📄️ Introduction
Comprehensive guide to ocean freight - the backbone of global trade, covering containers, documentation, port operations, and international shipping.
📄️ Bill of Lading
The Bill of Lading (B/L) is the single most important document in ocean shipping. It serves three critical functions simultaneously: as a receipt for goods shipped, as evidence of the contract of carriage, and as a document of title that controls who can claim the cargo at destination. Understanding the different types of Bills of Lading and their legal implications is essential for anyone involved in international trade.
📄️ Container Types
Standardized shipping containers are the foundation of modern global trade, enabling goods to move seamlessly between vessels, trucks, and rail cars without repackaging. Since their widespread adoption in the 1960s — pioneered by Malcolm McLean — containers have reduced cargo handling costs by an estimated 90% and dramatically shortened transit times. Choosing the correct container type for a given commodity is a fundamental decision in ocean freight logistics.
📄️ Incoterms
Incoterms (International Commercial Terms) are a set of 11 standardized trade rules published by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) that define the responsibilities of buyers and sellers in international transactions. They determine who pays for shipping, insurance, and duties, and at what point the risk of loss transfers from seller to buyer. The current edition — Incoterms® 2020 — took effect on January 1, 2020.
📄️ Port Operations
Understand how container terminals work — from vessel berthing and crane operations to gate procedures, yard management, and terminal operating systems.
📄️ Ocean Freight Rates
Learn how ocean freight rates are structured, from base rates and surcharges to contract vs spot pricing, and the factors that drive rate fluctuations.
📄️ Demurrage & Detention
Learn the difference between demurrage and detention charges in ocean freight, how free time works, how charges are calculated, and strategies to minimize costs.