Throughout the history, seas have been fundamental to people across the earth as a means of transportation. The two most common ways and almost absolutely the just two, used for international delivery are ocean freight and air freight. Such are the options you have when it comes to shipping automobiles, things, and other shipments; be it for business reasons or personal reasons. The unlikeness between such two kinds of cargo is not only the understandable one; one being by jet and the other using ships. Many factors play a major role in determining whether to transport cargo via the ocean or air.

Both the mode have their advantages and disadvantages, there are certain things must be kept in mind every time you choose to transport something around the globe. Such four things are the charges, Cost, dependability, Volume, and the Speed at which the items are transported to the preferred site. A few other factors that you must consider are Time, Security, Distance Coverage, Impact on Environment and Logistics.

However, ocean freight transportation services perpetually comes with its own set of advantages and disadvantages as follows:

Advantages of ocean freight transportation services:

• Cheap Freight: In comparison to rail, road, and air, ocean freight rates are more affordable and especially more economically viable for bulkier cargo.
• Less Maintenance Cost: Maintenance cost of water transport is quite cheaper in comparison to maintenance cost involved in air and rail transport. This is also one of the main reason because of which ocean freight rates are not high.
• Best for Bulky Goods: Heavy and bulky items of shipment can be transported with ease through ocean freight without incurring enormous costs in transportation, as ocean freight rates are cheap. Airplanes cannot transport bulky items such as automobile parts, machinery, industrial parts etc. and ships can carry all kinds of heavy objects.
• Important for Foreign Trade: While airlines are increasingly used today for international shipping, oceans have been for long connecting the global trade markets. Even till today, foreign trade is highly dependent upon ocean shipping.
• Eco-friendly: Ships have a minimal carbon footprint as they consume lesser fuel in comparison to aeroplanes. As they are Eco-friendly, large organizations prefer them over other means of transport.
• Safety:  Ships are designed to carry dangerous  materials and critical  cargo safely. The industry is well-versed in the handling of such goods and has managing, in place to ensure the security  of the vessel, troop, cargo and environment. Cargo loss occur  by incidents during transportation is regularly fall in as maritime security  increases, and has dropped significantly in the past decade. Containers are construct  to be sealed and locked during transportation for extra security.
• Efficiency:  There is no matter the size of your shipments, sea freight companies can usually contain your needs. Tinier  shipments can be arranged in  a group together with other cargo to fill a container, agreed for cost-sharing for the transportation services. Big cargos can be fill in one or more containers, providing shippers incomparable  bulk options. In fact, the vessels are the perfect way to move high volumes of cargo as they are constructed   to carry large amounts of products or raw materials.

• Primary types of ocean shipping

• There are basically two types of ocean shipping and these are:
• Full container load

 

• The entire consignment will be transported within the container and owned by one individual. The shipping costs in this case will be calculated and charged at a flat rate per full container.
• Less than container load
• In circumstances where there are not enough goods to fill an entire container, it will be shared with other parties. Here the shippers are charged per cubic meter following arrangements with a consolidator who will try and accommodate the goods.

• Types of maritime transport of goods

• There are several types of sea transport offered by maritime transport companies and these include:
• Cargo ships – ranging in size and having large hydraulic hatches covering the hold. Sometimes these ships have special refrigerated compartments for storing perishable goods
• Container ships – with 20-40ft long containers that can be easily loaded and unloaded onto and off the vessel for final transportation by road or rail
• Bulk carriers – typically used to transport wood chips, grains, and other materials that are poured directly into the hold
• Refrigerated ships – often called Reefers, these ships are used to transport perishable commodities that need temperature-controlled transportation, such as meat, fish, and dairy products
• Roll-on/roll-off ships – cargo ships that are designed to carry wheeled cargo such as vehicles, equipped with built-in ramps for driving directly on and off the vessel
• Tankers – commonly used for hauling oil or other types of liquids or gases
• Barges – cargo container ships will often tow barges behind them in order to increase storage space

Disadvantages of ocean freight transportation services:

• Slow Speed: Ocean transportation is a more time-consuming mode and is ideal for those items which have a long lead time. Other transportation options like air freight can deliver items in maximum 2-3 days while ocean freight might even take a month.
• Risky: Since there is a high amount of time involvement from shipping to delivery, the risks associated with ocean shipping are higher. There might be delays or weather obstructions which can cause loss or damage of shipment.
• Lack of Infrastructure: Certain parts of the world might not have the facilities of ports and terminals and can therefore not receive large ships carrying containers. Usually, a significant amount of capital expenditure is essential to handle container based networks.

