Container shipping Hamburg to Tacoma
Would you like to ship a container from Hamburg to Tacoma (USTIW)? Sea freight offers many opportunities: you can ship large volumes at low costs, it’s transparant much more environmental friendly than air freight. Transporting containers with freight like gas-based fuels or furniture is easy with shippinglines like CMA CGM. They can get you various types of containers. There is made a difference between (FCL) full containers and (LCL) and partial shipments. Via our experts you will find accurate information with a view to international transport Tacoma (US TIW). We share comprehensive information about the different types and ways of sea freight. Besides this we share a export plan in 5 steps. Provide us with your transport details and we will gladly send you a tailor-made offer with extensive pricing details.
- Ocean shipping is a quick, sure and cost-effective way to import and export goods internationally.
- When we compare this to air freight, there are fewer restrictions and it is far cheaper.
- Sea freight provides services for worldwide movings and importing breakbulk or equipment.
- The Port of Tacoma is a much-chosen harbor in United States.
- The range of containers includes: 20 foot, 40 foot and Flat Rack, Dry Van, Insulated, Ventilated, Open-Top, Tank containers.
Index
Shipping to Tacoma (USTIW) from Hamburg (DEHAM)
Ocean freight shipping is the most common way to transport cargo globally. Your material is transferred in shipping containers. Your freight forwarder will reserve a container for you. Your goods are loaded into the shipping vessel at the departure port Tacoma (US TIW), and will be shipped by ocean to the terminal at the arrival harbour. They provide you options like port-to-port, door-to-port, port-to-door or door-to-door. In the list below we provide you with details about the arrival port.
| Port of departure | Port of Hamburg (DEHAM) |
| Country of departure | Germany |
| Port of destination | Port of Tacoma |
| Country of destination | United States |
| Port Code | USTIW |
| Transit Time | +/- 29 days |
| Shipping rates | $$$$ |
| Port address | One Sitcum Plaza, Tacoma, WA 98421, United States |
| E-mail address | jwoods@portoftacoma.com |
| Website | www.portoftacoma.com |
| Telephone number | 253-383-5841 |
Freight Forwarder Hamburg – port of Tacoma
- Select shipment details
Enter the port of origin and the arrival port. Determine your container terms: (FCL) Full Container Load or a container with combined cargo (LCL). Also choose the size of the container (20-foot, 40-foot, or a 40-foot high cube).
- Packing the freight
First of all, ensure the freight is properly packaged. To prevent accidents, it is a good idea to use pallets. For correct handling you must also label all goods.
- Customs document
If you are going to transport goods to Tacoma (USTIW), you need to share required export documents (to the national customs): commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading, packing declaration, export/import customs declaration. A Bill of Lading is a document or contract issued by the carrier or agent confirming goods were received in an acceptable condition and confirm that the items are well packed for shipment.
- Choosing the Incoterms
An incoterm is a set of rules to define responsibility and liability for shipment of the goods. The Incoterm defines who is the risk-bearing party for transport, insurance and duty related matters. Popular incoterms are Delivery Duty Paid (DDP), Ex Works (EXW), Cost, Insurance Freight (CIF).
- Live tracking of the shipment
Use cargo and container tracking to see where your freight is at this moment. You can check easily when the ship is departed from Port of Loading, arrived at Port of delivery (POD) and when the cargo has reached its desired final destination.
Sea freight from Tacoma (USTIW) to Hamburg (DEHAM): find a suitable container
You want to export goods and ship a container from port of Tacoma – (US TIW) to port of Hamburg – (DE HAM)? It is crucial to rent a suitable container. There are smaller and bigger boxes (20 ft, 40 ft) and methods (FCL shipment or LCL shipment). Major shipping lines that sail here include Evergreen, FESCO, Hanjin, K Line, Maersk, MOL. Major towns near the seaport are Tacoma, University Place, Lakewood, Parkland, Edgewood, Puyallup, Spanaway, Federal Way, Sumner, South Hill, Auburn, Elk Plain, Des Moines, Bonney Lake, Kent, SeaTac, Burien, Covington, Tukwila, White Center. In the next section we put everything together and offer information about the most common sizes and types. We also offer more information about Tank Container.
What you need to know about the 20 ft container
20 FT containers (a.k.a. dry van) is the most preferred container size. They are quite easy to transport, which ensures low handling costs. Widely used for transporting personal stuff or international removals. Good to know: TEU abbreviation stands for Twenty Foot Equivalent Unit.
- This box is often used for transporting goods by means of shipping.
- A 20-foot container know the following size description: 6,06 x 2,44 x 2,59.
- It can hold between 9 and 11 pallets.
- You can load it with maximum +/- 27.800 kilogram.
What you need to know about the forty foot container
The 40 foot container is the big brother of the 20 foot model. Many types of goods can be shipped within these boxes. This makes it a popular choice for shipping large cargo by sea. What you may not know: people can also opt for the 40 foot container ‘high cube’ box. They are 1 foot higher than a regular container. Very suitable for high products.
- Taller and bulkier than the standard containers.
- The dimensions are the same internationally: 12,0 x 2,4 x 2,3 m.
- Up to 23 Europallets can be stuffed in a 40′ container.
- Pay attention to the weight limit of +/- 28.300 kilogram.
