Ocean freight companies have long been shipping goods across the seas from continent to continent in a cost effective means that equals greater savings for you. Ocean freight shipping can help your bottom line if your product is non-perishable and is not time sensitive. Ocean shipping can be your solution whether you are a business looking to export its goods, or you are a business looking to find an ocean freight shipping company to bring goods in for use or resale.

Finding the right ocean freight company for you can be tricky. There are customs rules and regulations to take into consideration, along with a long list of other factors that don't come into play when you use standard air shipping methods.

To start using ocean freight:

1. See how automobile manufacturers take advantage of ocean transport for their vehicles. Ocean freight shipping is the means by which cars are imported and exported, and it serves as a great example of the process.

2. Take advantage of ocean transport online calculators to run a quote to see what kind of ballpark pricing you'd be looking at.

3. Scan ocean freight companies' websites for additional resources and hints.

Action Steps to Successful Ocean Freight Shipping
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Use ocean freight companies to ship automobiles

Take advantage of ocean transport to import and export vehicles, or review the process of how this is done for a better understanding of maritime transport in general.

I recommend: Review the frequently asked questions on automobile ocean freight transport from Uniworld International. Use ARTMAM-NET as a portal to a large number of international car shippers.

Estimate your shipment before using ocean freight

Start running the numbers on one of the available online ocean freight calculators.

I recommend: Use the online calculator for ocean consolidation rates from Freight-Calculator. Use the ocean freight calculator available from Unipac Shipping for a shipping estimate.

Review supplemental ocean freight shipping documents and helpful resources

Many ocean freight companies not only promote their own business, but they also share information for the greater good of the industry. Take advantage of the forms and links available on your shipper's site to help with your transit questions.

I recommend: Work with shippers such as RCL on the appropriate forms and agreements. Companies like RCL not only help you with the shipment, but also with the logistics management. Take advantage of the ocean freight resources available from World Class Shipping.

Tips & Tactics for Smooth Sailing with Ocean Transport

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Consider hiring a broker to help you with the ocean freight shipping process, especially if the shipment is a one time deal going into a country that you are unfamiliar with. The broker will be in the country that you are shipping to and will help facilitate the shipment moving through customs. Speak to your shipper about your options.

Small businesses that need to ship goods by sea face a confusing array of options, vendors and regulations. Ocean shipping also carries an equally baffling array of insider terminology. Many businesses use an agent or a freight shipper to coordinate freight shipping. Finding the right information and ocean freight companies to guide you through these murky waters is essential. Some preliminary questions to consider include:

1. How much cargo do I need to ship?
2. How often will I be shipping freight by sea?
3. What's my transportation budget for ocean freight?
4. Where do I need to ship my goods?

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Get your feet wet in ocean shipping

In many cases, shipping cargo by ocean transport means understanding the ins and outs of import/export and logistics. Take some time to learn the freight shipping lingo and basic facts before deciding whether and how to ship goods with a freight shipper.

I recommend: The U.S. Department of Commerce site Export.gov contains a Basic Guide to Exporting with a good intro to shipping issues and an explanation of what a freight shipper is and does.

Locate a freight shipper to ship your goods

Ocean freight companies act on behalf of your company by coordinating shipping overseas. A freight shipper compiles the costs of ocean shipping into a single quote encompassing items such as freight shipping costs, customs fees, insurance and handling.

I recommend: LogLink contains an alphabetical listing of ocean freight companies. Forwarders.com also contains an extensive listing of freight shipping forwarders. Research freight shipping carriers yourself by perusing the listings on World Wide Shipping. The National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America provides export businesses with information on its members.

Know the relevant rules and regulations of ocean freight shipping

Whether or not you'll need to obtain special permission to ship your products by ocean transport depends upon the type and amount of product and the country or region.

I recommend: The U.S. Department of Commerce provides a guide to export regulations and licenses and a listing of government departments that regulate exports. To get a feel for international conventions and freight shipping regulations, visit World Customs Organization. Los Angeles law firm Countryman & McDaniel provides an extensive listing of links related to maritime law and regulation of ocean freight companies.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Also make sure your freight shipper carries 'errors and omissions' insurance in the event a carrier's insurance policy doesn't cover loss or damage during ocean transport.
• •  Be sure to ask ocean freight companies whether they’re licensed by the Federal Maritime Commission for ocean shipping as required by law.
• •  Ask for and verify credit references from ocean freight companies.
• •  Make sure your freight shipper is willing to explain all freight shipping terms and conditions in a non-technical manner so you're clear on all aspects of your transactions.

