What Is Sea Freight? Ocean Freight Costs, Transit & FCL vs LCL
What Is Sea Freight?
Sea freight is the movement of cargo by ship across oceans, typically inside standardized shipping containers loaded at a port of origin and discharged at a port of destination. It is the dominant mode for international trade, handling roughly 80 percent of all global cargo by volume.
Most shippers and freight forwarders use "sea freight" and "ocean freight" interchangeably. They refer to the same service. The distinction is regional preference: "ocean freight" is more common in North America, "sea freight" in Europe and Asia. Both describe container or bulk vessel shipping between international ports.
Key Takeaways
- Sea freight and ocean freight are the same mode, just different regional names for international container shipping.
- Sea freight handles around 80 percent of global trade volume because nothing matches it on cost per kilogram.
- Transit times run 14 to 45 days port-to-port. Add 7 to 14 days on each end for inland legs and customs.
- FCL (Full Container Load) makes sense above ~15 m³ of cargo; LCL is cheaper below that threshold.
- Total landed cost is usually 1.5 to 2x the base ocean rate after surcharges, terminal handling, inland trucking, and duties.
Sea Freight vs. Ocean Freight: Are They the Same?
Yes. Sea freight and ocean freight are two names for the same mode of transport. A shipment quoted as "sea freight" is moved on the same container ships, by the same carriers (Maersk, MSC, CMA CGM, COSCO, Hapag-Lloyd, ONE), through the same ports as one quoted as "ocean freight."
The terms become more specific when paired with direction or service type:
- Sea freight import or ocean import: cargo moving INTO your country
- Sea freight export or ocean export: cargo moving OUT of your country
- FCL (Full Container Load): you have enough cargo to fill a 20-ft or 40-ft container
- LCL (Less than Container Load): your cargo shares container space with other shippers
How Does Sea Freight Work?
A typical sea freight shipment moves through eight stages, from booking to empty-container return:
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1Quote and bookingThe shipper or freight forwarder requests rates from carriers (or pulls them from a contract), books space on a vessel, and receives a booking confirmation with vessel name, voyage number, and cutoff dates.
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2Origin pickup and stuffingCargo is collected from the supplier, brought to a container freight station or the shipper's warehouse, and stuffed into the booked container.
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3Export documentationCommercial invoice, packing list, and the Bill of Lading are prepared. Customs export declaration is filed (AES for US exports).
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4Port delivery and loadingThe container is trucked or rail-shipped to the port of origin, gated in, and loaded onto the vessel before the cutoff time.
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5Ocean transitThe vessel sails the booked lane. Transit times depend on the route: 14 to 18 days China to US West Coast, 28 to 35 days Asia to US East Coast via Panama, 30 to 45 days Asia to Northern Europe.
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6Arrival and import clearanceThe vessel arrives at the destination port. Import customs filing (ISF, AMS, and entry) is completed. Duties and taxes are paid.
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7Container release and unstuffingThe consignee picks up the container, trucks it to a warehouse, and unloads it. If LCL, the cargo is deconsolidated at a destination container freight station first.
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8Empty-container returnThe empty container is returned to the carrier's depot. Demurrage and detention fees apply if storage or use exceeds the free time.
Who Is Involved in a Sea Freight Shipment?
Sea freight is a multi-party workflow. A single shipment typically involves:
- Shipper (exporter): the party sending the cargo
- Consignee (importer): the party receiving the cargo
- Carrier: the shipping line operating the vessel
- Freight forwarder: the intermediary booking space, handling documentation, and coordinating origin and destination logistics. See the full role explanation in the freight forwarder glossary.
- Customs broker: licensed to file customs entries on behalf of the importer (often part of the forwarder)
- Port and terminal operators: load, discharge, and store containers at each end
- Trucker or rail operator: moves the container between port and warehouse
What Can Be Shipped by Sea?
