Container shipping Hamburg to Chicago

Are you interested in a way to ship a container from Hamburg to Chicago (USCHI)? Sea freight is very practical: you can ship heavy cargo for a good price, it’s convenient much more environmental friendly than air freight. Exporting a container overseas with dry bulk or equipment can be done via e.g. Zhonggu Logistics Corporation. There are and a wide range of container types. There is made a difference between a full container just for your freight (FCL) and (LCL) Less Container Load. Via our portal you will find up-to-date information with a view to international transport Chicago (US CHI). We share knowledge and useful information about the various sea container types. For this we offer a step-by-step plan for starting exporters. Share your cargo and transport wishes and you will get a competitive quote with extensive pricing details.

Ocean shipping is a good, safe and low cost-way to transport large and heavy loads.
Compared to air transport, it is cheaper and there are less restrictions.
Sea freight provides services for worldwide relocations and exporting roll on/roll off or cars.
The Port of Chicago is an important hub in United States.
You can choose from many types and sizes of containers: 20 foot, 40 foot and Dry Van, Flat Rack, Hard-Top, Refrigerated, Ventilated, Open-Top containers.

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Index

Shipping to Chicago (USCHI) from Hamburg (DEHAM)

Ocean freight shipping is the most economical mode of global transportation. Your goods are transferred in shipping containers. The freight forwarder (the middleman) will book a container. A truck transports the cargo to the shipping vessel at the port of Chicago (US CHI), and will be shipped over the ocean to the agent at the arrival port. They offer solutions like port-to-port, door-to-port, port-to-door or door-to-door. In the next section you will find some basic data of the port of destination.

Port of departure	Port of Hamburg (DEHAM)
Country of departure	Germany
Port of destination	Port of Chicago
Country of destination	United States
Port Code	USCHI
Transport Time	+/- 29 days
Shipping costs	$$$$
Port address	3600 East 95th Street Chicago, IL 60617 United States
Mail	info@theportofchicago.com
Website	www.iipd.com
Phone number	773-646-4400

Freight Forwarder Hamburg – port of Chicago

Details of your shipping
Enter the departure port and destination of shipment. Also indicate whether you choose (FCL) full containers or LCL (Less than Container Load). Also choose the dimensions of the container (20 ft, 40 ft of 40 ft high cube).
Loading the freight
Firstly, your load need to be prepared in the right way. To avoid damage, we advise you to use pallets. Your load also need to be labelled in the right way.
Customs Documentation for Exporters
When you import goods from Chicago (USCHI), you should organize relevant export documents (for correct national customs papers): packing list, packing declaration, commercial invoice, bill of lading, certificates of origin. A Bill of Lading is a standard-form document issued by a Carrier to a Shipper, to acknowledge that they have received the goods and that everything is ready to ship.
Find your incoterms
Incoterms are suitable terms in the transport-market to define obligations, costs, and risks involved in the delivery of goods. The agreed Incoterm determines who is responsible for e.g transport, insurance and duty related matters. Frequently used incoterms are Delivery Duty Paid (DDP), Ex Works (EXW), Free On Board (FOB).
Ship Live Tracking
Use cargo and container tracking to see where your container is at this moment. You can see exactly when the ship is departed from Port of Loading, arrived at Port of Destination (POD) and when the cargo has reached its final destination.

Sea freight from Chicago (USCHI) to Hamburg (DEHAM): find a suitable container

You want to export goods and ship a container from port of Chicago – (US CHI) to port of Hamburg – (DE HAM)? Make sure you rent a suitable container. There are smaller and bigger boxes (20ft & 40ft) and all kind of container conditions (LCL shipping or FCL shipping). Several major international shipping lines operate here. The port has a good connection with surrounding cities. In the paragraph below you will find extensive information and advice about the most common sizes and types. You may also like: Ocean Freight.

Specifications of a 20 foot container

Twenty Foot Containers (some people call it dry van) is the most popular container size. They are relatively easy to ship, which results in lower shipping costs. Very suitable for the transport of household goods or international movings. Some extra info: 1 TEU is the indication for 1 20 foot container.

A very popular box for the transportation of cargo via ocean shipments.
A 20-foot container know the following size description: 5898 (l) x 2390 (h) x 2350 (w) mm.
A 20’ft container can hold eleven pallets.
In terms of weight load, the following applies: +/- 27.800 kilogram.

What you need to know about the forty foot container

The 40 foot container is the largest of the standard shipping containers. They can carry between 23 and 24 Europallets in one tier. This makes it very economical for shipping large cargo by sea. Tip: there are also special extra tall ‘high cube’ deal. They are 1 foot higher than a regular container. Very suitable for high products.

Perfect for larger shipments.
The format is universal: 12200 mm × 2440 mm × 2590 mm.
It can hold 23-24 Euro pallets or 20-21 standard pallets in one row.
In terms of goods, there is a weight limit of +/- 28.600 kg.

Ocean Freight Volume Calculator: get shipping rates

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What does FCL container mean in shipping?

If your goods don’t fit in a small (shared) container, than you can reserve your own full container. This is known as an FCL (Full Container Load). You don’t need to share your container with anyone else. The benefits are great: efficient transit time, limited damage risk and it’s more cost-effective. There are of course also drawbacks: it is unsuitable for Small Packages and unloading can be a hassle. Have your cargo depart from another port? See also Antwerp to Chicago (USCHI) and Rotterdam to Chicago (USCHI).

