Container shipping Rotterdam to Freetown
Are you interested in a way to ship a container from Rotterdam to Freetown (SLFNA)? Sea freight is very useful: you can ship many goods for an attractive price, it is efficient and it is safe. Shipping a container with sea freight such as roll on/roll off or cars can be outsourced to e.g. X-Press Feeders. Freight forwarders offer many different types of shipping containers. Shipping lines offer the choice between (FCL) full containers and a partial filled container (LCL). Via our transport specialists you will get lots of practical information with a view to international transport Freetown (SL FNA). We get you inside-information about the ways in which you can transport cargo by sea. Besides this we share a practical step-by-step plan. Send you shipping details and we get you a quote with extensive pricing details.
- Ocean shipping is a professional, secure and cost-effective way to transport large and heavy loads.
- When we compare it to air transport, it has a better carbon footprint and it is cheaper.
- Sea freight is great for worldwide removals and the transportation of refrigerated cargo or personal goods.
- The Port of Freetown is one of the most important ports in Sierra Leone.
- The most commonly used containers are: standaard 20 ft, 40 ft and 40 HC and Dry Van, Insulated, Hard-Top, Refrigerated, Open-Top, Tank containers.
Index
Shipping to Freetown (SLFNA) from Rotterdam (NLRTM)
Ocean freight shipping is the container freight transportation of cargo by shipping lines. Your products are stored in shipping containers. The freight forwarder (the middleman) have a special container prepared. The freight goes by truck to the shipping vessel at the port of departure Freetown (SL FNA), and will be shipped over the sea to the importer at the destination harbor. You need to make a choose out of: port-to-port, door-to-door, door-to-port or port-to-door. In the next section we provide you with details about the arrival port.
| Port of departure | Port of Rotterdam (NLRTM) |
| Country of departure | Netherlands |
| Port of destination | Port of Freetown |
| Country of destination | Sierra Leone |
| Port Code | SLFNA |
| Transportation time | +/- 15 days |
| Shipping rates | $$$ |
| Local address | Queen Elizabeth II Quay PMB 386 Cline Town FreetownSierra Leone |
| sierra-leone@containershippingservice.com | |
| Website | www.freetownport.com |
| Phone number | 23222229308 |
Freight Forwarder Rotterdam – port of Freetown
- Details of your shipment
Enter the origin of shipment and the arrival harbour. Decide if you will ship FCL (Full Container Load) or (LCL) and partial shipments. You can choose from a small or large container (20-ft, 40-ft of a high cube).
- Packing the freight
Primarily, make sure the freight is packed securely. To ensure that the cargo remains in good condition, it is best to pack the freight on pallets. Also make sure you have good labels.
- Common Export Documents
If you are going to transport cargo to Freetown (SLFNA), please pay attention to the necessary required export documents (for fast customs clearance): packing list, bill of lading, export/import customs declaration, certificates of origin, packing declaration. A Bill of Lading is a standard-form document issued by the carrier or agent to confirm that the shipment is received in good order and that everything is ready to ship.
- Determine the transfer of risk (Incoterm)
Incoterms are important to define the rights and obligations of both the buyer and seller. The Incoterm shows how much responsibility you have for export/import documents, insurances and transport. Much chosen incoterms are Delivery Duty Paid (DDP), Cost, Insurance Freight (CIF), Free On Board (FOB).
- Track Sea Cargo
Use the track and trace service to see where your shipping is right now. You can get a sms or mail when the freight has been registered at the POO (port of load), arrived at Port of Destination (POD) and when the carrier arrived at the final location.
Sea freight from Freetown (SLFNA) to Rotterdam (NLRTM): select your container type
Are you planning to ship a container from port of Freetown – (SL FNA) to port of Rotterdam – (NL RTM)? It is important to ask an appropriate container. There are smaller and bigger boxes (20 foot, 40 foot) and all kind of container conditions (FCL shipping or LCL 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 section below we put everything together and offer information about the most popular container types. We are happy to provide you with more information about International Movings.
What you need to know about the 20 foot container
20 FT containers (some people call it dry van) is the most commonly used and most commonly available size. They are easy to stack on the vessel, which means they are cheaper to ship. Suitable for different kinds of storage including personal items and removals. Good to know: A TEU is a standard container with a length of 20 feet.
- This box offers a solution for the transportation of cargo via ocean shipments.
- A 20-foot container has the following dimensions: 5898 (l) x 2390 (h) x 2350 (w) mm.
- It can contain 11 Euro-pallets on a single level.
- The maximum allowable load is +/- 27.300 kg.
Advantages of a 40ft container
Besides the 20-foot, the 40-foot container is another popular option. Te 40ft is twice as big as the more standard 20ft. This makes it a popular choice for transporting large loads by sea. In conclusion, you can also choose a higher ‘high cube’ edition. This is one foot taller than a regular 40 ft. This ensures that your cargo/goods can be loaded higher.
- Very popular with large and bulky goods.
- The dimensions are standard: 12,2 x 2,44 x 2,59 meter.
- It can hold 23-24 Euro pallets or 20-21 standard pallets in one row.
- In terms of weight fits maximum: +/- 28.300 kilogram.
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What is a Full Container (FCL)?