Sea freight handles almost any cargo that is not time-critical. Common categories:
- Dry cargo in containers: consumer goods, electronics, apparel, furniture, packaged food, machinery
- Bulk cargo: grain, coal, ore, cement (loaded loose into bulk carriers, not containers)
- Refrigerated cargo (reefer): fresh produce, pharmaceuticals, frozen meat and seafood
- Heavy lift and project cargo: wind turbines, generators, oversized industrial equipment
- Vehicles: shipped via roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) vessels or in containers
- Hazardous goods (DG): chemicals, lithium batteries, and other regulated cargo with IMDG classification
When to Choose Sea Freight Over Air Freight
Choose sea freight when cost matters more than speed. Choose air freight when speed matters more than cost.
| Factor | Sea Freight | Air Freight |
|---|---|---|
| Cost per kg | $0.10 to $0.50 | $2.00 to $8.00 |
| Transit time | 14 to 45 days port-to-port | 1 to 5 days airport-to-airport |
| Volume capacity | Very high (full containers, vessels) | Limited by aircraft hold |
| Cargo weight | Heavy and bulky welcomed | Volumetric weight penalizes large boxes |
| Best for | Planned replenishment, large volumes, low-value-per-kg goods | time-sensitive shipments, high-value goods, perishables |
Most international supply chains use both: sea freight for planned inventory replenishment and air freight to cover stockouts or launch shipments.
Sea Freight Transit Times
Transit time is port-to-port sailing time only. It excludes origin pickup, port cutoff times, customs clearance, and inland delivery, all of which add 7 to 14 days on each end.
| Route | Typical Port-to-port Transit |
|---|---|
| Shanghai to Los Angeles | 14 to 18 days |
| Shanghai to New York (via Panama) | 28 to 35 days |
| Shanghai to Rotterdam | 30 to 45 days |
| Ho Chi Minh City to Los Angeles | 16 to 22 days |
| Mumbai to New York | 32 to 40 days |
| Long Beach to Yokohama | 11 to 14 days |
Transit times vary by service, vessel speed, and port congestion. For deeper coverage of factors that move these numbers, see our guide to ocean freight transit times.
How Much Does Sea Freight Cost?
Sea freight rates are quoted per container (FCL) or per-cubic-meter (LCL). Five variables drive the final cost.
1. Base Ocean Freight Rate
The published rate per 20-ft (TEU) or 40-ft (FEU) container on a specific lane. As of 2026, indicative rates:
- Asia to US West Coast: $2,000 to $4,500 per 40-ft container
- Asia to US East Coast: $3,000 to $5,500 per 40-ft container
- Asia to Northern Europe: $2,500 to $5,000 per 40-ft container
Spot rates fluctuate weekly. Contract rates lock in a price for 6 to 12 months.
2. Surcharges
Bunker Adjustment Factor (BAF) for fuel, Currency Adjustment Factor (CAF), Peak Season Surcharge (PSS), and emergency surcharges (Suez transit, war risk) all stack on top of the base rate.
3. Origin and Destination Charges
Origin Terminal Handling Charge (OTHC), documentation fees, customs filing fees (AES at origin, ISF/AMS at destination), and Destination Terminal Handling Charge (DTHC).
4. Inland Costs
Trucking from supplier to port at origin. Trucking from port to consignee warehouse at destination. Drayage fees within the port area.
5. Risk and Compliance
Cargo insurance (0.3 to 0.7 percent of cargo value), customs duties and import taxes, and any demurrage or detention fees if free time at the port is exceeded.
The "cheap sea freight" search you might be running often refers to base ocean rates only. Total landed cost is usually 1.5 to 2x the base ocean rate once all five layers above are included.
Container Sizes and Capacity
Sea freight uses ISO-standardized containers. The most common types:
| Container | Internal Volume | Max Payload | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20-ft standard | ~33 m³ | ~28,000 kg | Dense cargo (machinery, ceramics) |
| 40-ft standard | ~67 m³ | ~28,800 kg | Most general cargo |
| 40-ft high cube | ~76 m³ | ~28,600 kg | Lightweight bulky goods (furniture, foam, apparel) |
| 20-ft / 40-ft reefer | ~28 / 59 m³ | ~27,400 / 27,700 kg | Refrigerated cargo |
| Flat rack / open top | Varies | Varies | Heavy lift, oversized cargo |
FCL vs. LCL: Which One Should You Use?
The choice between Full Container Load and Less than Container Load is driven by cargo volume and time tolerance.
Use FCL (Full Container Load) when you have at least 14 to 18 cubic meters of cargo, or when your goods are sensitive to handling. FCL containers are sealed at origin and opened only by the consignee, which reduces damage and theft risk. The breakeven point is typically around 15 m³, where below that LCL is cheaper, and above that FCL is cheaper per-cubic-meter.