What is Ocean Freight?

The terms “ocean freight” or “maritime transport of commodities” refers to a kind of transportation in which cargo is transported by sea. Maritime transport is worldwide by definition, with the shipping industry handling 90% of global trade.

Importing and exporting items via international maritime shipping provides global maintenance and facilitates dangerous materials such as gas, liquids, and explosives. This shipping solution may be the best choice if your business has to carry large volumes without meeting any sort of pressing deadlines.

Seas have always been most important as a mode of transportation for people all across the world. Ocean freight is one of the most popular and nearly exclusively used modes of international transport.

A number of factors come into existence when one is deciding to ship cargo by sea. This mode offers both pros and cons, but there are a few things that one should keep in mind whenever you choose to ship something throughout the world via ocean freight. The recurring charges, capital cost, reliability, dependability, volume, and speed with which the items are transported to the intended location are four of these factors. Time, security, distance coverage, and environmental impact are a few key variables to consider.

Pros of Ocean Freight Shipping

1. Economical: Compared to rail, road, and air, ocean freight rates are more affordable and more economically viable for bulkier cargo. Companies that provide ocean freight services provide various low-cost shipping options for different products. This is critical for many businesses, as they must save money when shipping goods, so that products can be sold to end-users at low prices. As a result, you will gain an advantage over your competitors.
2. Low Maintenance Cost: As compared to air and rail transportation, the cost of maintenance for water transportation is significantly lower. This is also one of the prime reasons because of which the cost of maritime freight is low.
3. Best for Bulky Goods: The ability of the shipping firms to transport oversized, heavy, or bulky cargo – also known as break bulk or Not in Trailer (NIT) loads – is a significant advantage of sea freight shipping. Large cars, equipment, construction supplies, and other various items could be among the cargo. Enormous cargo, frequently too heavy or oversized for air freight or even over-the-road transit, is not an issue for many maritime vessels.
4. Eco-friendly: Air and other modes of transportation have way more higher carbon footprints as compared to marine shipping, which is an environmental disadvantage. Whereas, on the other hand, ships are the most carbon-efficient way of transportation. They emit fewer grammes of exhaust gas per tonne of cargo than any other mode of transportation. These already-low emissions will continue to fall as technology advances, new ships arrive, and LNG-powered alternatives are deployed
5. Safety: Another advantage of ocean freight shipping is that ships are built to transport hazardous materials and dangerous cargo safely. The industry is well-versed in handling such commodities, and laws have been put in place to safeguard the vessel, crew, load, and environment’s safety. Cargo loss due to marine disasters is steadily decreasing as maritime security improves and has decreased dramatically in the last decade. For added protection, containers are designed to be sealed and locked during transportation.
6. Flexibility: Sea freight providers can typically satisfy all your needs, regardless of the size of your goods. Smaller shipments can even be combined with other cargo to fill a container, allowing transportation services to be shared at a lower cost. Shippers can serve one or more containers with larger goods, giving them unrivalled bulk possibilities. Because they are built to transport enormous amounts of goods or raw materials, vessels are the best means to convey large cargo volumes.

Cons of Ocean Freight Shipping

1. Slow Speed: Ocean transportation is a slower means of shipping that is ideal only for commodities with a considerable lead time. Other modes of shipping, such as air freight, can deliver things in as little as 2-3 days, whereas ocean freight can take up to a month.
2. Risky: The dangers connected with ocean shipping are higher because there is a significant amount of time involved from shipping to delivery. There may be delays or weather obstacles resulting in cargo damage.
3. Lack of Infrastructure: Certain sections of the world may lack port and terminal facilities, making it impossible to accommodate huge ships carrying containers. Container-based networks typically necessitate a significant level of capital investment.
4. Delays may occur: Ships run every week, and various issues arise frequently. There’s always the possibility that your deliveries will be late. And your consumers will undoubtedly be dissatisfied as a result. If you choose marine shipping, you will save a lot of money. Because of the potential for delays, your consumers may opt for a different supplier.

What After Considering All Pros And Cons Of Sea Transportation?​

Consider the advantages and disadvantages of sea transportation before deciding how you will ship your belongings.

If you choose that sea shipping is correct for you, you should employ Stockarea to handle your shipping and forwarding needs. Our representatives will gladly help you with any questions or concerns you may have.

With our assistance, you can make a difficult and unpleasant task much easier and more fun. It is all about getting the right people on the job!