Welcome to the website of Elite Aria Jam Company, a provider of international transportation services. Stay with us until the end of the article to learn more about sea transportation.
What is sea transportation?
Maritime transportation includes the transportation and movement of goods and people via sea vessels such as cargo ships, boats, launches, etc. through water channels, oceans, seas, and lakes.
Goods transported by sea generally have a high tonnage. This method of transport usually takes a long time to reach its destination, and the lack of access to open waters in some countries makes this type of transport impossible. However, sea transport remains the most popular type of transport among other modes of transport and a large amount of world trade depends on this method of transport.
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History of maritime transport
Maritime transportation using boats, as well as passenger transport, has been practiced since 6,000 BC. Ancient Egyptians, Georgians, Vikings, Celts, Phoenicians, and Greeks were among the first peoples to use this method for their trade.
For centuries, commercial shipping did not extend beyond the banks of rivers, as the low-powered engines of the time were not capable of transporting large quantities of wood and coal. In addition, the small wooden ships that were designed for rivers and were powered by wind and later coal were not capable of traversing the great oceans and seas.
Later, when iron and steel were discovered, steamships and steel vessels replaced wooden barges, and the maritime shipping industry entered a new era of development.
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In the 18th century, we see an increase in the number of these types of vessels compared to wind-powered vessels, and to this day, the construction of steamships has continuously made significant progress.
For example, in 2008, Saudi Arabia purchased a special oil and gas ship to transport products such as natural gas and crude oil, which increased the transportation time by about 80%.
It should be noted that today the shipbuilding industry has advanced to such an extent that today’s models use nuclear fuel instead of fossil fuels.
Today, transportation via sea routes has advanced so much that most merchants and traders prefer to use this method to transport their goods across oceans and to the most distant parts of the world.
Types of sea freight
Shipping has undergone significant changes since ancient times, and as we get closer to today, this method of transportation has become more specialized and advanced. Below we will discuss the most important methods of sea transportation:
Cross-stuffing method of sea transportation of goods
Cross-stuffing refers to the transfer of cargo from one ship to another.
This method of transportation is used during times of sanctions or in small ports. Generally, large commercial ships carrying large amounts of goods cannot dock in small ports, which is why the cross-staffing method is used.
This means that the cargo ship docks at a port close to the destination and their goods are unloaded onto several small ships and shipped to the destination port.
This method is used in both import and export. In this method, one of the ships must have a crane so that it can transfer the loads to smaller ships without damaging them. This method is widely used for countries such as Iran, which is under pressure from international sanctions.
Shipping goods by sea in bulk
In sea transportation, there is a method that is specific to goods that do not have specific packaging and are sent to their destination in bulk.
In this method, special bulk cargo ships deliver these goods to their destination.
Groupage method of transporting goods
It is possible for transportation companies to transport different and similar goods from different senders as a single shipment and in a group packaging form to a single destination.
In such circumstances, the shipowner issues a group bill of lading for these identical goods. This type of transportation is called groupage.
Chartering method of transporting cargo by sea
The charter method means the full charter of the ship. This method is used when the ship’s cargo is large or the shipment does not have a specific packaging.
Inquiry about sea freight prices
The rate of cargo transportation via waterways (sea transit) depends on many factors: volume, weight, size, type of ship carrying the cargo, whether it is containerized, groupage, chartering, etc. Each of these can affect the price inquiry.
If you are a merchant or trader who wants to transport your cargo via waterways to your desired destination and needs to inquire about shipping prices, you must accurately inform the freight forwarding company of the following:
Type of cargo: What type of cargo do you want to transport via sea lines, refinery raw materials, crude fuel, food, etc. Each will have a different rate for you.
Cargo volume: What is the volume and weight of the cargo? If your cargo is bulk or medium-weight cargo, it will have a different price than a large-volume package cargo. You may only need a cargo container or, conversely, a large ship. That is why it is very important to determine the volume of the cargo.
To inquire about the price and cost of sea transportation, you should know that the volume and weight of the cargo are indicated by the abbreviations W and M.
- Specify the exact name of the place of loading of the goods EXW
- Specifying the exact location of the customs office of destination FOB
- Determining the exact location of cargo departure from the ship
- The volume, number, type, and weight of the goods being shipped, etc., are other important points that affect your freight shipping price inquiry.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of sea freight?
Sea transportation, like other transportation methods, has its advantages and disadvantages. Below we will try to point out some of its most important advantages and disadvantages:
Advantages of sea transportation:
- One of the most important advantages of sea transportation is its cost-effectiveness compared to other methods of transportation. For this reason, most traders and merchants prefer to transport their cargoes by sea, which has led to the highest volume of transit of goods by sea.
- Another advantage of sea transportation over other methods is the fixed freight rate. Of course, it should be said that the freight rate for open vessels is determined by agreement between the cargo owner and the shipping company.
