What is Sea Freight and Maritime Transport?
Sea freight, also referred to as maritime transport, ocean freight, or ocean shipping, is the movement of goods by ship across seas and oceans. It’s the oldest and most widely used method for transporting large quantities of goods internationally, supporting around 80% of global trade by volume.
Sea freight is central to long-distance supply chains, enabling the movement of everything from bulk raw materials to finished consumer products. Its high capacity and relatively low cost per tonne make it the preferred mode for heavy, voluminous, or non-urgent cargo.
What Does Sea Freight Include?
Sea freight services typically cover the end-to-end handling of goods between ports, often as part of a wider logistics plan that includes inland transport. Common elements include:
✔️ Containerised shipping – Goods are packed into standard containers (20ft, 40ft, or high-cube) for secure, efficient handling.
✔️ Breakbulk and project cargo – Items too large for standard containers, such as machinery, vehicles, or construction materials, are shipped individually or on special platforms.
✔️ Roll-on/roll-off (Ro-Ro) – Used for vehicles and wheeled equipment that can be driven directly onto and off the vessel.
✔️ Bulk shipping – Transportation of unpackaged goods such as grain, coal, or crude oil in dedicated bulk carriers.
✔️ Port handling and storage – Loading, unloading, and temporary warehousing at origin and destination ports.
✔️ Customs clearance – Preparation of all necessary documentation to comply with import/export regulations.
Learn more about XPO’s end-to-end shipping
Types of Sea Freight Services
Sea freight can be organised in different ways depending on cargo volume, budget, and transit requirements:
- Full Container Load (FCL) – The shipper books an entire container, ideal for large shipments.
- Less than Container Load (LCL) – Multiple shippers share container space, paying only for the portion they use.
- Charter services – A vessel or part of a vessel is reserved for a specific customer’s needs.
- Short-sea shipping – Transport between nearby ports, often within a single region, as an alternative to road or rail.
Advantages of Sea Freight / Maritime Transport
✅ Cost efficiency
Sea freight offers the lowest cost per tonne-kilometre for long-distance, high-volume cargo.
✅ Capacity for large volumes
Ships can carry vast amounts of goods in one voyage, including oversized and heavy cargo.
✅ Versatility
A wide range of cargo types – perishable, hazardous, breakbulk – can be accommodated with the right vessel and handling.
✅ Global reach
An extensive network of shipping lanes connects major ports worldwide.
✅ Environmental performance per tonne
Although total emissions are high, sea freight generally has a lower carbon footprint per tonne than air freight.
Considerations and Limitations
While sea freight is essential for global trade, it has some limitations:
- Longer transit times compared to air freight – often weeks rather than days.
- Weather and port congestion can cause delays.
- Complex documentation is required for customs and international regulations.
- Environmental regulations – operators must comply with strict rules on emissions, ballast water management, and waste handling.
The Sea Freight Process – Step by Step
- Booking and planning
Cargo space is reserved, and the shipping schedule is agreed. - Container loading and preparation
Goods are packed, sealed, and transported to the port. - Port handling and customs export clearance
Containers are loaded onto the vessel after meeting all export requirements. - Ocean transit
The vessel travels to the destination port, often via trans-shipment points. - Arrival and import clearance
Customs checks are completed, and duties or taxes are paid. - Unloading and inland transport
Goods are transferred to trucks or trains for delivery to their final destination.
Industry Applications
Sea freight is used across almost every sector:
✔️ Automotive – Shipping finished vehicles and components to global assembly plants.
✔️ Retail and e-commerce – Moving high volumes of consumer goods from manufacturing hubs to distribution centres.
✔️ Energy and chemicals – Transporting fuels, chemicals, and raw materials in bulk tankers.
✔️ Food and beverage – Shipping non-perishable goods, or refrigerated products in temperature-controlled containers.
✔️ Construction and engineering – Delivering oversized machinery, steel, and building materials to project sites.
Sea freight (maritime transport / ocean freight) is a cost-effective, versatile, and high-capacity mode for moving goods internationally. While slower than air transport, its ability to carry vast quantities of cargo makes it the backbone of global trade. With containerisation, bulk shipping, and specialised vessel types, it serves almost every industry, connecting economies and enabling the flow of goods across the world’s oceans.