10 Facts about Ocean Freight Shipping

If you have ever stood along the banks of the ocean early in the morning, you have seen the many ocean freights and barges coming into the ports. They carry supplies that will build houses and buildings, feed people, and supply hospitals with medicine.

If you are like most people, you may not spend much time thinking about how ocean freight shipping works or what kind of products are shipped. However, there are a few facts about ocean shipping that the average person might find quite interesting.

1.   The Cost Can Vary Greatly

There are two shipping options for freight shipping on the ocean: Full Container Load and Less-than-Container Load. A full container load will use up every bit of container space. An LCL weighs less, so it is much less expensive.

2.   Pirates are Still a Big Threat

Although you may associate pirates and the swashbucklers who fowled them with the days of yore, there are still quite a few of them. The waters of Somalia are rife with pirates and they steal ships often.

3.   Maritime Workers Risk Their Lives

Each year about a dozen or so ships go missing, killing the crew aboard and leaving the product they carry at the bottom of the ocean.

4.   Most Maritime Workers are Men

Men still dominate the industry as women are often not informed of the opportunities. Most societies do not encourage women to pursue maritime careers. The majority of people who work on the boats are Filipino.

5.   You Can Live in a Container

Containers are 20 to 40 feet tall and they make great tiny homes. In Las Vegas, Nevada there is an entire shopping center comprised of old containers.

6.   Greece is a Major Hub for the Shipping Industry.

Businesses in this ancient Mediterranean country own more shipping fleets than any other country. There owned fleet value is just under 10 billion dollars.

7.   You Won’t Be Able to Text Your Favorite Sailor

In spite of years of technological advances, many ships do not have a way to communicate with people on land. You won’t find many cell phone towers at sea and you may not be able to get wi-fi out in the middle of the ocean.

8.   There is a Lot of Oil on the Water

Crude oil is the most common form of cargo on the high seas. The slippery stuff accounts for about a quarter of the products transported by cargo ships.

9.   There are Many Containers at Sea

At any given hour of the day or night, there are some 20 million containers on the ocean. The biggest ships can hold 11,000 containers.

10.  Ocean Freight Shipping is Very Affordable

Shipping a product by sea is still the cheapest way to transport it. Shipping a product by air can be five times as expensive as using ocean freight shipping.

If you are looking for an inexpensive way to ship your product, you may want to investigate ocean freight shipping. It may take a little more time, but you can pass your cost savings on to your customers and increase their satisfaction.

About 90% of the products in the world still get where they are going by boat. It is a tried and true method to get the things you need without breaking your budget.

Authoritative Sources:

https://downtowncontainerpark.com/