opening (W x H): 2.286 m x 2.278 m (7'-6" x 7'-5 1/2")
Tare Weight: 1,900 kg (4,189 lbs)
Cubic Capacity: 33.0 cbm (1,165 cubic ft)
Payload* :22,100 kg (48,721 lbs)

40' STANDARD MULTIMODAL SEA FREIGHT CONTAINER

 Interior Dimensions (L x W x H): 12.051 m x 2.340 m x 2.380 m (39'-6 1/2''x 7'-8'' x 7'-9 1/2'')
Door Opening (W x H): 2.286 m x 2.278 m (7'-6" x 7’-5 1/2")
Tare Weight: 3,084 kg (6,799 lbs)
Cubic Capacity: 67.3 cbm (2,377 cubic ft)
Payload*: 27,397 kg (60,401 lbs)

40' HIGH CUBE MULTIMODAL SEA FREIGHT CONTAINER

 Interior Dimensions (L x W x H): 12.056 m x 2.347 m x 2.684 m (39'-6 1/2'' x 7'-8 1/4''x 8'-9 1/2''
Door Opening (W x H): 2.340 m x 2.585 m (7'-8" x 8'-5 3/4")
Tare Weight: 2,900 kg (6,393 lbs)
Cubic Capacity: 76.0 cbm (2,684 cubic ft)
Payload*: 29,600 kg (65,256 lbs)

*Payload weight exceeds over-the-road legal limits in US and Canada. Recommended maximum ocean freight containers payload for the US and Canada is 35,000 lbs per 20' and 42,000 lbs per 40'.

Note: International Moving Companies will use for your international moving the same containers with International Transportation Companies. Keep it in mind when estimate capacity of ocean freight containers for your international shipment from or to the USA. 

  

THREE METHODS OF SEA FREIGHT CONTAINERS STUFFING:

  1. A 'LIVE LOAD' - means that International Transportation company's trucker will deliver an ocean freight container to your location and wait while you load, secure and seal the container for the international shipment. Free loading time may vary from one to two hours. If you will exceed the free time limit, then you pay approximately $75 per hour for each additional hour of loading time.
     
  2. A 'DROP AND PICK' - means that International Transportation company's driver will deliver and leave the ocean freight container at your location for several days. Then he will return to pick up the loaded, secured and sealed sea freight container to the international transportation company's container yard (CY) for the international trip by sea. In respect of calculation of total shipping cost of you international shipment by sea, the inland part of the shipping cost at origin with 'drop and pick' generally costs twice as much as with 'live load'. However, 'drop and pick' has the advantage that shipper can take a time on loading and securing commodity in the sea freight container.
     
    If you load a sea freight container near a seaport or International Transportation company's container yard, the cost for 'drop and pick' is often not much higher than with 'live load'. That added shipping cost might worth of taking your time on loading and securing the ocean freight container. However, if you locate a good distance from the port it is possible that a 'live load' will be the only option available for your import or export by sea.  
     
  3. ‘IN A WAREHOUSE QUALITY LOADING’ - (do not confuse with a service from an International Moving company) means that shipper self-delivers loose cargo to an International Transportation company's warehouse or to a loading dock of company, which specialize in quality loading of cargo into sea freight containers. Once goods are received and accepted by the ship terminal, it will be loaded and secured in the ocean freight container. Then the sealed sea freight container will be delivered it to the ocean carrier’s Container Yard (CY) assigned for your international shipment. 
     
    In a Warehouse Quality Loading method is not always available. This freight service can be costly. However, it should be less expensive than using an International Moving company. Plus the professional quality loading company should guarantee safety of cargo in the container during its international shipment by sea. If the quality loading company locates near a seaport of departure assigned for your shipment by sea and has a permit to ocean freight carrier’s CY, then with this method you may save on shipping cost of inland pre-carriage part of your international shipment as well.  

    Note: This topic is not intended to discuss packages of services offered by International Moving Companies on international shipments in multimodal sea freight containers. Information on services offered by International Moving Companies is widely available on the Web.  

TYPES OF PICKUP LOCATIONS IN RESPECT OF FCL SEA FREIGHT SERVICE:

  1. Commercial Facility – Pickup location provides a loading dock with a ramp and forklift. Shipper is responsible for loading and securing cargo in a sea freight containers delivered for the international shipment by International Transportation Company's truck (or arranged by a freight forwarder).
     
    When your container(s) leaves your facility make sure that you have on hand a copy of dock receipt provided by trucker, signed and dated by the trucker, with the container and seal number in it.
     
  2. Residential location – SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY. No ramp is available. Shipper loads an ocean freight container by his own. Shipper is held responsible for loading and securing cargo in sea freight containers. 
     
    You may consider hiring a professional stuffing company (an international or local moving company) in purpose to load your ocean freight container. If you are hiring an international or local moving company then remember pay attention to the time slot for the sea freight container delivery confirmed by the international transportation company or its trucking company at a time of booking your international shipment. International Transportation Company and/or its trucking company cannot 100% guarantee this time slot on the ocean freight container delivery. Discuss that with your international or local moving company assigned for the load in advance.
     
  3. Warehouse – SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY. Shipper delivers pre-packed cargo to the nearest available international transportation company's warehouse/terminal. Once your goods are received, a sea freight container will be delivered to the warehouse for the load. Rate will include all applicable charges related to cargo receiving at the warehouse, storage (if any), loading and securing cargo in the sea freight container for its international shipment overseas from or to the USA.
     
  4. Port / OCEAN FREIGHT ONLY – NO SEA FREIGHT CONTAINER PRE–CARRIAGE OR ORIGIN PORT CHARGES WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE RATE OFFERED. The 'ocean freight only' option is available for:

    a. Shippers highly experienced in international shipments.
    b. Freight forwarders.
    c. Sea freight shipments of ´shipper owned containers´

                                   



                           

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