Ocean cargo ship being loaded with sea freight containers

Sea Freight Services

We’re here to make your global ocean freight move around the world with ease. Optimize your ocean shipping by accessing more capacity and competitive rates through our major ocean shipping alliances.

  • Secure capacity even in tight markets with the #1 NVOCC between the United States and Oceania
  • Plan for fluctuating market demand and stay agile. Trust our ocean freight experts who will troubleshoot in real time, across time zones
  • Reduce your need for multiple providers with our global suite of services—from ocean, air, and customs to surface transportation
Global Solutions

Ocean Freight Solutions

Get the right ocean service for your business, even within short timelines and tight budgets. Our experts analyze your freight characteristics in the context of current market conditions and help improve your strategy.

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Full Container Load (FCL)

Full Container Load (FCL)

Move your FCL ocean freight reliably and cost-efficiently—we’ll help tailor the movement of your goods for maximum speed.

Less than Container Load (LCL)

Less than Container Load (LCL)

For your smaller freight shipments, leverage our LCL services and scheduled departures from all major ports to ensure your LCL sea freight deadlines are met.

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Expedited LCL

Expedited LCL

Achieve the perfect balance between cost and speed—even when your freight doesn’t fill a container. Expedited LCL offers consistency, reliability and speed without the price of air freight.

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Drayage

Drayage

Reduce your ocean freight costs and keep your ocean shipments moving. Streamline processes with our drayage services that bridge the gap between ocean, customs, and inland transportation. Work with a single provider skilled in marine drayage capacity management to improve handoffs between parties and get your ocean freight delivered.

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Buyer's Consolidation

Buyer's Consolidation

Reduce your costs and increase your capacity options—we’ll combine and palletize your cargo with different manufacturers and load it into dedicated full-load containers.

Expedited FCL Services TAWB

Expedited FCL Services TAWB

Quickly move your freight along the Trans-Atlantic Westbound (TAWB) trade lane—from any major port in Europe to the United States. Combat delays with more capacity options and leverage transload and direct delivery services.

Expedited FCL Services TPEB

Expedited FCL Services TPEB

Deliver your time sensitive cargo from Asia to the United States via one of the fastest ocean services. Then, save even more time with transload and direct delivery services out of any U.S. port.

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Coastal Shipping

Coastal Shipping

Save up to 60% from your transportation budget with domestic coastal shipping in Australia. It’s your natural choice over air, road, and rail service.

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Customs Brokerage

Customs Brokerage

Integrate your ocean delivery with customs brokerage services to efficiently clear your sea freight through customs. Work with our Trusted Advisor® experts to get assistance calculating taxes and duties, classifying goods and ensuring compliance.

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Trade Policy Consulting

Trade Policy Consulting

Work with our Trusted Advisor experts to help calculate taxes and duties, assist in classifying goods and conduct risk assessments—so you’re compliant with changing laws and regulations.

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Marine Cargo Insurance

Marine Cargo Insurance

Protect the value of your ocean shipments with all-risk cargo insurance. Explore your policy choices—including transactional coverage and annual policies—to ensure your coverage matches your exposure risk.

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Ocean shipment at sea with full container and less than container loads

Enhance your international freight strategy

In 2021 our experts moved the most cargo between the United States and Oceania, which is why C.H. Robinson is the #1 NVOCC in this lane. Take advantage of our experience, data, and scale to ship your international freight with ease.

Smooth sailing for your global ocean freight

Stay agile—no matter what the market has in store—with our expansive ocean capacity offerings and competitive rates.

As a leading NVOCC, our information advantage and full suite of logistics solutions deliver the real-time support and solutions your supply chain deserves.

Whether you have enough freight to fill an ocean container or only want to pay for the space you use, our full container load (FCL) and less than container load (LCL) solutions can cover all the angles.

Frequently asked questions

Overview

Q: What is sea freight delivery?

Sea freight delivery is the process of transporting containerised cargo over the ocean via carrier delivery lines.

Q: What are the benefits of sea freight delivery?

Sea freight delivery is typically more cost-effective than other methods of cargo transportation.

Q: Is sea freight a sustainable mode of transport?

Sea freight services are a more sustainable mode of transport. Ocean transport emits only a fraction of the CO2 per tonne kilometre of a truck, train or aeroplane.

Sea service options

Q: What is FCL delivery?

Full container load (FCL) delivery is a term used to describe goods transported in a 20' or 40' sealed container that is not shared with other consignees. This option is common for large-volume deliveries and results in significantly less handling compared to LCL deliveries.

Q: What is LCL delivery?

Less than container load (LCL) delivery is a term used to describe multiple consignees’ goods loaded into the same container. Between the group of shippers, they make up a full container and each shipper only pays for the space they use. This option allows businesses to take advantage of the low cost of ocean delivery without requiring high volume.

Q: What is FAK delivery?

Freight of all kinds (FAK) is a pricing strategy used when multiple products with different classes are transported as a single freight rate. This option allows a single shipper to take advantage of filling a sealed container with various goods.

Q: What is a buyer consolidation service?

Buyer consolidation or freight consolidation services groups a delivery from multiple suppliers at a single origin to create one larger delivery. This option allows a business to transport multiple goods with the aim of reducing costs in the overall supply chain.

Q: What is coastal delivery?

Coastal delivery is an alternative to road and rail delivery when moving goods from the east coast to the west coast of Australia. The service uses empty containers as they make their way around Australia on return to origin for a reliable, cost-efficient delivery solution.

Pricing and sizing

Q: How is pricing determined for LCL freight services?

The cost of an LCL freight delivery is calculated based on the actual volume or the space that the delivery occupies in a shared delivery container.

Q: Is ocean freight service cheaper than other delivery methods?

Ocean freight services are widely known to be a cost-effective solution when compared to other forms of cargo transportation.

Q: What size containers are there and how much can fit in each?

Buyers are encouraged to understand universal container sizes and how much can fit in each when assessing their delivery strategy. While there are a variety of sizes and capacity, measured in cubic metres (CBM), options, the following are most common:

  • 20-feet container with a capacity of 33.2 CBM
  • 40 foot-container with a capacity of 67.6 CBM
  • 40-feet-high cube with a capacity of 76.4 CBM

Q: Is there a weight limit to containers?

Yes. There is a weight limit to containers. The max gross weight for 20', 40' and 40' cube containers is 30,480 kg or 67,197 pounds.

Products

Q: Can I deliver small parcels via sea freight?

Ocean service is ideal for containerised cargo on pallets rather than small parcels. Consider other modes of transport for delivery consisting of individual parcels.

Q: Can I deliver large machines or equipment that does not fit into a container via ocean freight services?

Out of gauge cargo like large machines can be transported via ocean freight services when using open top and flat rack containers. The speciality containers are available in 20' and 40' lengths. They are designed to hold items that must be loaded by crane or that are too tall to fit in a standard container.

Q: Are there hazardous restrictions when delivering sea freight?

There are no restrictions when transporting hazardous goods via sea freight delivery. However, it is important to ensure all requirements for the handling and transporting of hazardous goods are met to protect against risks in the event of an accident.

Get the latest global freight forwarding and market insights

Stay up to date with market changes that impact air and ocean capacity at the trade lane level—everything you need to navigate global shipping.

Evolving our global freight services to meet your needs

Supply chains are growing in complexity and moving faster than ever. Due to the nature of our fast-paced industry, there is a continuous need for additional services. Over the years, we have remained committed to expanding our global network in exciting new ways—including strategic acquisitions—that align with your changing needs.

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