There are several options regarding shipping a cargo container abroad. It’s not as easy as calling Fed-Ex to come pick it up. To ship a container abroad, it is best to have a freight forwarder or customs broker handle the shipment. They can ensure that an empty container arrives at the place of origin to facilitate loading.
To get international shipping rates, you’ll need to know the dimensions of the cargo you’re shipping, the quantity, and the weight. Once you have that information, you can start getting shipping quotes. If you are shipping a full container, there are a few sizes to choose from.
Container sizes:
• 20 feet
• 40 feet
• 40 foot high cube
• Other Specialized Equipment (Refrigerated, Flat Rack and more)
Once the container is loaded, it is trucked to a port for shipment abroad. Depending on the distance from the origin to the port, the shipping company may leave the container for a train to take it the rest of the way to the port. Once the container arrives at the port to be shipped internationally, a crane will unload it from the truck and load it onto a ship.
The containers are secured on the ship and generally take around a month to reach their destination. Shipping times will obviously vary depending on weather conditions and the distance from port to port. If you have cargo that needs to be shipped internationally faster than one to one and a half months, then a better option is air cargo. Your freight forwarder will also be able to arrange this if required.
When a container arrives at the port of destination, documentation must be submitted to the respective government that describes the goods being imported. If imported into the United States, customs clearance is required in order for freight to be released for delivery. It is always recommended that a customs broker submit an entry on behalf of the importer.
A customs broker will classify the imported cargo and submit the required documents to Customs and Border Protection to obtain customs clearance. Certain types of cargo must submit additional documentation to other government agencies to obtain customs clearance. For example, food and other perishable products will need to be approved through the FDA in order to import them. Live animals must be authorized through Fish and Wildlife.
Once the imported freight has cleared customs, it is released for delivery, it is the destination. A customs broker or freight forwarder can arrange for containers to be delivered on time and without damage.
To get a quote on shipping a container, visit
http://www.serviceshipping.com/seafreight.html