Short Sea Shipping In Cargo Service

Short Sea shipping provides economical and environmental benefits. Many more companies are looking into the chances of short sea shipping, specially in Europe.

What is short sea shipping?

It is the transport of goods by sea along the coat without crossing ocean or we can say that it is the shipping of goods by sea over shorter distances. This concept has been around for centuries. Before large container ships the dominated oceans, vessels used to sail short distances between European seaports that connects trade and contributes fast economic development. Now a days 40% of goods are moved across the globe via short sea shipping.

Why is short sea shipping important?

As the world's population grows, especially in developing countries, low-cost and efficient maritime transport has an essential role to play in growth and sustainable development. Short sea shipping makes sure that the benefits of trade and commerce are more evenly and wide spread.

 

How much can we benefit from short sea shipping?

Over the past years, interest in short sea has increased in Europe. Shipping companies realizes the benefits of short sea shipping. But EU has interest in ensuring the development of short sea shipping.

Short sea shipping Process

1. Transport to the port of loading.

2. Consignor issues the community status of goods.

3. Shipping company enters the container at the port of loading terminal  in the port community system.

4. A bill  is being submitted to the terminal by Shipping company and they declares community status of the goods.

5. Port terminal verifies the documentation of community status of the goods.

 6. Manifest the ship that is being updated by the shipping company including information about the status of the goods. 

7. Before departure the ship issues the required IMO FAL forms. 

8. Before and after the arrival as well as at the time of departure the ship submits data to the Swedish National Single Window.

9. The shipping company enters in the Swedish customs system container .

10. Community status of the goods is declared by the Shipping company.

11. Port terminal verifies the documentation of community status of the goods

12. Transports the goods from the port of discharge.

 

Benefits of short sea shipping

· Short sea shipping is economical and cost effective transport

· Provides consistent, reliable and timely services with guaranteed transit times

· Gives out geographical coverage across Europe

· Energy efficient and environmental friendly services

· Reduced road and traffic congestion

· Safer per ton mile mode

 

 

Introduction to Air Freight

Do you know that air freight is the only option for high value freight and urgent, special deliveries.  Air freight is enjoying increasing  popularity due to high reliability and high on time performance. Current market situation is more attractive and ocean freight is struggling with huge delays and high freight rates to the recent blockage of Suez Canal. So, this contributes to more airlines converting their fleet to cargo machines a offerings. Air freight has become indispensable and Asia has become the World’s largest transshipment hub. Let’s look more into the Air freight.

Understanding Air Freight

Air freight is defined as transportation of goods by aircraft. The cargo goods can be transported either o scheduled or charter flights based on the volume and urgency of freight. A general distinction between consolidated air freight and individual shipment, more commonly known as standard air freight. Standard air freight is loaded below the deck of passenger aircraft, so it is also known as a belly flight.

Small shipments are transported on ULD(Uni Load Device) containers. These are transported via liner, where entire space is filled with containers. More than two third of air cargo is transported on cargo aircraft and one third as additional cargo on regular passenger flights.  Most important categories of ir freight goods include electronics, pharmaceuticals products etc. Air cargo usually does not return to its point of loading and this results in overcapacity in one shipping direction.

Important Players in Air Freight Market

Shipper receives offers related to the available capacity of the carrier. In the case of air freight, air lines sell their capacities to the forwarders and they will fill them with cargo. Since we are travelling across many countries, a wide variety of country specific agreements are involved beyond the contractual setting of the cargo. To create uniformity and equal rights for all participants, International Air Transport Association(IATA) was formed. Freight Forwarder acts as a medium between carrier and customer also as an agent of IATA.

Calculation of Duration And Costs

The advantage of air freight is the speed. Courier goods are delivered latest the very next day while express goods arrives only after a maximum of three days and standard goods after a maximum of 7 days. Thus air freight is the fastest means of transportation, especially for time sensitive and valuable goods.

General Air Freight Rate Calculation

The  air freight rates calculation  is complex,apart from general rates there are other factors, such as commodity class rates and special rates, that influences the final price. Calculation basis depends on two quantities. The volume weight compared to the cargo’s actual weight. Better prices can be offered on routes that serve a high volume of air freight and the total amount of the ordered shipping volume will clearly decide the price. The final price for an airfreight shipment is made up of many factors.

Steps to be followed to get the goods into air

1. Determination of scope of the shipment in freight contract

2. Booking freight space and organize custom clearance.

3. Taking care of upstream, downstream stages in shipping process.

Advantages of Air Freight

1. Fastest, safest and most efficient way to transport goods.

2. Reliable mode of freight.

3. Risk of damage is less.