What is an Ocean Carrier?
An ocean carrier is a large vessel used by businesses to transport goods via the sea. These vessels are capable of carrying different items, from large volumes of clothing material to chemicals. Ocean carriers are one of the cheapest modes of shipping, with the largest goods-carrying capacity.
Significance of an Ocean Carrier in E-commerce
An ocean carrier providing freight forwarding via sea has several significant benefits, making it a lucrative option for sellers to transport and deliver their orders. Some of the major advantages of an ocean carrier are:
- Economical: In comparison to air freight forwarding, ocean carriers offer exceptionally cheap shipping rates to transfer large bulk goods.
- Efficient: In most cases, an ocean carrier is the most efficient method of shipping. This is because, based on the volume of goods and the seller’s needs, they can choose an ocean carrier of the appropriate size or type.
- Safety: An ocean carrier is also a safe option, especially for transporting heavy or overweight goods. The ocean freight forwarding industry has better experience handling such goods, than air or on-road shipping facilities.
Prerequisites and How an Ocean Carrier Works
Broadly, there are three types of ocean carriers that operate differently. These three types are elaborated on below:
- Tankers: These ocean carriers are designed to carry oil, chemicals, or gasses. In most cases, tankers are a way of transporting petroleum products from one country’s border to another.
- Bulk carriers: Bulk carriers are used to carry goods like grains, sugar, metal ore, or even coal in bulk. These carriers can accommodate up to 80,000 dead-weight tons.
- Container ships: These ships are most commonly utilized for transporting stackable containers, ranging from 20 ft (6.09 m) equivalent units, filled with goods. Most commercial businesses utilize these ships to fulfill their orders.
Depending on the product requirements, companies can opt for suitable ocean carriers.
Use Case with an Ocean Carrier
Consider a company based in Australia that has to fulfill orders received from customers in the Philippines. To do so, the company hires a freight forwarder. The freight forwarder makes a contract with an appropriate shipping company and packs and delivers the goods to them in 20 ft (6.09 m) containers. Subsequently, the shipping company stacks the containers in ocean carriers and departs to deliver the goods to their final destination.