Container shipping Hamburg to Cotonou
Are you looking for a service to ship a container from Hamburg to Cotonou (BJCOO)? Sea freight offers many opportunities: large items can be shipped for competitive rates, it is flexible and it is safe. Ship a container overseas with ro-ro or personal goods can be arranged by shipping companies such as Sea Lead Shipping. When you are exporting, you can choose from various types of containers. Shipping lines offer the choice between Full Container Load (FCL) and Less Container Load (LCL). Via containershippingservice.com we provide practical information regarding international transport Cotonou (BJ COO). You can read practical information about the different types of containers. You can make use of our export plan in 5 steps. Share your cargo and transport wishes and we will prepare a quote with a competitive rate.
- Ocean shipping is a good, safe and cheap way to transport large and heavy loads.
- When we compare it to air transport, it is far cheaper and you can easily transport large shipments.
- Sea freight provides services for international removals and importing ro-ro or motorbikes.
- The Port of Cotonou is one of the most important ports in Benin.
- Popular container types are: standaard 20 ft, 40 ft and 40 HC and Flat Rack, Hard-Top, Insulated, Ventilated, Refrigerated, Open-Top containers.
Subjects
Shipping to Cotonou (BJCOO) from Hamburg (DEHAM)
Ocean freight shipping is the process of shipping goods by sea using containers. Your products are packed tightly in a container. The freight forwarder (intermediary) will reserve a container for you. The cargo is transported by truck to the shipping vessel at the port of departure Cotonou (BJ COO), and will be shipped over the sea to the recipient at the arrival harbour. There are different kind of options: port-to-door, port-to-port, door-to-door, door-to-port. In the list below we offer useful information about the port of arrival.
| Port of departure | Port of Hamburg (DEHAM) |
| Country of departure | Germany |
| Port of destination | Port of Cotonou |
| Country of destination | Benin |
| Port Code | BJCOO |
| Transportation time | +/- 21 days |
| Shipping rates | $$$ |
| Port address | Autonomous Port of Cotonou Cotonou – Boulevard of the Marina Litoral – BP 927 – Cotonou |
| E-mail address | contact@pac.bj |
| Website | www.gouv.bj |
| Phone | (+229)21312637 |
Freight Forwarder Hamburg – port of Cotonou
- Freight Details
Enter the origin of shipment and the arrival port. Choose if you want to ship (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 and labeling the freight
Obviously, make sure your goods are tightly packaged. To prevent damage, make sure everything is securely placed on pallets. For correct handling you must also label all goods.
- Documents Required for Exporting
When you transport goods to Cotonou (BJCOO), you must send several export documents (on behalf of national customs): bill of lading, export/import customs declaration, certificates of origin, packing list, commercial invoice. With a Bill of Lading we mean a document that is completed by a carrier to confirm that the shipment is received in good order and that the freight has been booked correctly.
- Find your incoterms
Incoterms are important to define the rights and obligations of both the buyer and seller. The chosen Incoterm decides who will pay for things like insurance, transport and all documents. Popular incoterms are Free On Board (FOB), Ex Works (EXW), Cost, Insurance Freight (CIF).
- Track and Trace shipment
Use cargo tracking to check where your shipping is at this moment. You can check easily when the ship is departed from the port of origin (POO), arrived at Port of Discharge (POD) and when your cargo has been unloaded at the final destination.
Sea freight from Cotonou (BJCOO) to Hamburg (DEHAM): match your cargo with container type
You are going to ship a container from port of Cotonou – (BJ COO) to port of Hamburg – (DE HAM)? Compare the options and pick the right container type. There are different sizes (20-ft, 40-ft) and methods (FCL shipping or LCL shipment). Major shipping lines that sail here include CMA CGM, Maersk, MOL, MSC. Well-known cities around the harbor are Cotonou, Abomey-Calavi, Sakété, Ouidah, Allada, Comé, Pobé, Lokossa, Dogbo, Athiémé, Cové, Bohicon, Abomey, Kétou, Aplahoué, Savalou, Savé, Tchaourou, Bassila, Bétérou. In the next chapter you can read all important information about the most popular boxes. We also offer more information about Shipping lines.
What you need to know about the 20ft container
20. ft. containers (also known as dry van) is the most commonly used size. They are easy to stack on the vessel, so the transport costs are quite low. Widely used for transporting household goods and international movings. Keep in mind: A TEU stands for Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit.
- This box offers a solution for sending goods with transport ships.
- A 20-foot container has a surface area of: L – 5.89M. W – 2.35M. H – 2.23M.
- It can hold between 9 and 11 pallets.
- A lot can be loaded in terms of goods weight: +/- 27.300 kg.
Advantages of a forty foot container
Besides the 20-foot, the 40-foot container is another popular option. Many types of goods can be shipped within these boxes. This makes it a popular choice for shipping large cargo by sea. Also, people can also opt for the 40 foot container ‘high cube’ box. This is one foot taller than a regular 40 ft. This ensures that your cargo/goods can be loaded higher.
- Perfect for larger shipments.
- The format is universal: 12031 x 2346 x 2383 mm.
- The Forty Foot Equivalent Unit (FEU) can hold 20-24 pallets.
- The max. weight is limited to +/- 28.100 kg.