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Information about FCL containers
If your goods don’t fit in a small (shared) container, it is best to book a full container. Within the logistics sector this is called FCL (Full Container Load). There is no need to share it with other shippers. It is a popular transport method: quick transit time, limited chance of damage and you take advantage of economies of scale. Important to mention: you need large volume to be viable and the financial risk is much greater. Departing from another port? Also check out Antwerp to Tacoma (USTIW) and Rotterdam to Tacoma (USTIW).
- The idea of FCL is that you have the entire container space to yourself.
- Perfect for the transportation of large amounts.
- For shipments that are larger than 10 CBM.
- Available at: e.g. MSC, ONE, Hapag-Lloyd, COSCO, Maersk.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of LCL containers?
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 meaning of LCL is: multiple shippers’ goods are packed together. There are many positive aspects to mention like: perfect for shipping small loads, reduces the costs of keeping a high inventory of goods stored and it is more flexible during peak-times. Remark: if your goods can fill up half of the container space, then it is usually more interesting to opt for FCL. The total shipping costs are related to the dimensions of the package i.e. the length, width.
- What we mean by LCL is that you transport your cargo via a partial container.
- Ideal for transport volumes between 3,5 m3 & 16,5 m3.
- You only pay for the space you are using.
- Can be booked via practical all shipping lines.
- Available at: e.g. POL, Wan Hai, Evergreen, ZIM, Yang Ming.
Other special types of containers
There exist a lot of box-types for freight forwarding. There is a suitable solution for every type of cargo. The most popular version is of course the Dry van. Besides this, there are also applications for oils, flowers, fruit or unique high value cargo. You can read more about it below. Also check other destinations such as King Abdul Aziz Port (SADMN), port of Tacoma (USTIW), Tianjin (CNTXG) harbor and terminal Sydney (AUSYD).
- Bulk Containers: used for transportation of dry bulk cargo like wheat and grains.
- Flat Rack Containers: internationally used when the cargo cannot fit inside a standard box.
- Hard-Top Containers: the roof can be removed if necessary.
- High-Cube Containers: perfect when some extra height is required.
- Insulated Containers: ideal for bulk shipping and temporary storage of mixed products.
- Open-Top Containers: ideal for logs, machinery, and odd-sized items.
- Palletwide Containers: the ideal type for transporting many euro pallets.
- Refrigerated Containers: reefers are used for goods that need to be temperature controlled.
- Tank Containers: are used to deliver hazardous and non-hazardous products.
- Ventilated Containers: used to transport cargo with good moisture contents which requires ventilation while transit.
Kind of cargo: What do you want to ship?
Transporting stuff by sea from Hamburg (DEHAM) to Tacoma (USTIW) has lots of advantages: low rates, you can ship easily big and high volume cargo and eco-friendly. Much seen ocean cargo via sea import/export routes are: neo bulk, roll on/roll off, containerized, break bulk, liquid bulk. Below we tell you everything about it.
- Car shipping: shipping your vehicle to another part of a country or the other side of the world.
- House Moving: your belongings will be safe and secured with international relocation.
- Removals (Household Goods): your household effects are shipped in a fast and secure manner.
- Liquid Bulk: e.g. gasoline, biofuels, kerosene, diesel, hydrogen, petroleum.
- Dry Bulk: iron ore, coal, grain but also lumber, salt, plates, sugar.
- Roll on Roll off (RORO): vessel for wheeled freight-carrying equipment.
- Breakbulk: are frequently packaged in smaller boxes: bags, boxes, cartons, crates, drums, or barrels/vats.
- Retail & other: load like clothes, medical/pharmacy, electronic goods, art and antiques, toys & furniture, shoes, food, fashion, machines.
FAQ: everything you need to know about international transport
Shipping a container from Hamburg (DE) to Tacoma takes on average 29 days. The total distance is about 6900 nautical miles (NM). Converted that is 12779 km. If you make a sea shipment, you will receive updates about the ETD and ETA. Estimated time of departure (ETD) is when the ship is estimated to leave the port. ETA means the expected date of arrival of an ocean carrier. There are many factors that determine the final shipping time: the speed of the boat, sea weather condition and delay at the port.
Shipping rates from Hamburg (Germany) to Tacoma (United States) are relatively expensive. The total cost is determined by various ingredients such as cargo weight, period of the year and conditions. Fill in the application form for the best rates and current transit times.
When transporting goods to Tacoma, then you must have the administration in order for customs clearance. The following documents are needed for the customs handling procedure: Insurance Certificate, Import/export Licenses, Letter of Credit, Packing List, Bill of Lading, Certificate of Origin. For more information about these duties please contact the customs of United States or surf to the official website where you can read a lot of info (www.portoftacoma.com).
Incoterms are a set of standardized terms of delivery terms used international trade. Popular terms for waterway transportation are CIF and FOB. CIF (Cost, Insurance and Freight) means the selling party covers the costs of transporting the cargo to the port of origin. Free on Board (FOB) includes: the seller is responsible for the cargo until they are handed over to the delivery company. One can also choose from one of the alternative Incoterms 2000: Free Alongside Ship (FAS), Delivered Duty Paid (DDP), Ex Works (EXW), Carriage Paid To (CPT) + Delivered at Place Unloaded (DPU), Cost and Freight (CFR), Delivered At Place (DAP).