Freight forwarding service
Ocean Freight
Ocean freight forwarding for FCL, LCL, consolidation and break-bulk cargo across major international ports, with sailings planned around your production and delivery dates.
- Modes
- FCL, LCL, break-bulk and out-of-gauge
- Coverage
- Import and export via major global ports
- Documents
- Bill of Lading issuance and checking
What ocean freight covers
Our ocean freight desk manages import and export bookings across major shipping lines, with experienced teams handling FCL, LCL, and break-bulk cargo to and from key ports worldwide.
We work closely with carriers to plan sailings around your production and delivery timelines, keeping you informed at every stage from booking to vessel departure and arrival.
Key capabilities
- FCL and LCL booking support across major shipping lines
- Import and export coverage to and from leading global ports
- Break-bulk and out-of-gauge cargo coordination
- Documentation support including Bills of Lading
Best suited for
Businesses shipping container or bulk cargo internationally on planned schedules.
Typical situations
When ocean freight is the right fit
Recurring export programmes
Regular monthly or quarterly shipments on a fixed trade lane, where sailing schedules need to line up with production runs rather than the other way round.
First-time importers
Businesses importing by sea for the first time, who need the booking, documentation and clearance steps explained and handled rather than just quoted.
Mixed FCL and LCL cargo
Shippers whose volume sits awkwardly between a part-load and a full container, and who benefit from being shown the cost difference both ways before booking.
Cargo that will not containerise
Break-bulk and out-of-gauge pieces that need carrier selection, lashing and stowage planned rather than simply booked onto the next sailing.
How it works
How we handle ocean freight
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01
Route and mode assessment
We compare sailing options across carriers for your lane and confirm whether FCL or LCL is the better fit for the volume.
-
02
Booking and space confirmation
Space is booked against your ready date and the sailing schedule is confirmed back to you in writing.
-
03
Documentation preparation
Commercial invoice, packing list and Bill of Lading details are checked before submission rather than after a query.
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04
Origin handling and loading
Pickup, stuffing and terminal delivery are coordinated to meet the port cut-off.
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05
Clearance and delivery
Customs clearance and onward inland movement are handled through to the destination address.
Before we can quote
What we need from you
You can send an enquiry without all of it, but each missing item usually costs a round trip before you have a usable rate.
- Origin and destination port or door address
- Cargo description, gross weight and volume in CBM
- Whether the cargo is stackable, hazardous or temperature-sensitive
- Ready date and any fixed delivery deadline
- Incoterms, if already agreed with your counterparty
Pricing
What moves the cost
So a quote is not a black box. These are the factors that actually change the number on a ocean freight shipment.
- Trade lane and carrier capacity on your sailing window
- FCL versus LCL, and container type where FCL
- Port congestion and terminal handling charges at both ends
- Peak-season and low-sulphur surcharges applied by the carrier
Related
Services often combined with ocean freight
Need a ocean freight quote?
Send us the route, cargo details and your ready date — we will come back with rates and routing options.
Questions
Ocean Freight questions
What is the difference between FCL and LCL ocean freight?
FCL means your cargo fills a dedicated container; LCL consolidates smaller shipments from multiple clients into one container. We support both — see our dedicated FCL Services and LCL Services pages for details.
Which ports can SAS Freight ship to or from?
We coordinate ocean freight through major ports across our WCA Family network, covering roughly 188 countries. Share your origin and destination on the rate enquiry form and we will confirm routing.
How long does ocean freight typically take?
Transit time depends on the trade lane, carrier schedule, and whether the shipment is FCL or LCL. We confirm an estimated transit time as part of every rate quote.
Do you handle break-bulk or out-of-gauge ocean cargo?
Yes. Our ocean freight desk coordinates break-bulk and out-of-gauge cargo alongside standard containerized shipments — mention this when requesting a quote so we can plan accordingly.