Cargo transportation by sea is one of the most profitable and at the same time labor-intensive processes. Sea vessels transport food, industrial goods, building materials, machinery, various general, roll-on, bulk and liquid cargo. Sea freight has acquired particular importance in the era of globalization, when manufacturing enterprises on one continent depend on the uninterrupted supply of raw materials from another, specific transport tasks and new transportation technologies are constantly emerging.
Logistics operators strive to diversify their services, providing customers with comprehensive solutions that include the entire range of operations required for sea transportation. It is convenient for the shipper when they are responsible for their cargo in a “door-to-door” format. Such a task, even with a small number of “shoulders” of transportation, while adhering to the agreed deadlines and costs, cannot be attributed to simple ones. To perform it, the team of the logistics service provider company must have established interaction procedures and work like clockwork.
To understand the challenges faced by logisticians, let us give a general idea of the multifaceted world of cargo transportation by sea.
The faster maritime cargo transportation develops, the more attention is paid to ensuring that the design of merchant vessels optimally matches their purpose. From the point of view of specialization, the following types of cargo ships can be distinguished:
In addition, ships are systematized by size.For sea container transportation, the following classification is adopted:
To organize international maritime cargo transportation, the movement of ships is organized along certain directions (sea lines), which are formed depending on the geographical location of large seaports. Cargo ships that make regular voyages along certain routes are called linear. And here shipping is also called linear. For domestic Russian transportation between ports, the term “cabotage lines” is used.
An important role in this process is played by the shipowner (English: Shipowner) – a legal or natural person who operates the ship on his own behalf or on the basis of a contract with the shipowner. The shipowner equips the ship with everything necessary for going to sea and recruits a team – a crew.
Freight
When organizing the transportation of a single cargo or a batch of cargo, the forwarder receives quotes from the lines and selects the optimal option (in terms of cost, delivery time). Having received confirmation of the readiness of the cargo, the forwarder accepts the relevant instructions from the Client and books a place on the vessel for this cargo. When importing cargo, the agents of the line and the Client, with the help of the forwarder, contact each other and agree on the date of cargo pickup, if it is not in the port.
After submitting an empty container (during transportation by sea container), the sender packs it. A local carrier (sea transportation company), hired by the agent, transports the loaded container to the port of shipment and, after carrying out the necessary procedures at the port, the container is loaded onto a contaminated vessel. The forwarder, receiving information on the line’s website or from the relevant line employee, tracks the movement of the container and informs the Client about the time of its delivery to the port of discharge. The freight forwarder usually pays for the freight during the container’s passage at sea before it arrives at the port of destination. After unloading the container at the port, the forwarder registers it and organizes its removal to the place designated by the Client.
Freight broker
A freight broker is an intermediary company that acts when concluding a sea transportation contract (freight) on behalf of the charterer or shipowner and signs the contract of carriage on his behalf. Such companies provide the cargo owner with a place, the number of places on a liner ship (the amount of required tonnage). The benefit of the liner contract itself depends on the degree of occupancy of the ship.
Maritime agents
Companies that provide a range of services in a specific port in a specific territory on behalf of and at the expense of the shipowner are called marine line agents. They deal with the formal side of operations related to the ship’s arrival at the port, its stay in the port and its departure, i.e. they facilitate the provision of a berth, floating facilities (tugs, boats, etc.) to the ship, as well as pilotage. The agent protects the interests of shipowners before customs authorities (customs broker), port administration, cargo owners, etc., and also provides assistance in organizing the supply of the ship and its maintenance.
Stevedoring companies
Companies that own specialized cargo equipment and provide services to the port.
Surveyor
A survey is an independent examination, often required when transporting perishable cargo.
The main role here is played by a surveyor – an agent who advises carriers and cargo owners, monitors the inspection procedure, checks certificates and documents, and prepares a survey inspection report.
Bill of lading
A bill of lading is a document issued by a carrier to a cargo owner, which certifies ownership of the shipped goods. In practice, 10 types of bills of lading are used:
1. shipped; 2. bill of lading received for shipment; 3. clean bill of lading; 4. bill of lading with clauses; 5. negotiable bill of lading; 6. registered bill of lading; 7. bearer bill of lading; 8. liner bill of lading, sometimes abbreviated as “S. S. Co’s bill of lading”; 9. charter bill of lading; 10. through bill of lading.