Professional sea freight services
Sea freight shipping is often regarded as one of the most preferred cargo delivery and transportation methods. SIA “RITLOGISTIKA” provides professional and efficient solutions for all types of sea freight, trusted by our local and international clients from various industries. Primarily, SIA”RITLOGISTIKA” offers containerized sea freight services and performs “door-to-door” cargo deliveries in popular routes across the Baltics, Europe, Asia, South America, North America, China, and elsewhere.
Need to ship cargo or containers by sea? Contact us!
International sea freight services
The international sea shipments organized by SIA “RITLOGISTIKA” are mainly conducted using sea containers. Containers are large, sturdy rectangular boxes used for transporting goods and cargo. They are usually made of steel but can also be aluminium. Sea containers are weather-resistant and designed for stacking on ships. Containers come in various standardized sizes, with the most common being 20-foot (6.1 meters) and 40-foot (12.2 meters) containers at SIA “RITLOGISTIKA”.
Types of sea transport
At “RITLOGISTIKA”, sea shipments are often discussed when our clients’ shipping and receiving locations are not connected by land or when land routes are longer and less economical for freight transportation than sea or rail transport. For example, cargo deliveries between EU countries united by a sea border are often faster and cheaper than transporting full or consolidated loads by land.
Sea container shipping
Full container load (FCL)
SIA “RITLOGISTIKA” provides Full Container Load (FCL) shipping, filling a single sea container of any size with cargo from one shipper. FCL, short for “Full container load”.
FCL is used for transporting large volumes of freight that occupy an entire container or for security reasons, even if the specific cargo does not fill the whole container but must not be shipped with other goods.
Less than container load (LCL)
Less than Container Load (LCL) shipments combine shipments from unrelated shippers in one container for sea freight. LCL stands for “Less than Container-Load.”
When clients need to transport relatively small-sized cargo by sea, “RITLOGISTIKA” provides LCL shipments, combining various-sized cargo into one full container.
Ship freight transport
SIA “RITLOGISTIKA” offers ship cargo transport with various types of containers:
- standard (20’ Dry Container, 40’ Dry Container);
- standard with increased height (20’ High Cube Container, 40’ High Cube Container, 45’ High Cube Container);
- pallet-wide containers;
- refrigerated containers (20’ Reefer, 40’ Reefer, 45’ Reefer High Cube);
- containers with removable tops (20’ Open Top, 40’ Open Top);
- flat racks for heavy cargo;
- tank containers;
- bulk cargo containers;
- and insulated containers.
Sea bulk freight transport
SIA “RITLOGISTIKA” handles sea transport of various bulk cargoes, ensuring diverse granulated material transportation in sea container assemblies, which are shipped in large quantities without packaging.
Sea bulk cargo shipments with bulk cargo containers are executed between ports of one or different countries and for intercontinental sea shipments. Sea bulk cargo transport by ship is often organized for grains, salt, aluminium ore, coal, or gravel.
Oversized sea cargo
Special container types called “Flat Racks” are used for oversized sea cargo transport. A “flat rack” is a cargo-adaptable container with foldable sides, forming a flat shelf, designed for transporting heavy, large cargo by sea.
Oversized sea cargoes, most commonly transported using platforms or flat racks, include oversized water and cargo vehicles (e.g., agricultural machinery, yachts, construction equipment), generators, large engines, pipes, etc.
Ship gas or liquid cargo transport
SIA “RITLOGISTIKA” provides ship transport of gas or liquid cargoes with tank containers. In shipping, tank containers are widely used for transporting liquefied chemicals, crude oil, and various dangerous goods (ADR) in gas form (e.g., natural gas) and liquid forms. ISO-standard-compliant tank containers also transport various oils, alcohol, juices, and other edible products.
Tank containers are primarily made from corrosion-resistant materials, such as steel or other materials that provide maximum cargo protection.
Reduce risks with cargo insurance
As with any cargo transportation, SIA “RITLOGISTIKA” recommends that every company insure their cargo for sea freight shipments. Cargo insurance protects the company from losses during sea freight transport, including cargo transhipment and/or storage.
SIA “RITLOGISTIKA” will ensure appropriate insurance for every cargo entrusted to us, protecting our clients’ companies from material losses, such as natural disasters or cargo theft, and other foreseeable and unforeseeable risks.
Freight insurance options
Based on the specific characteristics of the cargo, SIA “RITLOGISTIKA” offers various cargo insurance options that protect the company from potential losses during transport. For example, insurance against accidents, explosions, natural disasters, cargo theft, or cargo damages related to saltwater or rainwater, and many other insurance options.
Insurance costs
The costs for insuring sea freight shipments depend on several key components, such as the transport route and the size and type of cargo (whether it’s hazardous (ADR), fragile, contains electronics or food, etc.). The costs also vary based on the cargo’s value, insurance coverage and deductible.
Customs brokerage services
SIA “RITLOGISTIKA” takes care not only of the direct and safe execution of sea freight shipments but also remembers to prepare the necessary documentation and engage customs brokers, saving our clients valuable time and avoiding additional costs.
Thanks to our established cooperation with customs authorities and the extensive network of SIA “RITLOGISTIKA” partners, our transport managers professionally assist and support by engaging customs brokers if the client’s cargo requires preparation of customs documentation. This includes handling cargo customs clearance, necessary declarations, customs payments, and other specific customs procedures.
Frequently asked questions about sea shipments
Intercontinental sea cargo deliveries from Europe are typically completed within 20-60 days, depending on the destination route. Transit times for sea cargo shipments between China and Europe usually range from 35-45 days; from China to the US, sea cargo delivery takes about 30-40 days, and from Australia to the UK, it takes about 40-50 days.
Sea freight rates are determined based on the specific characteristics of the cargo, determining whether the cargo volume can be shipped as a full container (FCL) or less than a container (LCL). The distance required for transporting the cargo, customs declarations, and the costs of other formalities and arrangements are also considered.
Document preparation for sea freight shipments varies according to the customs legislation of each country. However, the primary documents always include a detailed report on the cargo or packing list, import and export declarations, bill of lading, and often certificates related to cargo ownership and the composition of the cargo or products.
Customs procedures involve the preparation of import and/or export declarations and calculating duties and taxes based on the transport route and specifics of the cargo’s composition. To ensure that customs documentation preparation does not affect the transport process, these procedures are carried out by a certified customs broker based on the information reflected in the cargo invoice and packing list.
We recommend clients insure their cargo to safeguard against losses that might occur during sea freight transport (such as cargo damage, natural disasters, etc.). The insurance costs for each cargo and shipment vary. Indicative costs for a sea cargo insurance policy are about 0.2% of the total cargo value.
Trust your sea freight to professionals!
SIA “RITLOGISTIKA” provides economical and efficient solutions for companies in various industries, handling complete and consolidated sea freight shipments of food products, oversized cargo, hazardous cargo (ADR), and bulk cargo by sea and/or ocean.
Our experienced specialists offer professional, free consultations on any issues related to sea freight shipments and help organize all the necessary documentation preparation related to obtaining specific transport permits or handling customs formalities.
Office
Address:
Dzerbenes str. 27 – 311
Riga, LV-1006