I case you are going to ship a lot of stuff, then it is usually better to book a full container. Within the logistics sector this is called FCL (Full Container Load). All cargo space is used exclusively for you. This has multiple advantages: It guarantees a faster transit time, damage is lessened and you take advantage of economies of scale. There are of course also drawbacks: it is not efficient for small cargo types and insurance is more expensive. Departing from another port? Also check out Antwerp to Freetown (SLFNA) or Hamburg to Freetown (SLFNA).
- FCL means that you have the entire container space to yourself.
- Load directly from factory or storage.
- Recommended for shipments from 15 m3.
- Available at: e.g. CMA CGM, MSC, Hapag-Lloyd, COSCO, ONE.
Information about Less than container (LCL)
If you don’t prefer a full container, you can ship it in a shared container with other shipments. This is known as LCL (Less Than Container Load). The premise of LCL is that you share the space in the container and the shipping costs, with other businesses. You benefit from many advantages: you pay only for the volume you need, you spend less on inventory space and lower sourcing risk. Watch out: if your shipment takes up more than half a container, then it is often more interesting to go for an FCL shipping. LCL shipping charges are generally computed based on volume, usually in cubic meters (CBM).
- The goal of LCL is that you make use of a partial container for the transportation.
- Ideal for transport volumes between 4 m3 and 14 m3.
- Freight costs are typically based on cargo volume.
- Wide availability in all months of the year.
- Available at: e.g. ZIM, HMM, Yang Ming, Evergreen, Wan Hai.
Other types of containers and customization
There exist a lot of box-types for ocean transport. Shipping companies offer a suitable solution for every cargo type. A Dry van is the most common type of freight transportation. There are specially developed transport options for oil, petroleum, and freshwater, flour, coffee or cocoa or unique high value cargo. Below you will find all common types in 1 overview. Also check other destinations such as San Vicente (CLSVE), port of Tanjung Sekong (IDTSE), Abidjan (CIABJ) harbor and terminal Georgetown (GYGEO).
- Bulk Containers: used in for transporting bulk cargo like like grain and ore.
- Flat Rack Containers: usually used for the transportation or storage of cargo with unique dimensions.
- Hard-Top Containers: used for bulk cargo like cement, automotive, construction goods, steel, etc.
- High-Cube Containers: ideal when a slightly larger volume capacity is needed.
- Insulated Containers: ideal for Short-Term Storage or Short-Hop Journeys.
- Open-Top Containers: for the transportation of goods like glass and marble blocks.
- Palletwide Containers: perfect for transporting cargo on europellets.
- Refrigerated Containers: reefers are perfect for refrigerated transport of nutritional goods and medicaments.
- Tank Containers: are used to deliver hazardous and non-hazardous products.
- Ventilated Containers: passive (naturally) ventilated or coffee containers.
Kind of load: what do you want to transport by sea?
Importing stuff by sea from Rotterdam (NLRTM) to Freetown (SLFNA) has a lot of pluses: you can ship large volumes at low costs, particularly interesting for bulk cargo and minimal restrictions. Frequently chosen ocean cargo that are transported by sea are: neo bulk, liquid bulk, break bulk, containerized, roll on/roll off. You will find all the information in the box below.
- Car shipping: transport your vehicle to the other side of the world.
- House Moving: have your personal items sent for relocation.
- Removals (Household Goods): your household effects are shipped in a fast and secure manner.
- Liquid Bulk: e.g. biofuels, chemicals, kerosene, hydrogen, gasoline, diesel.
- Dry Bulk: iron ore, grain, coal and lumber, sand, rods, sugar.
- Roll on Roll off (RORO): vessel for wheeled freight-carrying equipment.
- Breakbulk: For the transport of cargo that don’t fit in standard-size shipping containers or cargo bins.
- Retail & other: goods like clothes, toys, medical/pharmacy, sports equipment, electronic goods or fashion, food, machines, drinks, shoes.
All you need to know about international transport (FAQ)
Shipping a container from Rotterdam (NL) to Freetown lasts about 15 days. The total distance is approximately 3700 nautical miles (M). Converted that is 6852 kilometers. In case of sea freight, you will have to deal with ETD and ETA. ETD means the Expected or Estimated Time of Departure. ETA means the Expected or Estimated Time of Arrival. Shipping time varies from case to case and depends on factors such as: condition of the hull, wind force and direction and cargo flows.
Shipping rates from Rotterdam (Netherlands) to Freetown (Sierra Leone) are slightly above average. The total cost depends on various features such as the size of the container, season and other costs like stacking and siting. Fill in the application form for more information, a price proposal and transit time.
When you are exporting goods to Freetown, then you should pay attention to customs clearance. You will need the following documentation: Letter of Credit, Insurance Certificate, Bill of Lading, Packing List, Certificate of Origin, Commercial Invoice. For more detailed information please contact the customs of Sierra Leone or navigate to the website of the port or the government (www.freetownport.com).
Incoterms describe the roles of the buyer and the seller in an international trade agreement. Common used agreement models for international container shipping are FOB and CIF. Cost, Insurance and Freight (CIF) means the exporter bears responsibility for the cost and freight of bringing the goods to the port of origin. By Free on Board (FOB) we mean the seller must arrange everything regarding the goods until they are on the vessel at the outbound port. Optionally one can also select one of the other Incoterms 2000 such as Carriage Paid To (CPT), Free Alongside Ship (FAS), Delivered Duty Paid (DDP), Free Carrier (FCA) & Delivered at Place Unloaded (DPU), Carriage and Insurance Paid To (CIP), Delivered At Place (DAP).