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(Non Vessel Operating Common Carrier)

A Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier (NVOCC) is an ocean carrier that transports goods under its own House Bill of Lading, or equivalent documentation, without operating ocean transportation vessels. Rather, an NVOCC leases space from another ocean carrier, or Vessel Operating Common Carrier (VOCC), that they sell to their own customers. An NVOCC can be described as a shipper to carriers and a carrier to shippers.

While NVOCCs do not usually own their own warehouses, many own their own fleet of containers. In certain circumstances, a NVOCC may also operate as a freight forwarder.

The most popular shipping method all over the world is the popular 20 foot long shipping container (20’ container). Shipping containers are the most efficient means of transport all over the world as they are designed to seamlessly transport between trucks, trailers, port handling equipment, shipping vessels and railheads. They exist is many variations to transport different size and shaped cargo.

• Dry Cargo Containers
• High Cube Container
• Reefer Containers
• Flat Rack Containers
• Open Top Containers

LCL shipping is a shipping method used for smaller cargo when the overall size of the goods for export is not big enough to fill a 20’ container. When LCL shipping is used, the goods are still loaded inside a 20’ shipping container and transported the exact same way but the goods are loaded inside a shared shipping container along with other party’s cargo to fill the container (a consolidated container). The freight cost is charged out depending on the overall product size or weight, the shipping rate will be charged out per cubic meter of cargo (m3) or per Metric Tonne (1,000kg) in weight, whichever is greater. There are more handling costs involved when shipping LCL cargo as pallets have to be loaded and unloaded more often, incurring more handling charges.

Freight forwarders help importers and exporters transport their goods in a safe, efficient and cost effective way. As well as moving cargoes Freight forwarders can organise customs clearance, and other forms of documentation required in international trade as well as marine insurance and supply chain management. A freight forwarder has specialist knowledge to prepare the types of documents required for moving goods via sea, road, rail or air as each mode of transport requires its own document of carriage:

• Air way bill (air freight)
• Bill of lading (sea freight)
• Bill of lading (sea freight)

Freight Collect and Freight Prepaid are common terms used in International Freight. It is very important to understand the difference, it is basically a statement of who will be paying for all the International freight charges. If you export your goods on ‘Freight Collect’ terms (EXW, FCA, FAS and FOB are all Freight Collect terms) that means that the importer (your buyer) will ‘collect’ and pay all of the freight charges on their side, you will not have to pay any freight at all. If you are the exporter and sell the goods on CFR, CIF, CPT, CIP, DAP, DPU or DDP terms, this means that you will pay for the freight charges (‘Freight Prepaid’ – you will pre-pay the freight charges). These are linked to the selling terms of your invoice, if you are selling your goods on ‘FOB’ terms (Free on Board) then you are only covering the costs to get the goods loaded on board the vessel. All charges thereafter will be charged to the receiver of the goods (consignee) – so it will be Freight Collect. These freight terms are stated on the Bill of Lading, the document issued by the shipping line or freight forwarder.

Breakbulk Cargo is not a very popular shipping method as it’s generally used for oversized cargo that can’t fit inside shipping containers. Any cargo that exceeds the length, height or weight restrictions of a 40′ container will be shipped by breakbulk cargo. Cargo is loaded on top of the deck of the vessel and has to be carefully loaded into place on the top of the deck by crane. Large machinery, boats and steel are examples of goods that are exported around the world by Breakbulk Cargo.

Unit Load Devices are specially designed cargo pallets and containers that are used to load freight, luggage and mail onto aircraft. These devices allow large quantities of cargo to be bundle and strapped together securely onto 1 mobile unit, so they can be safely and securely transported. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is responsible for publishing regulations around the use of Unit Load Devices. They can also be referred to as a 'cargo pallet' or a 'PMC pallet'.