Use LCL (Less than Container Load) when you have a smaller shipment, typically 2 to 15 cubic meters. LCL cargo is consolidated with other shippers' cargo at the origin container freight station and deconsolidated at destination. Transit times are 5 to 10 days longer than FCL due to consolidation steps, and per-cubic-meter rates are higher, but the absolute spend is lower because you pay only for the volume you ship.
Major Sea Freight Carriers
The top 10 carriers handle around 85 percent of global container capacity. As of 2026:
- MSC (Mediterranean Shipping Company)
- Maersk
- CMA CGM Group
- COSCO Shipping
- Hapag-Lloyd
- ONE (Ocean Network Express)
- Evergreen
- HMM
- Yang Ming
- ZIM
Most operate within three global alliances (2M, Ocean Alliance, THE Alliance) that share vessel capacity to give shippers more sailing options per lane.
How a Freight Forwarder Helps with Sea Freight
A freight forwarder is the operational layer between you and the carriers. Forwarders book vessel space, handle export and import documentation, coordinate trucking and customs at both ends, track the shipment, and reconcile the invoices. For an importer or exporter without an in-house logistics team, the forwarder is the single point of contact across what would otherwise be 5 to 10 separate vendors.
Modern freight forwarders run on cloud-based software that captures every shipment, document, and invoice in one workflow. GoFreight is purpose-built for this. The platform handles ocean import and export, AES and ISF filing, container tracking, customer portals, and accounting in one place. See Ocean Freight Management Software for the full feature breakdown.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between sea freight and ocean freight?
There is no operational difference. Sea freight and ocean freight are two names for the same mode of transport, used interchangeably across the industry. North American shippers tend to say "ocean freight" while European and Asian shippers tend to say "sea freight." Both describe container or bulk cargo shipping between international ports.
How long does sea freight take?
Port-to-port transit times range from 11 to 14 days on the shortest Pacific routes (Long Beach to Yokohama) to 30 to 45 days on long-haul lanes (Asia to Northern Europe). Add 7 to 14 days on each end for inland pickup, port cutoff, customs clearance, and final delivery. So a Shanghai to inland US shipment typically takes 30 to 40 days door-to-door.
How much does sea freight cost?
Base ocean rates for a 40-ft container in 2026 run $2,000 to $5,500 depending on the lane. Total landed cost is usually 1.5x to 2x the base rate once you add origin and destination terminal handling, customs filing, inland trucking, surcharges, and any duties or insurance. Spot rates change weekly; contract rates lock in a price for 6 to 12 months.
What is the difference between FCL and LCL in sea freight?
FCL (Full Container Load) means you ship a full 20-ft or 40-ft container exclusively for your own cargo. LCL (Less than Container Load) means your cargo shares container space with other shippers and is consolidated and deconsolidated at container freight stations. FCL is faster and lower-risk, while LCL is cheaper for shipments under roughly 15 cubic meters.
Is sea freight cheaper than air freight?
Yes, by a wide margin. Sea freight costs $0.10 to $0.50 per kilogram, while air freight costs $2.00 to $8.00 per kilogram. The tradeoff is time: sea freight takes weeks, air freight takes days. Most international supply chains use sea freight for planned replenishment and air freight only for time-critical or high-value shipments.
What documents are needed for sea freight shipping?
Core documents are the commercial invoice, packing list, and Bill of Lading. Most shipments also require a certificate of origin, an export declaration (such as AES in the US), and an import filing at destination (such as ISF and AMS for US imports). Hazardous cargo needs additional DG declarations. A freight forwarder typically prepares and files these documents on behalf of the shipper and consignee.
What is the largest sea freight carrier?
As of 2026, MSC (Mediterranean Shipping Company) is the largest container carrier by fleet capacity, narrowly ahead of Maersk. The top 10 carriers (MSC, Maersk, CMA CGM, COSCO, Hapag-Lloyd, ONE, Evergreen, HMM, Yang Ming, ZIM) together control about 85 percent of global container capacity.
Sea freight is a multi-party, multi-document, multi-week workflow. See how GoFreight runs all of it on one cloud platform.
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