Approximately 71% of the Earth’s surface is covered with water, and our oceans make up an estimated 96.5% of it. In line with this, you may think that oceans divide countries, especially in the case of peninsulas and archipelagos, but actually, these gigantic bodies of water connect the world.
Since the early times, people had been engaged in travelling by sea — from transportation vessels to fleets meant for adventure-packed voyages. This only proves that this classic mode of travelling had long been considered efficient and safe.
Nowadays, there are multiple types of ship lines for different purposes, such as common carriers that provide public transportation and cartage companies that offer pickup and delivery services. Whatever your need may be, ships got you covered.
If personal or business ventures prompt you to ship bulky and heavy items, like furniture, cars, and prefabricated construction pieces, why not opt for sea freight services? Below, we’ll tackle the several advantages of sea freight shipping over other cargo forwarding services such as air freight and over-the-road transportation.
A more affordable option
Ocean freight shipping is about four to six times cheaper than air shipping, making it the most cost-effective option for international shipping. The low costs of sea freight services are therefore beneficial to business owners since lower expenses lead to higher profit turnover.
Space availability is not a problem
Another winning characteristic of sea freight shipping is that cargo space availability is not a concern. Shipping companies can accommodate “Not in Trailer” loads, including industrial equipment, building materials, and vehicles. A lot of times, these cargos are too heavy or bulky for air shipping or road and rail transportation that face limitations in space, volumetric weight, and dimensions.
Assured safety
Today, the maritime industry’s liability environment faces more regulations. For instance, common carriers are accountable for issues like shipment loss or damage and delay of delivery. Furthermore, in leased vessels, charterers have plenty of liabilities under the charter-party contract with the owners and the specific laws of the country or state where they are trading.
Charterers liability pertain to legal and contractual liabilities such as damage to the vessel, death and physical injury, pollution, and even incidents like collisions. Moreover, charterers may also be held liable for damage to cargo, which arises from handling malpractices, shortages, non-arrival of freight, or bad stowage. With all these liabilities, you can be more assured that your cargo will be treated with the utmost care as companies will try to avoid facing legal charges as much as possible.
Low environmental impact
If you’re looking for a greener option, ocean freight shipping is the perfect one for you. Aircraft and road vehicles emit higher amounts of gas pollutants. On the other hand, ships present a carbon-efficient transportation mode as they produce relatively lesser exhaust gas emissions. In fact, in the future, expect to see an improvement in these already-low emissions as technological innovations pave the way for new ships powered by liquefied natural gas.
Ocean freight shipping is economical, flexible, efficient, and environmental-friendly. With all these amazing characteristics, it’s clear that making sea freight services your go-to shipping option is a wise decision.