The concept of FCL is that the whole container is intended for one shipper.
Very suitable for goods with a large dimension.
Relevant when you are sending more than 15 m3.
Available at: e.g. COSCO, Hapag-Lloyd, MSC, Maersk, ONE.

Details about Less than container (LCL)

If your cargo does not fill an entire 20-foot or 40-foot container, inquire about the possibilities for a shared container. Logistics experts treat that as a LCL (Less Than Container Load) agreement. The goal of LCL is that you share space with others. You benefit from many advantages: it’s perfect for shipping small loads, you can save on inventory costs and more options during peak shipping season. Disclaimer: if your shipment takes up more than half a container, then FCL is a better choice. The shipping rates are based on number of pieces, weight, volume, packaging.

With LCL transport, your cargo is shipped in a partial container.
The best choice for a charge between 4 m3 and 16,5 m3.
You just pay for the used volume of the full container.
Capabilities at almost all international ports.
Available at: e.g. HMM, Wan Hai, ZIM, POL, Yang Ming.

What other types of containers are there

The range of boxes is very varied for the shipment of your goods. Each type of cargo needs a different solution. The Dry van is the most used type worldwide. Besides this, there are also applications for liquid bulk, flour, coffee or cocoa or very exclusive stuff. Our specialist has placed a summary below. Are you looking for another destination? Also look at possibilities for Rijeka (HRRJK), port of Onahama (JPONA), Civitavecchia (ITCVV) harbor and terminal Dakar (SNDKR).

Bulk Containers: used for transportation of dry bulk cargo like as grain, feedstuffs, spices.
Flat Rack Containers: versatile containers that make it possible for you to ship unique cargo.
Hard-Top Containers: have a steel roof instead of a tarp.
High-Cube Containers: are used to carry lightweight, high volume cargo (with extra height).
Insulated Containers: for e.g. pharmaceutical products, fresh produce, beverages, frozen goods, and chemicals.

Open-Top Containers: perfect when large cargo needs to be loaded safely from above.
Palletwide Containers: are adequate for shipping Euro-pallets because of the interior dimensions.
Refrigerated Containers: reefers are used for goods which need to be transported at a constant temperature.
Tank Containers: for the transport of liquids, gases and powders as bulk cargo.
Ventilated Containers: ventilation is provided by openings in the top and bottom side rails.

Load types: what kind of stuff are you going to ship?

Transporting stuff by ocean from Hamburg (DEHAM) to Chicago (USCHI) is very popular because of attractive rates, it is effective for large quantities of goods and it is much more environmentally friendly than air freight. The main categories of ocean cargo that are transported by sea are: roll on/roll off, neo bulk, containerized, break bulk, dry bulk. Below we give an explanation.

Car shipping: your vehicle will be loaded and shipped to the port of your choice.
House Moving: advice and support in the field of relocation.
Removals (Household Goods): have your household effects transported with great care.
Liquid Bulk: e.g. chemicals, kerosene, petroleum, biofuels, gasoline, hydrogen.
Dry Bulk: grain, iron ore, grain and salt, rods, sand, sugar.
Roll on Roll off (RORO): vessel has facilities to enable road or rail vehicles to roll on and roll off.
Breakbulk: relates to trades where the cargoes are carried in unitized form.
Retail & other: freight like medical/pharmacy, toys, electronic goods, sports equipment, art and antiques + furniture, machines, shoes, fashion, drinks.

FAQ: frequently asked questions and answers regarding international transport

What is the shipping time from Hamburg to Chicago?

Shipping a container from Hamburg (DE) to Chicago takes approximately 29 days. The distance to be covered is about 6900 nautical miles (M). This is roughly equivalent to 12779 km. If you choose transport by sea, you will receive updates about the ETD and ETA. ETD means the Expected or Estimated Time of Departure. ETA stands for Estimated time of arrival of the ship or truck. Shipping time varies from case to case and depends on factors such as: the boat speed, the sea conditions and any technical malfunctions.

What is the total price of shipping a container to Chicago (USCHI)?

Shipping rates from Hamburg (Germany) to Chicago (United States) are relatively expensive. The total cost is determined by various components as type of container, season and pickup charges and We invite you to contact us for the best rates and current transit times.

What customs documents do i need?

When you are exporting goods to Chicago, then customs clearance is an important step. Exporters need to include the following documents with their goods: Import/export Licenses, Commercial Invoice, Insurance Certificate, Bill of Lading, Packing List, Letter of Credit. For more information about these duties please contact the customs of United States or visit the website of the port / gouvernment (www.iipd.com).

What incoterm should I use for shipping?

The Incoterms define the time and place from which the seller’s responsibility ends and the buyer’s begins. Common sea freight incoterms are CIF and FOB. Cost, Insurance and Freight (CIF) means the exporting party arranges delivering the goods to the destination port of the buyer’s choosing. Terms of Free on Board (FOB): the seller is responsible for the cargo until they are handed over to the delivery company. There are additionally more Incoterms 2000 like Carriage Paid To (CPT), Free Alongside Ship (FAS), Delivered Duty Paid (DDP), Ex Works (EXW) & Carriage and Insurance Paid To (CIP), Cost and Freight (CFR), Delivered at Place Unloaded (DPU).