Shipping business cargo is a vital part of your supply chain. This process enables your company to transport things like raw materials, finished products, and documents from one place to another. If you can prepare their cargo, you’ll likely maintain positive connections with your customers rather than deal with geographical barriers.
That said, you must invest in a cost-effective method to transport goods across the world. A transportation option like sea freight will ease the transportation of your products by ship in coastal waters. Since this alternative is less expensive, it remains the most popular freight service mode. Aside from that, this process doesn’t need rest periods like there would be with road or rail transport, making delivery times shorter.
However, you must follow these five-step guides in preparing your business cargo for sea freight to ensure transportation efficiency.
Plan Ahead
Before preparing your goods for shipment overseas, ensure everything is planned well. When planning, you must estimate how much space will be needed on the vessel, book space on a ship, and make sure that everything is packed so that it does not get damaged during transit.
As you plan, you may research different companies offering worldwide sea freight services to know what they offer and how much they charge for it. Doing so helps you choose a provider that meets the needs of your cargo and your company’s budget. However, before hiring them, you should always consider the reputation of your options by reading feedback online.
Get Familiar With Regulations
You must understand the regulations associated with this type of shipping service as you prepare your goods for overseas shipment. Different rules determine how it should be packed and handled depending on the type of cargo you want to ship. For instance, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) provides you with a list of standards for shipping and transportation.
These sea freight regulations vary by country. Some countries require you to declare what type of cargo you are shipping and its value, while others require that the shipper provide evidence that they have paid import duties on any products coming into their territory. Some countries may require a permit or license to enter the country, while others may require a certificate of origin or proof that the products have been made per specific standards.
Provide Cargo Protection
When preparing your business cargo for sea freight, you must protect it from contaminants like dust and moisture. If you expose your shipment to these elements, your items might not arrive in good condition. As a result, you need to dispose of them or make necessary repairs before they become useful again, increasing your shipping costs.
You can use a variety of products to protect your cargo during transit, such as:
- Plastic Wrap: This plastic film can be applied directly over the surface of your cargo or wrapped around it tightly with tape or staples. It will protect against moisture, dust, and insects while allowing air to pass through, so your product does not suffer condensation buildup inside its packaging.
- Packing Paper: You can place this wrapper between items stacked on top of each other or underneath them to prevent them from rubbing together during transit and causing damage or scratches on their surfaces.
Add Labels
Adding labels before shipping business cargo through sea freight helps you identify the shipment’s contents. This strategy also helps track the shipment at every stage to ensure it reaches its destination without any damage or loss.
A shipping label should include relevant information about the product, including manufacturer, weight, dimensions, and proper handling instructions. You can also add a barcode to make it easier for customs authorities involved in inspecting your shipment. If you’re shipping more than one item together, each item must have its label so people can quickly identify them when they arrive at their destination port.
Consider Insurance Coverage
When an e-commerce company decides to ship its goods through sea freight, they do so, hoping that nothing will go wrong with its shipment. However, if something happens due to no fault of theirs and they’re not ensured against such an occurrence, they will incur huge losses. For example, if a shipment gets lost while in transit, they will suffer enormous losses for not taking out insurance cover for such an event.
When getting insurance coverage, you must identify the type of coverage you need. For instance, shipping small parcels and goods won’t need comprehensive coverage as much as an ocean-going vessel would.
Aside from that, you must also consider the types of goods you’re shipping. If they are perishable goods or goods sensitive to moisture and temperature changes, you must invest in special insurance coverage for this cargo. Doing so ensures that your goods reach their destination safely and in good condition.
Key Takeaway
Transporting materials and products is vital in your company, so you must take necessary measures to secure their quality while in transit. Therefore, you should follow this five-step guide in preparing your business cargo for sea freight.
