Container shipping Hamburg to Freetown
Do you need to ship a container from Hamburg to Freetown (SLFNA)? Sea freight is very practical: you can ship many goods for an attractive price, it is efficient and containers can also be used for further transportation by road or rail. Ship a container overseas with gas-based fuels or cars and other vehicles is very easy with e.g. Shandong International Transportation Corporation. Shipping lines offer and a wide range of container types. An important distinction is full containers (FCL) and a container with combined cargo (LCL). Via our transport specialists we share practical information about international transport Freetown (SL FNA). We share up-to-date information about the ways in which you can transport cargo by sea. Besides this we share a a practical step-by-step plan where we explain everything in 5 steps. Please send us an inquiry with your requirements and receive a quote with great prices and shipping conditions.
- Ocean shipping is a fast, trouble-free and low cost-way to transport large and heavy loads.
- When we compare it to air transport, it is cheaper and there are less restrictions.
- Sea freight is ideal for worldwide relocations and exporting gas-based fuels or equipment.
- The Port of Freetown is an important logistics artery in Sierra Leone.
- Containers that are often transported are: 20 FT, 40 FT, 40FT HC and Insulated, Flat Rack, Hard-Top, Refrigerated, Open-Top, Tank containers.
Main topics
Shipping to Freetown (SLFNA) from Hamburg (DEHAM)
Ocean freight shipping is the most common way to transport cargo globally. Your goods are transferred in shipping containers. The freight forwarder (the middleman) will arrange the container. The cargo is transported by truck to the shipping vessel at the port of departure (POD) Freetown (SL FNA), and will be transported by sea to the importer at the arrival harbour. You need to make a choose out of: port-to-door, port-to-port, door-to-door, door-to-port. In the following paragraph you will find some basic data of the POD (Port Of Destination).
| Port of departure | Port of Hamburg (DEHAM) |
| Country of departure | Germany |
| Port of destination | Port of Freetown |
| Country of destination | Sierra Leone |
| Port Code | SLFNA |
| Transport Time | +/- 16 days |
| Shipping rates | $$$ |
| Port address | Queen Elizabeth II Quay PMB 386 Cline Town FreetownSierra Leone |
| sierra-leone@containershippingservice.com | |
| Website | www.freetownport.com |
| Telephone number | 23222229308 |
Freight Forwarder Hamburg – port of Freetown
- Freight Details
Enter the departure port and the destination harbor. Determine your container terms: Full Container Load (FCL) or a container with combined cargo (LCL). Besides this, also choose a suitable container size (20-foot, 40-foot, or a 40-foot high cube).
- Packing the container
First of all, make sure the freight is packed securely. To transport the cargo in good condition, ensure that your cargo is always placed on pallets. Also make sure you have good labels.
- Customs document
When exporting cargo to Freetown (SLFNA), you need to share up-to-date export documents (for the national customs): certificates of origin, export/import customs declaration, packing declaration, commercial invoice, bill of lading. A Bill of Lading is a document that is provided to the shipper to confirm that the goods match the description listed on the paperwork and noticing that the cargo is well packed for transport.
- Make a choice for Incoterms
Freight forwarders make us of incoterms to define the responsibilities and costs between two parties correctly. The Incoterm defines how much responsibility you have for the cost and risk of transportation, insurance, duties payable and clearing customs. Much chosen incoterms are Ex Works (EXW), Cost, Insurance Freight (CIF), Delivery Duty Paid (DDP).
- Online Container & Freight Tracking System
Use Cargo Track & Trace to check where your cargo is right now. You can see in realtime when the ship is departed from the port of origin (POO), arrived at Port of Destination (POD) and when the cargo has reached its final destination.
Sea freight from Freetown (SLFNA) to Hamburg (DEHAM): pick your container
You are going to ship a container from port of Freetown – (SL FNA) to port of Hamburg – (DE HAM)? The first step is to find the right container type. There are smaller and bigger boxes (20 foot, 40 foot) and methods (LCL shipping or FCL shipment). Some main shipping lines are CMA CGM, Maersk, MSC. Important towns around the port are Freetown, Goderich, Masoyila, Sawkta, Lungi, Hastings, Pepel, Waterloo, Kasiri, Mambolo, Port Loko, Mange, Rotifunk, Kambia, Lunsar, Rokupr, Moyamba, Yonibana, Kukuna, Largo. In the next chapter you will find useful information about the most popular products. Also click further for information about Shipping lines.
Information and benefits of 20 FT container
20. ft. containers (also known as dry van) is the most common and available size. They are easy to load, access, and handle, which means they are cheaper to ship. Widely used for transporting household goods or international removals. What you might not know: 1 TEU is equivalent to 1 20 feet long container.
- The most commonly used box for the shipment of goods in ocean freight.
- A 20-foot container has the following dimensions: 5898 (l) x 2390 (h) x 2350 (w) mm.
- It can hold between 9 and 11 pallets.
- You must take into account a maximum permitted weight of +/- 27.700 kg.
What you need to know about the 40 foot container
The 40-foot container is identical to the 20-foot container, but once the size. They can carry between 23 and 24 Europallets in one tier. This makes it very economical for shipping large cargo by sea. Moreover, 40ft containers are also available as ‘high cube’ box. You’ve got just a little extra height. Ideal if you have high cargo.
- The ideal means of transport for large loads.
- In terms of format, this type comes out to: 12031 x 2346 x 2383 mm.
- It allows the transport of up to 28 pallets.
- Maximum load is about +/- 28.200 kg.
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When is a FCL container a good choice?
