Sea freight
Description
Move containers and consolidated cargo on the lanes that matter: USA, Europe, Canada, Far East, and the Middle East. Choose FCL or LCL, port-to-port or door-to-door, with factory stuffing, multimodal options, and coverage at seaports and dry ports. Progress stays visible with order follow-up and supply-chain tracking, plus supervision from pickup to final delivery. Share origin and destination—get the best sea option.
Glossary
Term | Definition |
FCL (Full Container Load) | One shipper books the entire container—sealed at origin, opened at destination. |
LCL (Less than Container Load) | Cargo from multiple shippers shares one container; cost-effective for smaller volumes. |
TEU (Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit) | Standard container measurement—one 20-ft container = 1 TEU; one 40-ft = 2 TEU. |
B/L (Bill of Lading) | The shipping contract, cargo receipt, and title document—needed to collect goods at destination. |
Demurrage | Port charge for keeping a container inside the terminal beyond free time allowance. |
Detention | Charge for holding a container outside the port (e.g., at your warehouse) beyond free time. |
Free Time | Days allowed to use the container or terminal space before demurrage or detention charges begin. |
CFS (Container Freight Station) | Warehouse where LCL cargo is consolidated or deconsolidated before/after vessel loading. |
NVOCC (Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier) | A freight forwarder that issues its own bills of lading but doesn’t own ships. |
Transshipment | Cargo transferred from one vessel to another at an intermediate port en route to final destination. |
THC (Terminal Handling Charges) | Port fees for moving containers between the vessel and the terminal yard. |
BAF / CAF | Bunker Adjustment Factor (fuel surcharge) and Currency Adjustment Factor (exchange-rate surcharge). |
Ports, timing, and hidden charges—decoded.
Egypt’s main gateways are Alexandria, Port Said, Damietta, and Ain Sokhna—each serves different hinterlands and shipping lines. Suez Canal transit cuts Asia-Europe voyages by roughly 10 days versus the Cape route, keeping Egypt central to global lanes. Free time at port is typically 7–14 days; after that, demurrage (container) and detention (chassis) charges stack daily. FCL makes sense above 12–15 CBM; below that, LCL consolidation usually wins on cost. Confirm container availability early—equipment shortages spike after Chinese New Year and during Q4 export surges. Tip: Request “carrier haulage” quotes alongside “merchant haulage” to compare total landed cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
FCL is usually better above 12–15 CBM or when you want a sealed container; LCL suits smaller volumes that can share space with other cargo.
For regular flows, 1–2 weeks ahead is typical; during peak seasons (pre-Ramadan, back-to-school, Q4) 3–4 weeks is safer to secure space and equipment.
Demurrage is charged for keeping containers inside the port too long; detention applies when you hold containers outside the port—planning deliveries and returns within free time avoids both.
Yes—we can combine ocean freight with trucking, customs clearance, and, where needed, warehousing at origin and destination for true door-to-door moves.
We work mainly with Alexandria, Port Said, Damietta, and Ain Sokhna, choosing the port based on the trade lane, vessel schedules, and your inland destination.