Sea freight is the most
cost-effective way of sending
large volumes of goods
internationally

The most common way of sending goods via sea freight is through the use of containers which come in three different sizes:

                                   (Inside length x width x height of containers in metres)

• 20ft Container                           5.8 x 2.3 x 2.35   
• 40ft Container                            12 x 2.3 x 2.35
• 40 HQ (High Cube) Container     12 x 2.3 x 2.6

To give an idea of how much a container can hold we have chosen to use vehicles as an example. In a 20ft container you can fit one saloon or one 4 x 4 vehicle. In a 40ft/40ft HQ container you can fit 3 saloons or two 4 x 4 vehicles.Once loaded there will still be additional space for any loose items you may wish to add.

Containers can be sent via the following modes:

• FCL (Full Container Load) The customer benefits from having the whole container
• LCL (Less Container Load) A more cost effective solution where a customer can use part of a container
• Reefer Containers A refrigerated container for temperature sensitive cargo
• RORO (Roll On Roll Off) This service is used for "out of gauge cargo" i.e. buses, trucks and large machine spares which are rolled on and off the ship. These items are usually unable to fit into a container.  

FCL’s can both be loaded from our address or directly from the shipper’s premises. Planning ahead is the key as seafreight delivery times are naturally longer than other modes of transport. The total weight which can be loaded into any container is 22 tons as per UK RHA regulations. It is important to package your goods correctly to minimise the risk of damage in transit. We are able to offer packing, crating and palletisation services to help with this. 

Maina Sea Freight provides a total service covering not only the ocean freight movement of your goods, but also customs clearance and tariff classification, all operated by our in house team of international seafreight specialists.