Sea freight is the transport of goods by vessel, usually in containers (containerised freight) or as bulk and breakbulk cargo. It’s the default option for heavy, bulky, and non-urgent shipments.

When sea freight makes sense

• heavy or bulky cargo where air freight is uneconomical
• planned replenishment cycles and stock movements
• full container loads or consolidated shipments at scale

Key cost drivers

• port and terminal charges around the container movement
• delivery and empty return timing (for FCL)
• storage and time-based fees if cargo sits too long

Common mistakes

• comparing only the ocean rate and ignoring local charges
• late delivery planning that creates stacking fees
• choosing LCL without understanding destination handling layers