If you need to move your items overseas, you are probably wondering about the exact weight and packing regulations for sea cargo. How much is too much? What type of container do you need? Is sea freight even safe? And which regulations do you need to follow? In any case, hiring professional packers and movers in Saudi Arabia will solve all your problems. Still, if you need to know more, read our article below and find basic info about this topic.
What are the weight and packing regulations for sea cargo?
When talking about weight and packing regulations for sea cargo, we will give you some basic, general info. This is why you still need to check about regulations with your preferred transporter, such as sea cargo Riyadh. As an experienced company, they will have all the answers and know what are regulations for your exact shipment. Every shipment is different and your case may not be the same as others.
For example, sea cargo is best for larger number of packages or smaller size relocation. You can put up from 1 m3 to 6 m3 in one container, and one cube meter is 170 kilograms. Also, it’s not the same if you need to ship equipment for events and sending medical equipment. You may need special containers with thermal isolation. Once your container is at the terminal, you will still need to pay for local fees. Again, it’s best to check with your sea freight company as they will know more about the exact regulations for weight and packaging when it comes to sea cargo.
Here is how the whole process may look like:
However, these are not the exact steps when it comes to shipping sea cargo, so always check with your transporting company:
- You indicate the weight of your cargo and give it to a shipping company that will make the booking of your goods.
- Shipper provide packing or crating services and sends your goods to the container terminal
- Terminal checks the weight data and put any updates in their system
- This is the key info to prepare your goods and ship it further
- The shipper sends the bill of lading instructions to the shipping line and indicates the weight of the goods. This may or may not be the exact number you calculated.
- Shipping line allows up to 2 tons per unit on the weight variation. If they notice any major difference in the weight, they will notify the shipper or the client. At this point, you may get some penalties for larger volume than you indicated.
Weight regulations
As weight regulations may vary, it’s best to hire professional help for any logistic service you need. In general, you use cargo transport unit (also known as CTU) to transport your goods. This type of unit usually can hold up to 30 tons of weight. If you are interested to know just how much can one ship holds, it can be up to 30000 tons of cargo. This means that a ship can have about 1000 cargo units on it.
Packing regulations
If you need to know the exact packing regulation for sea cargo, first know that it’s you responsibility to pack the goods in a proper way. If you pack according to regulations, your goods are going to arrive safely to your desired destination. This means not putting any dangerous goods in the container. It also means that you need to seal carton boxes and learn a proper way to use the pallet. You may want to find a way to best put goods on pallet so you save space and money.
Choose the right type of container
If you worry about weight and packing regulations, know that you will solve most of your issues by simply choosing the right type of cargo unit. There are different types of goods and accordingly, different types of containers. Once you find the right unit size for your unit, you probably won’t go wrong with the weight. For example, 20′ units are there to carry more volume like machines, manufacturing materials (like cement and steel). On the other side, 40′ units carry more lightweight so you can put furniture, paper, cotton, and tobacco here.
Additional info for units
Containers should be in good condition to safely carry your goods. If not, your goods can be damaged or lost. For example, your unit should be clean and without any holes. There should also be no gaps and you will probably need a lock. The floor should not have any stains or be broken in any way. Always double-check everything before you pack and ship your goods.
Choose your shipping company wisely
When choosing a reliable shipping partner, do your research well. This means that you choose a reputable shipping company that will know all about weight and packing regulations. The right company will know everything about proper packing and crating for any type of goods. They will also have well-maintained warehousing facilities that can safe-guard and are suitable for all types of cargo. For example, packing up to 30 units per day to different destinations can be challenging, but the right type of company will know what to do.
Prepare your documentation
This is the crucial point in sending any goods as sea cargo. If you are not sure which type of documentation do you need, again, check with your shipping company. In any case, always check legal regulations for sea cargo. We wish you good luck!