If you have enough goods to fill an entire container, then you can book your own full container. Freight forwarders then refer to it as FCL (Full Container Load). There is no need to share it with other shippers. There are many advantages to it: Usually a faster transit time, less likely to damage your goods (as the container just contains your goods) and and it is cheaper per unit. You have to pay attention to a few things: you need large volume to be viable and the financial risk is much greater. Do you want to send items from another port? Check also Antwerp to Freetown (SLFNA) or Rotterdam to Freetown (SLFNA).
- The concept of FCL is that the volume is large enough to fill a whole container by one customer.
- Suitable for as many small items on pallets as large goods.
- Relevant when you are sending more than 15 m3.
- Available at: e.g. ONE, Maersk, COSCO, CMA CGM, Hapag-Lloyd.
(LCL) Less than container
When you have too little goods to fill a full container, it is often a good idea to pick a shared container. This is known as LCL (Less Than Container Load). The idea of LCL is that shipments from various parties are combined to fill up one container. There are many benefits like: perfect for shipping small loads, you spend less on inventory warehousing space and lower sourcing risk. Disclaimer: when you ship enough volume to fill more than half a container, it is often cheaper to book a full container. LCL cost is calculated by the volume and weight of the packages.
- The idea of LCL is that you transport your cargo via a partial container.
- An excellent choice for cargo volumes between 4 m3 & 16,5 m3.
- You only pay for the space you are using.
- Wide availability in all months of the year.
- Available at: e.g. POL, Yang Ming, HMM, Evergreen, ZIM.
Other container types for special loads
There exist a lot of box-types for shipping your cargo. Each type of cargo requires a different approach. A Dry van is the most common type of freight transportation. There are innovative and special constructions for oil, petroleum, and freshwater, flour, coffee or cocoa or unique high value cargo. You can read more about it below. You can also look further at transport options in Chicago (USCHI), port of Izmir (TRIZM), Tamatave (MGTMM) harbor and terminal Plymouth (GBPLY).
- Bulk Containers: used for transport of foodstuffs or bulk such as like grain and ore.
- Flat Rack Containers: a flat rack only has walls or support post on the ends.
- Hard-Top Containers: a specialized version of general dry van (with special roof).
- High-Cube Containers: extremely functional for transporting light and large cargo.
- Insulated Containers: ideal for Short-Term Storage or Short-Hop Journeys.
- Open-Top Containers: for heavy goods which are difficult to be loaded sideways.
- Palletwide Containers: designed to accommodate a larger amount of Euro pallets.
- Refrigerated Containers: reefers are perfect for storing temperature-sensitive good.
- Tank Containers: if you want to transport a large quantity of liquid as bulk cargo.
- Ventilated Containers: are fitted with additional ventilation holes.
Freight types: which items do you want to transport by sea?
Transporting cargo by ocean from Hamburg (DEHAM) to Freetown (SLFNA) has a lot of pluses: low prices, particularly interesting for bulk cargo and it is much more environmentally friendly than air freight. The main categories of ocean cargo transported by sea include: break bulk, roll on/roll off, neo bulk, containerized, liquid bulk. Below you can read more information about it.
- Car shipping: shipping your vehicle to another part of a country or the other side of the world.
- House Moving: solid help and assistance for relocation.
- Removals (Household Goods): Ships your household effects / furniture quickly and affordable.
- Liquid Bulk: e.g. petroleum, biofuels, kerosene, hydrogen, chemicals, gasoline.
- Dry Bulk: grain, coal, iron ore but also coils, lumber, sugar, salt.
- Roll on Roll off (RORO): vessel type used for the transportation of cars and other automobiles.
- Breakbulk: refers to goods that are stowed on board ship in individually counted units.
- Retail & other: cargo like art and antiques, toys, electronic goods, medical/pharmacy, sports equipment and furniture, fashion, food, machines, drinks.
FAQ: everything you need to know about international transport
Shipping a container from Hamburg (DE) to Freetown takes around 16 days. The ship has to cover a distance of about 3750 nautical miles. That is about 6945 kilometers. When you send something by sea, you will have to deal with ETD and ETA. ETD means the Estimated Time Of Departure. ETA is the date that the shipment arrives in the destination country. Shipping time varies from case to case and depends on factors such as: condition of the hull, wind force and direction and delay at the port.
Shipping rates from Hamburg (Germany) to Freetown (Sierra Leone) are slightly above average. The final invoice amount is determined by various factors such as cargo volume and weight, period of the year and freight forwarder handling fees. Do not hesitate to contact us for the best rates and current transit times.
When sending goods to Freetown, then customs clearance is an important step. You need to present the following documents: Packing List, Certificate of Origin, Bill of Lading, Letter of Credit, Commercial Invoice, Import/export Licenses. For more information, you can contact the customs of Sierra Leone or surf to the official website where you can read a lot of info (www.freetownport.com).
Incoterms describe who bears the responsibility, risk, and costs associated with a transaction. The two most important Incoterms in sea transport are FOB and CIF. Cost, Insurance and Freight (CIF) means the seller takes care of the costs of transporting the cargo to the destination port of the buyer’s choosing. Content of a Free on Board (FOB) contract: the seller has the responsibility for the goods until they are on the vessel at the outbound port. One can also choose from one of the alternative Incoterms 2000: Ex Works (EXW), Carriage Paid To (CPT), Free Carrier (FCA), Delivered Duty Paid (DDP) and Delivered at Place Unloaded (DPU), Carriage and Insurance Paid To (CIP), Delivered At Place (DAP).