International Container Shipping Company Answers 8 Common Questions About Container Shipping by Sea

March 4, 2013 - PRLog -- Louisville, KY. If you are moving overseas and want to ship household goods to your new destination or are interested in shipping a considerable amount of personal items, household goods, a vehicle or commercial cargo abroad, container shipping is an affordable and efficient type of international transport.  Cargo Experts at www.cargo-experts.net provides excellent container shipping services to and from the USA to destinations across the globe.

Before obtaining international container shipping services, you may be interested in receiving a free estimate for your cargo shipment. For a free cargo shipping quote, see: http://www.cargoshippingexperts.com .

Interested in learning more about what is involved in international container shipping? Here are answers to some 8 common questions about what is involved in shipping a container overseas.  

1. What exactly is a Shipping Container?  A shipping container is a steel container that is the body of a truck trailer. The shipping container is unloaded from the chassis and loaded onto a container ship for international container shipping.

2. How much time should I plan in advance before shipping a container overseas? As with many services like airline bookings or hotel reservations, planning in advance before international container shipping is advisable. At a minimum, you should allow for at least two weeks’ notice before international container shipping. The amount of time is also contingent on your location and final destination.

3. Is there insurance that covers international cargo when container shipping? Yes, there are insurance policies you can purchase before international container shipping. An experienced cargo shipping agency will help you with all of your insurance coverage needs.

4. Can I keep track of my international container shipping while it is shipping overseas? Some cargo shipping companies have special tools that allow customers to track container shipments online during the shipping process.

5. Are there any items that I should not plan to ship if I am shipping a container overseas? Yes, there are certainly some items that should not be put in a shipping container. Some of this also depends on the origination and final destination of your shipment. In general, though, you should not ship the following items:

• Plants or seeds that are live (rules and regulations on plants and seeds vary by country)
• Fire arms (there are many strict rules about fire arms and licensure is often required)
• Flammable, toxic or hazardous materials
• Alcohol
• Spray cans that are pressurized
• Jewelry and other small valuables
• Important/original paperwork and documentation including financial paperwork, birth certificates, family papers, etc.
• Open bottles that have liquids and other contents
• Fresh foods and other highly perishable items unless in proper type of shipping container like a refrigerated container

6. What Size Cargo Shipping Container Do I Need? When it comes to container shipping, there are different sizes of containers. Depending on the amount of items that you are shipping, you may need a 20 foot or 40 foot container. A 20 ft. container holds up to 1050 cubic feet.  A larger container like a 40 foot container holds up to 2,200 cubic feet. An experienced cargo shipping company can help you estimate the size of the cargo container that you need for international container shipping.

7. What Qualifications Should I look for in an International Cargo Shipping Company? It is advisable that you seek out a professional cargo shipping company with experiencing container shipping all over the world. Find out if they are bonded and insured. You may also want to know whether they are licensed with the United States Federal Maritime Commission (FMC).  

8. What types of documentation will I be required to have before international container shipping?  The documentation required for international container shipping is in part contingent on the origination and final destination of your shipment. A qualified cargo shipping company like Cargo Experts at http://www.cargo-experts.net/about.aspx can guide you through this process in terms of the required documentation for your container shipment. There are some documents that are commonly required and this includes passport information for the person sending the container shipment, a bill of lading and the declared value inventory. Required paperwork also varies depending upon what you are shipping overseas. For example, if you need international car shipping, common documentation includes driver's license information, registration certificates, purchase invoices, and more.

There are a number of things to consider when seeking international container shipping services. A qualified container shipping company like Cargo Experts can help guide you through every step of this process. This includes providing you with all of the necessary assistance to safely pack, crate and ship your cargo door to door from your point of origin to your final destination. Call 1-866-994-7822 for more information or go to www.cargo-experts.net for a free freight quote.