What You Need to Know About Sea Freight: A Complete Guide for Beginners?

If you’re a business owner, online seller, or someone who needs to ship goods internationally, you might be wondering: Is sea freight the right choice for me? The short answer is: it depends on your cargo size, budget, and timeline. Sea freight is the most common method for global shipping—carrying over 80% of the world’s trade by volume (according to the International Chamber of Shipping). It’s cost-effective for large or heavy items but takes longer than air freight. In this guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know to make smart decisions about sea freight.

Sea freight (also called ocean freight) is the transportation of goods via ships across oceans and seas. Unlike air freight (which uses planes) or road freight (which uses trucks), sea freight is designed for moving large quantities of cargo—from raw materials like coal and oil to finished products like furniture and electronics.

Here’s a real example: Last year, a small furniture business in Chicago needed to ship 500 wooden chairs from a manufacturer in Vietnam. If they chose air freight, the cost would have been around \(15 per chair (total \)7,500) and taken 3–5 days. But with sea freight, they paid just \(2 per chair (total \)1,000) and waited 30 days. For non-urgent, bulky items, this cost savings makes sea freight unbeatable.

Sea freight works by loading cargo into containers—standardized metal boxes that fit on ships, trucks, and trains. The two most common container sizes are 20-foot (TEU) and 40-foot (FEU). A 20-foot container can hold about 33 cubic meters of cargo, while a 40-foot one holds around 67 cubic meters.

Not all sea freight is the same. There are three main services to choose from, each suited to different needs:

FCL means you rent an entire container for your cargo. It’s ideal if you have enough goods to fill at least half a 20-foot container (about 15 cubic meters). For example, a clothing brand shipping 10,000 t-shirts (which take up 20 cubic meters) would use FCL. The benefits? You don’t share space with other shippers, so there’s less risk of damage or delay, and the cost per unit is lower.

LCL is for smaller shipments that don’t fill a whole container. Your cargo is combined with other shippers’ goods in one container. If you’re a startup shipping 500 small gadgets (taking up 5 cubic meters), LCL is a good fit. The downside? It can take longer because the freight forwarder has to collect and consolidate other cargo. Also, there’s a slightly higher risk of damage when goods are packed together.

RoRo is for vehicles (cars, trucks, buses) or large machinery that can be driven onto the ship. For example, a car dealership importing 20 SUVs from Japan would use RoRo. The process is fast and simple—your vehicle is driven onto the ship, secured, and then driven off at the destination. RoRo is also cheaper than shipping a vehicle in a container for most cases.

Sea freight costs vary based on several factors, but here’s a breakdown of the key components and average prices (as of 2025):

A real-world example: A toy seller in New York shipped a 20ft container of toys (value \(20,000) from Shenzhen, China. Their total cost was: \)1,000 (ocean freight) + \(250 (THC) + \)75 (documentation) + \(100 (insurance, 0.5% of \)20k) + \(1,000 (customs duties, 5%) = **\)2,425 total**.

Pro tip: To save money, book your shipment in advance (avoid peak seasons like Chinese New Year or Christmas) and work with a reliable freight forwarder who can negotiate better rates.

Sea freight is slower than air freight, but the time depends on the distance between ports and weather conditions. Here are some common route times (as of 2025):

Delays can happen, though. Last month, a shipment from Hamburg to Toronto was delayed by 5 days because of a storm in the Atlantic Ocean. To avoid surprises, ask your freight forwarder for a “transit time estimate” that includes buffer days for potential delays.

Shipping goods by sea might seem complicated, but breaking it down into steps makes it easy. Here’s a simple 7-step process:

Even with careful planning, issues can arise. Here are the most common problems and solutions:

It depends on your needs. Sea freight is cheaper for large/bulky cargo but slower. Air freight is faster but more expensive—best for small, urgent items (like medical supplies).

It’s not required, but highly recommended. Forwarders handle complex tasks (paperwork, port logistics, customs) that most beginners find overwhelming. They also get better rates from carriers.

A 20ft container can hold up to about 28,000 kg (cargo weight), and a 40ft container up to 26,000 kg (due to size restrictions). Always check with your carrier for exact limits.

Yes! Use refrigerated containers (called “reefers”) that keep cargo at a set temperature. This works for food (like fruits, meat) or pharmaceuticals. Just make sure to choose a carrier with reefer expertise.

Most carriers (like Maersk, COSCO) let you track shipments online using your Bill of Lading (BoL) number. Your freight forwarder can also send you regular updates.