The facts about container shipping are
extensive and require adequate information about what freight shipping really
is. As a matter of fact, we dwelt on the various modes/methods of freight
shipping, especially to Nigeria.
Table of Contents
What Container Shipping Is
Container Shipping is a container
with strength suitable to withstand shipment, storage, and handling. Shipping
containers range from large reusable steel boxes used for intermodal shipments
to the ubiquitous corrugated boxes. It falls basically in Sea freight
shipping category, specifically used for Groupage Freight — Less than container
loads (LCL) as well as Full container load.
By intermodal shipment, we refer to a model that involves freight
transportation that uses different types of transport medium, for
example, rail, ship, and truck).
One of the advantages of this method of
shipping is that it reduces cargo handling. The effect is that it improves
security, reduces the cost of shipping, reduces losses and damages. It also
allows for faster transportation of freight.
This may be offset by reduced timings
for road transport over shorter distances. It is not out of place to
interchange the words ‘containerization and container freight shipping’ in this
post, as they mean one and the same thing.
Purpose Of Container Shipping Services
The importance of container shipping
services to global trade cannot be over-emphasized. As stated above, it makes
shipping quite easy and has been in existence for centuries. So, whether you
are purchasing shoes, bags, clothes, or anything from China to Nigeria,
container shipping plays an economic impact on the importation process.
Container Freight Shipping: Advantages (Benefits) And Disadvantages
In the shipping industry, container
freight shipping plays one most important role. The advantage of this is that
it has aided the industry to a strong and steady-state. This mode of
shipping has a significant economic advantage over other means of transporting
goods, for both the sender and the recipient.
Over 50,000 cargo ship sailing the
world use this mode of shipping due to the positive factors it carries in aid
to business profiting. Impacts such as the ability to transport different types
of goods such as raw materials, food, vehicles, equipment, furniture, apparel
to mention but a few. As a matter of fact, almost all goods that come into your
port are stored in a shipping container.
Advantages Of Container Shipping
1. Adequate Security of Goods
Once the container is sealed, it bars
against bad weather, temperature variations, theft, handling impacts, fire.
Therefore limit or reduce the risk of loss of items to those conditions.
2. Fast Transportation and Low cost
The fear of breaking the bank is
eliminated in the course of transporting or shipping container loads. This is
because the container is the unit that documents all the goods that it
contains. Charges are therefore not per items in the container but per
container load.
It can ship quickly to ports of
destination. The other stage of customs familiarity, which affects delivery
time is cut short because the information of items in the container is detailed
outside the container.
3. Flexibility and Versatility, second to none
Container shipping can be used to ship
a large batch as well as a small batch of goods to both long and short
distance. It can be used to transport both dangerous liquid substances
(hydrocarbons and chemicals) and solid products (foodstuffs – wheat, flour,
feed for livestock and so on).
4. Warehousing
The container is its own warehouse;
Simpler and less expensive packaging. Stacking capacity on ships, trains
(double stacking) and on the ground (container yards).
Read Also: Why Air Freight
Shipping is Best Alternative
Disadvantages Of Container Freight Shipping
1. Unavailability of Port/Terminals for Container Facilities
In some parts of the world where ports
or terminals with container facilities may not be available, this creates a
major setback.
2. They
require adequate handling techniques.
Container shipping requires adequate
sophisticated handling techniques, which without, will affect the shipment
process. The infrastructure put in place by ship operators to handle containers
may not apply to all port facilities. This consequently also slows transit
times.
3. Delays may occur.
Even where such sophisticated
facilities are available, delays may still occur due to overburden of loads and
non-availability due to a container operator’s inability to secure a return
load.
4. Large Capital Expenditure
This may be essential to handle ‘container-based’ networks. For smaller
businesses, this may be a major concern as capital expenditure is highly needed
in handling container shipping. It basically affects sponsoring for facilities
at ports as well as other connected factors.
5. Some physical constraints may cause costly special packaging
There are some constraints that may
involve a certain cost. Constraints like high temperatures, lack of ventilation
inside the container, etc. This may negate the fact that there might be high
security to the condition of goods, however. But the fact can not be left out
as it may not have control over such challenges over time.
In order to salvage such physical
situations, a rather costly special packaging and signing up for special
container shipping insurance becomes imperative.
Type Of Container, Dimension And Specifications
There are two significant types of
container, with various differences in dimension. We have the 20 feet container
and the 40 feet container.
These containers are
of standardized dimensions. They can be loaded and unloaded, stacked,
transported efficiently over long distances, and transferred from one mode of
transport to another, i.e. container ships, rail
transport flatcars, and semi-trailer trucks, without being opened
Factors Determinating Cost Of Container Freight Shipping
Many factors determine the cost of Full
Container Load Container shipping. Some of the factors are as follows:
(1) Size of
Container: While there are other variations of container dimension, the
standard dimensions are 20ft and 40ft. Other variations may include
refrigerated units with different sizes.
(2) Shipping
Route: Distance matter in determining the cost to ship a container. A container being sent from Lagos to
Ogun State, Nigeria is always going to be less costly to ship than one being
sent on routes that are not particularly common.
(3) Demand
and Supply: Cost of shipping a container may vary especially as dictated by
economics trend and market fluctuations. Basic economics dictates the freight
industry globally. “During the busiest shipping seasons, container rates go up
–– sometimes substantially.”
The Real Cost Of Container Shipping
Globally, there has been no
standardized freight rate generally. However, the varying cost of shipping via
this mode is not quite expensive. You want to make enquiries, contact us via a
WhatsApp chat or call 2348147068472 for details.
Determining the cost actually is always
a key component for choosing which container services to go for. Another reason
why we advise to choose a service that has a reputation for successful
shipping.
Conclusion
The fact that Container Freight
Shipping carries various advantages in terms of security, reliability,
preference due to its flexibility and versatility has not ruled out the
advantage of other modes of shipping to Nigeria.
Would you like to take up a container
shipping? See more
information about our Services, and/or…
Contact
Bowagate Global Limited Today
Also, learn more about our Sea Freight shipping or
talk to us about your Shipment?
Give us a call: 08147068472. Our lines are open during business hours, so you can
speak with a real human. Or send an Email:
info@bowagateglobal.com. You can also visit www.bowagateglobal.com for more
details.
For your
expert and professional freight forwarding, contact BOWA GATE GLOBAL LIMITED.
We offer cheap (affordable), fast (swift) and reliable quality cargo services
that include Import, Export, Freight, Clearing/Customs
Duty Brokerage, Groupage Freight, Warehousing, Consolidation, Air Freight
Consolidation, Shipping Globally, Door to Door
Freight Shipping, etc.
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