Whether you’re about to check out from a shopping site and considering the cheaper sea shipping option or you’re an online seller considering the many options there are in fulfilling international orders, there are some important things you need to know before letting your products hit the high seas.
Check for insurance
Even if you opt for a third-party shipping service, the one thing you have to keep in mind is the safety of your shipment and the money you spent on it, even in the event of a loss or damage. Any vessel that handles shipment and transport goods should have P&I or protection and indemnity liability insurance. Even if you pay for your own items to be insured, knowing that the carrier has its own protection is a solid indicator of their ethics.
Because there are so many risks and environmental factors that can affect your cargo in transit, P&I covers damages or losses to the items. If a ship’s operation has this, you are more assured that you will be compensated for any unfortunate incidents involving your shipment. That is because they don’t have to pay out of pocket or suffer any deficit This insurance also protects the shipping company against losses and other unfortunate events that would otherwise have costly consequences.
With an insured shipment, you don’t have to bite your nails at any sign of delay or possible damage that will leave you with unusable goods.
Give it time
Sea shipments take longer than air, no matter how you spin it. Customs and international laws work differently for the two methods and even the way they transport goods varies. For those reasons, going the way of the water means you will save on shipping fees but end up having a longer waiting time.
If you need to get the items to their destination quicker, this simply is not the option for you. Make sure all parties involved are aware that it usually takes anywhere from a few weeks to over a month, with leeway for unforeseen delays, before a shipment is complete. Save anticipation and uncertainty by being clear with timelines beforehand, especially since tracking is not as speedy as with other post methods.
Know your cargo
Not all types of cargo can actually be on board a ship. This can be because of legal restrictions and even logistic reasons for the integrity of the products or items. Additionally, certain countries don’t allow international shipment of particular items, so be aware of these laws before opting to go for the sea.
On the other hand, there is also a multitude of things that can be easily transported via sea. You may be steering clear from this option simply because you mistakenly think it is not viable for the specific items you have in mind. Make sure you double-check and you just might have a convenient new option for product transportation. Shipment on water has been a constant choice for bulk cargo that involve items that would be too heavy to carry on an aircraft.
Overall, maritime transport has been a reliable method of sending things across the world. It’s a great option, as long as you are informed about the restrictions, requirements, and other important things involved in the process.