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Information about FCL containers
f you have enough goods to fill one full container load, then it is usually better to book a full container. Freight forwarders then refer to it as FCL (Full Container Load). You don’t need to share your container with anyone else. It is a popular transport method: efficient transit time, less potential for damage and and it costs less at the bottom of the line. Of course there are also downsides: it is not efficient for small cargo types and it is harder to unload the FCL shipment. There are also other departure ports. See for example Antwerp to Cotonou (BJCOO) and Rotterdam to Cotonou (BJCOO).
- The concept of FCL is that your goods are stored in a fully owned container.
- Very suitable for goods with a large dimension.
- Relevant when you are sending more than 15 m3.
- Available at: e.g. Hapag-Lloyd, Maersk, MSC, COSCO, CMA CGM.
What does LCL container mean in shipping?
If you want to transport a small cargo by sea, your goods will be shipped with other cargo. Transport organizations describe that as Less Than Container Load (LCL). The idea of LCL is that multiple shippers’ goods are packed together. There are many positive aspects to mention like: it’s perfect for shipping small loads, storage and insurance is advantageous and it is faster during peak-season. Notable: if your goods can fill up half of the container space, then FCL is probably a more favorable choice. The cost of LCL is based on number of pieces, weight, volume, packaging.
- The goal of LCL is that your shipment is taking up only a part of a partial container.
- The best choice for a charge between 3 m3 & 15 m3.
- You just pay for the used volume of the full container.
- Can be booked via practical all shipping lines.
- Available at: e.g. ZIM, HMM, Yang Ming, POL, Wan Hai.
Other types of containers and customization
The range of boxes is very diverse for shipping your cargo. Shipping companies offer a suitable solution for every cargo type. The most common type is the Dry van. There are specially developed transport options for liquids, fruit, vegetables, meat, fish or high class goods. You can read all about it in the section below. We also provide more information about sea transportation to Trieste (ITTRS), port of Easter Island (CLIPC), Bugo (PHBUG) harbor and terminal Riyadh (SARUH).
- Bulk Containers: used in for transporting bulk cargo like wheat, rice and corn.
- Flat Rack Containers: it is flat and cargo can be loaded either from the sides or from the top.
- Hard-Top Containers: for shipping heavy to very heavy cargo.
- High-Cube Containers: are used to carry lightweight, high volume cargo (with extra height).
- Insulated Containers: ideal for bulk shipping and temporary storage of mixed products.
- Open-Top Containers: for exporting products that don’t fit in a regular container.
- Palletwide Containers: specially designed for stowing large quantities of Euro pallets.
- Refrigerated Containers: reefers are ideal for cold storage like perishables, frozen goods and pharmaceutical products.
- Tank Containers: for the transport of all types of bulk liquid by rail, road and sea.
- Ventilated Containers: also known as passive (naturally) ventilated or coffee containers.
Cargo types: What do you want to ship?
Importing stuff by sea from Hamburg (DEHAM) to Cotonou (BJCOO) has lots of advantages: attractive rates, best for Bulky Goods and minimal restrictions. Relevant ocean cargo categories that are transported by sea are: dry bulk, liquid bulk, containerized, neo bulk, roll on/roll off. Below we give an explanation.
- Car shipping: have your vehicle shipped to an international port.
- House Moving: your belongings will be safe and secured with international relocation.
- Removals (Household Goods): Ships your household effects / furniture quickly and affordable.
- Liquid Bulk: e.g. kerosene, petroleum, hydrogen, gasoline, diesel, biofuels.
- Dry Bulk: iron ore, coal, grain but also cement, lumber, coils, salt.
- Roll on Roll off (RORO): a combination of road and sea transport for wheeled cargo.
- Breakbulk: small containers of freight are unloaded from pallets and packed into the ship’s hold.
- Retail & other: freight like electronic goods, clothes, toys, medical/pharmacy, art and antiques and machines, fashion, food, shoes, furniture.
FAQ: frequently asked questions and answers regarding international transport
Shipping a container from Hamburg (DE) to Cotonou takes about 21 days. The ship has to cover a distance of about 4750 nautical miles (nmi). 1 nautical mile is equivalent to 1.85 km. That makes the distance 8797 kilometers. If you ship something by sea, you will have to deal with ETD and ETA. ETD is about the expected departure time of the ship. ETA is the date and time at which the vessel is expected to arrive at the dock. The actual shipping time depends on the boat speed, wind force and direction and type of shipment.
Shipping rates from Hamburg (Germany) to Cotonou (Benin) are slightly above average. The total cost is determined by various factors such as cargo volume and weight, shipping route and other costs like stacking and siting. Contact us for the best rates and current transit times.
When sending goods to Cotonou, then the customs clearance will also pass. You will need the following documentation: Commercial Invoice, Import/export Licenses, Certificate of Origin, Insurance Certificate, Bill of Lading, Packing List. For more information, then we advise you to contact the customs of Benin or check the official website for more info (www.gouv.bj).
The Incoterms decide which party will cover insurance fees for the shipment. The most common terms for sea transport are FOB and CIF. Cost, Insurance and Freight (CIF) means the seller bears responsibility for the transportation to the required port. Content of a Free on Board (FOB) contract: the seller must arrange everything regarding the freight until all cargo is on the ship. One can also choose from one of the alternative Incoterms 2000: Free Carrier (FCA), Carriage Paid To (CPT), Free Alongside Ship (FAS), Delivered Duty Paid (DDP) and Delivered at Place Unloaded (DPU), Carriage and Insurance Paid To (CIP), Cost and Freight (CFR).