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Sea Freight: A Full Guide to Ocean Shipping in 2025
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There is a high likelihood that you have once ordered something overseas, and it was delivered by ship. As a matter of fact, about 90 percent of international trade is labored by ocean shipping. It is a complete logistic process including to and from ports, to and from customs, freight forwarders, shipping lines, and delivery partners.
Sea freight is the most scalable and affordable option for shipping goods across borders, but it is hardly a speedy method.
In this guide, we are going to understand how sea freight works, what the advantages of it are, despite all the competition showing up in 2025, and what you should know before selecting it as a mode of transporting cargo.
What Is Sea Freight?
Sea freight, also known as ocean freight, is the international movement of goods by cargo ships, usually in containers.
How It Actually Works
Sea freight starts with your goods being packaged and prepared for shipment, usually in pallets or boxes. These are loaded into standardised containers, 20-foot (TEU) or 40-foot (FEU) metal boxes.
Each container can carry up to 28–30 tons, depending on the port and destination. Once packed, the containers are taken to a port terminal, where they’re loaded onto large cargo vessels operated by shipping lines like Maersk, MSC or COSCO.
The vessel travels across international waters along a set route (e.g. Shanghai to Long Beach, or Shenzhen to Vancouver). Transit times vary:
- China to US West Coast: ~15–20 days
- China to Europe: ~30–35 days
- Southeast Asia to Canada: ~20–25 days
When the ship arrives at the destination port, containers are unloaded, cleared through customs and either stored in a warehouse or delivered by truck or rail to the final address. In most cases, this is managed by a freight forwarder, a logistics company that handles the whole shipping process (like us at Dafey International Logistics).
Why Sea Freight Is Still Popular in 2025
Despite air freight and courier services have improved, sea freight is still unbeatable in cost per cubic meter, cargo volume and sustainability. You can move large, heavy and oversized items, like industrial parts, raw materials and machinery for a fraction of the cost of air freight.
It’s especially useful in global trade lanes such as:
- China → USA & Canada
- Vietnam → Europe
- India → Middle East or Africa
🟩For example, shipping 1,000 kg of consumer electronics by sea might cost $300–$500, compared to $3,000+ by air. That’s why sea freight is the default choice for importers, manufacturers and suppliers in automotive, furniture, construction, fashion and electronics.
Types of Sea Freight Services
Before you ship, it’s important to know which sea freight service fits your cargo best.
FCL – Full Container Load
FCL means you book an entire shipping container for your goods. You don’t share space with anyone else. This is the most secure and time-efficient option since your container is sealed at origin and opened only at the final destination.
FCL is ideal if:
- You’re shipping over 14–15 cubic meters of goods
- You want faster transit (no consolidation delays)
- You prefer more control and lower damage risk
🟩For example, if you’re a furniture wholesaler moving 10 pallets of products from Vietnam to California, FCL is more cost-efficient long-term.
LCL – Less than Container Load
LCL means your goods share container space with cargo from other shippers. You only pay for the volume you use, making this ideal for smaller shipments.
However, LCL comes with longer lead times because of:
- Cargo consolidation at origin
- Deconsolidation and sorting at destination
- Possible delays due to other shipments in the container
🟦Pro tip: It’s a good choice if you’re shipping 1–13 CBM (cubic meters) and want flexibility over price.
Ro-Ro – Roll-On/Roll-Off
Ro-Ro vessels are used for transporting wheeled cargo like cars, trucks, trailers, or machinery. The vehicles are rolled onto the ship’s deck and secured for the journey. This method avoids container loading altogether and is commonly used in automotive logistics.
Breakbulk and Project Cargo
When cargo is too large or heavy for containers, like wind turbines or industrial equipment, it’s shipped as breakbulk. These are loaded directly onto the ship and require special cranes, custom handling, and coordination.
Dafey International handles both LCL and FCL bookings regularly, but we also assist with breakbulk and Ro-Ro cases where needed. We’ll always advise what’s most efficient based on your cargo, timeline, and budget.
Key Steps in the Sea Freight Process
Understanding the full shipping journey helps you avoid surprises and plan better.
1. Booking the Shipment
You (or your freight forwarder) confirm container space with a shipping line. You’ll need to provide shipment details: cargo size, type, origin/destination ports, Incoterms, and delivery address.
2. Export Haulage
Goods are picked up and delivered from your supplier’s factory or warehouse to the origin port. This leg is often done by truck or rail.
3. Origin Handling & Customs Clearance
Once at port, containers are loaded, inspected, and cleared by export customs authorities. Your documents, like commercial invoice, packing list, and bill of lading, must be accurate.
4. Ocean Freight
The container is loaded onto a cargo ship. Transit time depends on the distance, weather, and routing.
5. Destination Handling & Import Customs
At the destination port, goods are unloaded and inspected by customs. You may have to pay import duties or provide licenses depending on the country.
6. Final Delivery (Import Haulage)
Finally, the cargo is delivered to the final recipient, either to a warehouse, fulfillment center, or your customer.
At Dafey, we specialize in door-to-door solutions, meaning we manage every single one of these steps so you don’t have to coordinate multiple vendors.
Pros and Cons of Sea Freight
Like any method, sea freight has its strengths and limitations. Here’s a realistic view:
Pros
- Cost-effective for large shipments
- High capacity (up to 26,000 kg per container)
- Lower carbon emissions than air freight
- Global coverage with thousands of trade lanes
- Safe for non-urgent, bulk, or fragile items
Cons
- Slower delivery times (2–6 weeks, depending on route)
- Weather-related delays possible
- Requires more documentation and customs coordination
- Not ideal for perishables or time-sensitive goods
🟦If your business can work with longer lead times, sea freight offers massive savings and scalability.
Sea Freight vs. Air Freight: What’s Better for You?
Here’s a breakdown to help you decide.
Feature | Sea Freight | Air Freight |
Transit Time | 2–6 weeks | 1–7 days |
Cost | Low for large cargo | Expensive (charged by weight/volume) |
Cargo Type | Heavy, bulky, non-urgent | Lightweight, high-value, urgent |
Environmental | Lower emissions | Higher emissions |
Documentation | Complex, more customs steps | Simpler in most cases |
🟦If you’re shipping items like gym equipment, construction tools, or seasonal stock, sea freight will usually be the better long-term option.
Final Thoughts
Sea freight remains a reliable, cost-efficient solution for global shipping, especially in 2025, when supply chains demand more flexibility and control. It might not be instant, but it delivers real results for the long haul.
Need guidance or a custom quote? Get in touch with Dafey International Logistics and let’s make your next ocean shipment smooth, affordable, and stress-free.
❓Frequently Asked Questions❓
What is sea freight?
Sea freight is the process of shipping goods over the ocean using large cargo vessels. It’s commonly used for international trade when moving bulk items, heavy products, or large quantities that aren’t time-sensitive.
What is the meaning of marine freight?
Marine freight is just another term for sea freight. It refers to transporting goods by ship through oceans or seas, usually in containers, as part of global import or export.
What do you call sea freight?
Sea freight is also known as ocean freight or marine shipping. All these terms mean the same thing: moving goods across water by cargo ships.
Why is sea freight so cheap?
Sea freight is cheaper because ships can carry thousands of containers at once, spreading the cost across many shipments. It also uses less fuel per unit than planes.
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