Sea freight accounts for a substantial market share in freight activities. More than 80% of commercial goods are transported by sea. It plays a vital role in the Logistics chain. Especially, Vietnam has a long coastline with many critical maritime routes; sea transportation plays an even more important role in promoting import and export.

Why should you choose sea freight?

Sea freight can carry all kinds of goods, including bulky machinery, and construction materials.

Large carrying capacity. The volume of shipping by ship can be hundreds or even thousands of times more than shipping by air.

Shipping by sea is not restricted like other means of transportation. The problem of collision during transport is also limited, so the level of cargo safety is relatively high.

Low shipping charges. Sea transport is the top priority when transporting goods between countries. Because large volumes of goods can be transported, transportation costs are reduced.

Facilitate economic exchanges between countries around the world.

Items shipped by sea

– Production materials: iron, steel, purlin, scrap, chemicals, factory equipment

– Consumer goods such as food, feed, necessities, and agricultural products.

– Construction materials, industrial machinery, and equipment

– All kinds of canned goods, shoes, clothes, toys

– Minerals: coal, ore, sand.

– Goods with unique properties, perishable

– Bulky goods

Sea shipping process

Step 1: Set a train schedule

After reaching an agreement on transportation costs, the shipping line will confirm that the charterer has booked a seat on the ship. Information required to reserve a train schedule includes:

– Information about port of departure, port of destination, and port of transshipment (if any).

– Name of goods, the weight of goods.

– The time the train will start to depart.

– Closing time

– Other requirements such as type of container, number of containers, size, ventilation, temperature

Step 2: Close the goods

Supervising and tracking the packaging of goods will be the exporter’s or agent’s responsibility. The information needs to be updated from the exporter, such as photos of empty containers, interests, and the temperature table for frozen products. Then take the goods to the container yard at the port.

Step 3: Confirm documents and records related to the shipment

Checking documents and records of shipments is an important job. Check carefully if the information is correct or not. Just one small mistake, and you will have big trouble with the customs or state agencies.

Step 4: Do export customs procedures

After being transported to the port, enterprises must prepare relevant documents to carry out customs procedures. Some specific items will need to apply for an export license, and fumigation.

If you need to know the customs procedure, businesses can hire a 3rd party to do customs declaration services to save time.

Step 5: Inform the goods to arrive

At least one day before the ship docks, the importer will receive a notice of arrival from the agent or shipping line. Notify the estimated arrival time of the shipment with accompanying information: name of the importer and exporter, container number, seal, ship name, number of trips, warehouse or place of storage waiting for customs clearance, and fees to be paid. …

The importer will proceed to get the delivery order, including documents such as the introduction paper, original bill, and power of attorney. Depending on the type of goods, there are different required permits. The importer needs to register the certificates related to the shipment to facilitate the customs clearance process.

Step 6: Declare import customs

Enterprises can open an electronic customs declaration even if the goods have come at the port. After the goods arrive at the port, customs clearance can be carried out. To conduct customs declaration for imported goods, enterprises need to prepare documents such as:

– Contract

– Commercial invoice

– Packing slips

– Bill of lading

– Certificate of origin of goods

– Import license

For some goods, enterprises must have some required documents and bring the goods to check product quality. After being inspected and granted a certificate of publication of regulation conformity, the new consignment will be cleared for customs clearance.

Step 7: Open customs clearance, liquidate declarations

Goods will be divided into different streams for customs clearance

Green creek: importers only need to pay tax, print barcodes to receive goods, and liquidate declarations.

Golden stream: businesses must pay tax before or after completing the procedures for opening declarations, liquidating, and receiving goods.

Red stream: Enterprises must conduct goods inspection procedures before opening the declaration. Then liquidate the order and receive the goods.

After completing the tax payment and the declaration is cleared, the enterprise submits the barcode and the removed statement to the supervising customs (submit at least two sets). Customs will stamp and return 1 set to the business.

Step 8: Unloading

After completing customs procedures, the goods are transported to the warehouse. Enterprises go to the port’s trade office to pay fees. Then transport the goods to the warehouse of the importer. If it is FCL goods, unloading the goods from the container and returning the empty container to the port is necessary.

With many years of experience and professional staff, Fin Logistics provides the most cost-effective and efficient ocean transportation service. Contact us now for a free consultation.