- Another advantage of sea transport is the ability to carry large tonnage cargo. Large cargo ships can carry up to 500,000 tons, which is a great advantage for large merchants who need to transport large tonnage cargo.
- Sea transportation is one of the safest methods for moving heavy cargo. The safety and reliability factor in this method of transportation is very high. This is because the people who transport the cargo are responsible for fully complying with international standards and regulations for transportation on open waters. This method is known as one of the safest and most reliable methods of transportation.
Disadvantages of water transport:
- Perhaps the only disadvantage of water transportation is the long time it takes for goods to reach their destination compared to other methods (land, air). Most traders who are not time-sensitive choose sea transportation as the first option for transporting their goods.
- Other problems such as seasickness, the possibility of the ship’s crew and passengers contracting diseases common in tropical and humid regions, sudden changes in temperature, and variable weather conditions that affect passengers and crew can be considered other disadvantages of water transportation.
Sea Freight terms
In the remainder of this article, we will review specific terms in the field of maritime transportation so that the audience can become well acquainted with these terms.
- Forwarding: The coordination between two parties to transport goods is called forwarding activities. For example, coordination for receiving a bill of lading, signing a contract between the two parties, etc. Forwarding companies usually carry out these activities.
- Loading: The transfer of goods onto a ship means loading.
- Bill of Lading: A document issued by both parties to the cargo after receiving the goods, and it indicates the transportation of bulk cargo or the transportation of goods from origin to destination by various sea, land, and air methods.
- Bill of Lading Cargo Received: This term indicates that the goods have been received by the carrier but have not yet been loaded.
- Tranship Bill of Lading: One of the most important terms in the field of maritime transportation is “tranship.” The meaning of this term is that a cargo is to be transferred from one ship to another.
- Carrier: The institution or company that is responsible for transportation is called a carrier. One of the duties of a carrier company is to conclude a transportation contract and also issue a waybill.
- Delivery from ship: The term delivery from ship means that the cargo has been removed from the ship and delivered to one of the parties; customs, seller, or buyer.
- Delivery from the dock: Delivery of cargo from the dock to the seller.
- FES (Delivery Alongside Ship): This term means delivery of goods alongside the ship. Under this rule, the seller places the goods alongside the ship on a quay or barge. If we want to state the exact meaning of FES, it means that the buyer bears all the responsibilities and costs of possible damage or loss from the moment the goods are placed alongside the ship.
- FOB: FOB is a commonly used term in maritime transportation and means delivering the goods on board the ship. Once the cargo leaves the ship’s side, the seller has no obligation to the cargo.
- Safe: It means the value of insurance and freight. Any goods that are transported by sea must have insurance. Obtaining all permits related to goods insurance is the responsibility of the exporter. Sea cargoes generally have special insurance, which is called marine insurance.
- C&F: This term refers to the price range in ocean shipping, which means the value of the goods plus the freight. All sellers must pay the freight, but any damage to the goods in the meantime is the responsibility of the buyer.
Elite Aria Jam Shipping Company
Maritime Transportation is one of the most important forms of transportation around the world. For centuries, this method has helped humans deliver their cargo to other parts of the world.
Elite Aria Jam Shipping Company, with an official license from the Ports and Shipping Organization, is proud to provide all kinds of services needed by respected merchants and goods owners.
This company, using its expert and skilled staff, strives to provide a variety of services, from the moment of loading to the delivery of goods to the esteemed owners, at the best price and in the shortest time, using the safest methods of transportation via waterways, under precise and up-to-date management.
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Final points and conclusion
Sea transportation has been used for centuries as one of the best, safest, and cheapest methods of transportation.
Despite the passage of time and the invention of new methods of transportation, shipping has maintained its importance among all types of transportation methods, with an estimated 90 percent of international transportation taking place by waterways.
FAQs about Sea Freight
Maritime transportation includes the transportation and movement of goods and people via sea vessels such as cargo ships, boats, launches, etc. through water channels, oceans, seas, and lakes.
- Cross-stuffing method of sea transportation of goods
- BULK sea transportation of goods
- Transshipment is a method of transporting goods by sea.
- Method of maritime transportation of goods by chartering
- Groupage method of transporting goods
- Its cost-effectiveness compared to other methods of transportation.
- Possibility of carrying high tonnage loads.
- Fixed transportation fares.
- The safety and reliability factor in this method of transportation is very high.
- Water transportation takes a long time for goods to reach their destination compared to other methods.
- مشکلات دیگری از قبیل دریازدگی، احتمال ابتلای خدمه و مسافران کشتی به بیماری های شایع در مناطق گرمسیر و مرطوب، تغییر ناگهانی دما و شرایط آب و هوایی متغییر که بر روی مسافران و خدمه تاثیر میگذارد را می توان از دیگر معایب حمل و نقل آبی دانست.