For oversized or overweight cargo in sea freight imports and exports, special containers are required for loading. Special containers mainly include: Open-Top Containers, Flat Rack Containers, Tank Containers, and others.
Special containers differ significantly from standard full container loads (FCL) in terms of booking, stuffing, port entry, and freight rates. Below, we will briefly outline the sea freight operational procedures for special containers and the key considerations when exporting them:
Step-1:Cost Confirmation for Special Containers
When inquiring about special containers, in addition to providing the port of loading and port of discharge, it is essential to provide the number of pieces, gross weight, and accurate dimensions of the cargo. Gross weight and dimensions are the most critical factors. Professional agents will select the appropriate container type and shipping line based on the cargo information, shipping route, and shipper requirements.
If the provided dimensions differ significantly from the actual ones, it may result in the inability to load the cargo or the shipping line refusing to accept the shipment, leading to potential losses.
Step-2:Booking After Confirming the Quotation
Once the freight is confirmed, the shipper must provide a Booking Note (which should include accurate consignee and shipper details, the cargo’s description in Chinese and English, the intended shipping line, vessel schedule, container type, port of loading/port of discharge, cargo details such as pieces, weight, and volume, HS code, etc.). Upon receiving the Booking Note, the agent will verify the space with the shipping line and proceed with slot allocation and container arrangement according to the standard process.
Step-3:Stuffing of Special Containers
The stuffing of special container cargo is a crucial step. Whether it involves trucking the container to the factory for stuffing or shipping the goods to the agent’s warehouse for internal stuffing, it must strictly adhere to the shipping line’s lashing and securing requirements. Cutting corners or making arbitrary decisions is not allowed. The stuffing process generally consists of three main steps:
*Equipment Packaging
Based on the cargo’s dimensions and weight, materials such as compressed wood or channel steel are used to create packaging bases. Depending on the cargo’s shape, methods like screws, wooden braces, straps, or welding are employed to secure the cargo inside the container. The packaging design must meet the requirements for lifting and transportation, ensuring cargo safety while minimizing packaging dimensions to reduce shipping costs.
*Lifting and Stuffing
Appropriate lifting equipment and slinging tools are selected based on the cargo’s packaging, lifting points, weight, dimensions, and the operational site. Special containers are priced based on the cargo’s oversized dimensions and the space they occupy on the vessel.
For multi-container shipments, a reasonable stuffing plan must be developed to ensure that each container is not overloaded, the number of containers used is minimized, and the vessel space occupied is optimized.
*Lashing and Securing
Based on the cargo’s characteristics, weight, dimensions, and center of gravity, compliant materials are used to lash and secure the cargo at designated points. This ensures the cargo’s safety during transportation and meets the shipping line’s requirements.Some shipping lines have specific lashing requirements for flat rack containers. It is essential to confirm these requirements with the shipping line in advance to avoid delays in returning the container to the designated yard or issues during loading.