Ocean freight companies can offer a cost effective solution for your business if your product is non-perishable and not time sensitive. Take for example a paper product printed in Hong Kong. Costwise, it is less expensive to not only print there, but to ship from there as well compared to going print rates in the US. What you have to make sure, though, is that you are working with a reputable ocean transport company who is up front with all shipping, customs and other fees as well as who is insured in case of loss of the ship or product.

Ocean freight basics include a variety of services. The first is full container load, followed up by less-than-container load service. Some companies ship closed container, while other companies ship open air. Automobiles are also popular items moved by ocean and maritime transport.

To find out more about ocean freight basics:

1. Look at two of the biggest B2B ocean transport providers and see how their services stack up.

2. Check out the laws surrounding ocean freight shipping.

3. Take a look at government resources surrounding ocean transport.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Compare two of the biggest national shipping companies and their ocean freight services

See how FedEx and UPS services stack up. As two of the biggest national carriers, they bring a bulk transport discounts advantage.

I recommend: UPS offers a comprehensive look at the difference between ocean freight services. As one of the world's leading Non-Vessel Operating Common Carriers (NVOCC), UPS can help you maximize your route and your transit time to best manage your ocean shipments. FedEx also offers comparable services in the freight shipping industry. With FedEx Trade Networks, they will help you work with their most reliable ocean carriers and help answer any questions you might have about the transit.

Familiarize yourself with maritime transport law

Become accustomed to maritime transport law including customs, piracy information as well as duties and fees to bring items into and out of each country.

I recommend: Take advantage of the Freight Detective Ocean & NVOCC Center to find ocean transport legal services, search engines and database information. FindLaw offers a portal of Admiralty Law information that covers ocean transport and customs law.

Use government resources on ocean transport

Take advantage of government resources available for ocean freight shipping. The US government has a portal of information has millions of web pages, including those covering maritime transport.

I recommend: Find out from the Bureau of Labor Statistics how the price change for inbound ocean freight in the U.S. Import/Export price indexes is measured. Did you know that there is an Ocean Freight Reimbursement (OFR) Program available that allows recipients to ship a wide variety of goods overseas for use in privately funded development and humanitarian assistance programs. It is a competitive grant issued to 50 Private Voluntary Organizations (PVO) and can be used to ship such items as medical supplies, educational supplies, agricultural equipment and building equipment to developing countries. Find a Ocean Transportation Intermediaries (OTI) List from the Federal Maritime Commission. Learn how ocean freight rates are calculated in the agriculture sector from the Agriculture Marketing Service.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Don't be afraid to look at lesser known ocean freight companies. Just because they are not a FedEx or a UPS doesn't mean that they don't have decades of experience in ocean transport. Take advantage of the list provided from the Federal Maritime Commission, though, to make sure that they are approved and reputable.

Ocean freight is one of the cheapest and most convenient ways to ship goods overseas, particularly items that are very large. It is ideal for companies that do not require urgent shipping.

If you're just getting started with ocean freight, you may find that there are a lot of terms that you do not know. However, it won't take long before you know whether you have an FCL or LCL and whether your shipment is eligible for the OFR Program.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Full container load (FCL) and less than container load (LCL)

When items are shipped overseas, they are often placed in large containers that conveniently stack to make the best use of space on a ship. A full container load (FCL) is enough items to fill a whole container. If your shipment is a less than container load (LCL), it may be combined with other companies' goods.

I recommend: Learn more about full container loads and less than container loads at Amid Logistics.

Dry freight vs. open top container

Some shipping containers are completely enclosed. These are called dry freight containers or closed containers. Others that are exposed to the air are called open top or open air containers. When choosing what type is best for you, consider what kind of damage your products may receive from salty ocean air.

I recommend: See pictures of a dry freight container and an open top container at Ocean Air Logistics.

Ocean Freight Reimbursement (OFR) Program

If you work for a non-profit organization that is shipping goods overseas for humanitarian missions, you may qualify for the Ocean Freight Reimbursement (OFR) Program. The OFR program is government sponsored and will reimburse your shipping costs for donated goods.

I recommend: Learn more about the Ocean Freight Reimbursement Program from USAid.

Customs regulations

Each country has a different set of customs regulations, which are rules for what items may be imported and exported into a country. Some countries, for example, prohibit plants or certain types of meat.

I recommend: Visit the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol to learn more about customs regulations for the United States. Visit the embassies of other countries if you plan to export goods.

Freight forwarder

A freight forwarder is an expert in the fields of import and export. They understand the rules for many countries and make all arrangements for the import/export of your goods, including preparing paperwork and reserving ship space.

I recommend: Export.gov explains the role of a freight forwarder.

National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America (NCBFAA)

The National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America is a professional organization for those in the import and export fields, as well as those in the ocean freight industry.

I recommend: Learn more about the NCBFAA from their website.