Container shipping Rotterdam to Tacoma
Are you interested in a way to ship a container from Rotterdam to Tacoma (USTIW)? Sea freight offers many opportunities: large items can be shipped for competitive rates, you have low maintenance costs and it is safe. Shipping a container with sea freight such as container cargo or semi-finished goods can be outsourced to e.g. Zhonggu Logistics Corporation. They offer different types of containers. Shipping by sea is primarily divided into two types: a full container for yourself (FCL) and (LCL) and partial shipments. Via our transport agents we offer helpful information about international transport Tacoma (US TIW). We share knowledge and up-to-date information about the different types of containers. Besides this we share a practical step-by-step plan. Describe what you want to transport and we will send a quote with low prices and great conditions.
- Ocean shipping is a very popular, sure and cost-effective way to ship your goods to anywhere in the world.
- When we compare this to air freight, it offers more capacity and value.
- Sea freight is ideal for international movings and carrying vegetables or vehicles.
- The Port of Tacoma is an important logistics artery in United States.
- Frequently used containers types are: 20 FT, 40 FT, 40FT HC and Hard-Top, Dry Van, Flat Rack, Refrigerated, Open-Top, Ventilated containers.
Main themes
Shipping to Tacoma (USTIW) from Rotterdam (NLRTM)
Ocean freight shipping is the container freight transportation of cargo by shipping lines. Your cargo is loaded into the container. The middleman (freight forwarder) sends the location details to you. The freight goes by truck to the shipping vessel at the port of Tacoma (US TIW), and will be shipped overseas to the importer at the arrival harbour. You need to make a choose out of: port-to-door, door-to-door, port-to-port, door-to-port. In the next section you will find important information about the port of delivery.
| Port of departure | Port of Rotterdam (NLRTM) |
| Country of departure | Netherlands |
| Port of destination | Port of Tacoma |
| Country of destination | United States |
| Port Code | USTIW |
| Transportation time | +/- 28 days |
| Shipping prices | $$$$ |
| Port address | One Sitcum Plaza, Tacoma, WA 98421, United States |
| jwoods@portoftacoma.com | |
| Website | www.portoftacoma.com |
| Telephone number | 253-383-5841 |
Freight Forwarder Rotterdam – port of Tacoma
- Shipment details
Enter the port of departure and the port of destination. Choose how you want to transport: full containers (FCL) or partial shipments (LCL). Find a container size that fits your goods (20-foot, 40-foot, or a 40-foot high cube).
- Loading the freight
Obviously, your load need to be prepared in the right way. To prevent accidents, make sure everything is securely placed on pallets. Tip: make sure you have recognizable labels on the freight.
- Documents Required for Exporting
If you want to send cargo to Tacoma (USTIW), you will need various export documents (for correct national customs papers): packing declaration, export/import customs declaration, bill of lading, packing list, commercial invoice. A Bill of Lading is a document or electronic invoice that is completed by a carrier to confirm the goods have been received in good order and that everything is ready to ship.
- Determine the transfer of risk (Incoterm)
An incoterm is a set of rules to define the seller’s and buyer’s responsibilities. The agreed Incoterm determines who is responsible for, for example, transport, insurance and the relevant documents for transport. Widely used incoterms are Cost, Insurance Freight (CIF), Ex Works (EXW), Free On Board (FOB).
- Track your shipment
Use the track and trace service to check where your freight is right now. You can see in realtime when the ship is departed from Port of Loading (POL), arrived at Port of Destination (POD) and when the carrier arrived at the final location.
Sea freight from Tacoma (USTIW) to Rotterdam (NLRTM): select the container that suits the freight
You need to ship a container from port of Tacoma – (US TIW) to port of Rotterdam – (NL RTM)? Compare the options and get a suitable container. They are available in different sizes (20-ft, 40-ft) and different ways to fill a container (LCL shipping or FCL shipping). 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 chapter you will find useful information about the most common sizes and types. We are happy to provide you with more information about High-Cube Container.
Important specifications of the twenty foot container
20-foot containers (which is a standard dry van) is the most common container worldwide. 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 international removals. Good to know: A TEU stands for Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit.
- The most commonly used box for sending goods with transport ships.
- The dimensions of a 20-foot container are: 5,9 x 2,4 x 2,4 meter.
- It can contain 11 Euro-pallets on a single level.
- The maximum allowable load is +/- 27.000 kg.
Explanation of the 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 transporting bulk goods by sea. Moreover, you can also choose a higher ‘high cube’ box. They are 1 foot higher than a regular container. Ideal for tall items.
- Very suitable for large loads.
- The format is almost always the same: 12,2 x 2,44 x 2,59 meter.
- The FEU can hold between 20 and 24 pallets.
- The max. weight is limited to +/- 28.900 kg.
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What is a Full Container (FCL)?
If you have enough goods to fill an entire container, then a full container is often worth it. Freight carriers then talk about FCL (Full Container Load). You don’t need to share your container with anyone else. The advantages are great: efficient transit time, chance of damage is reduced to a minimum and and it costs less at the bottom of the line. There are of course also drawbacks: it is unsuitable for Small Packages and insurance is extra important. There are also other departure ports. See for example Antwerp to Tacoma (USTIW) or Hamburg to Tacoma (USTIW).
- The concept of FCL is that one single container is booked exclusively for the transportation of cargo.
- Ideal for bulk items and large-volume products.
- Recommended for shipments from 15 m3.
- Available at: e.g. CMA CGM, Maersk, ONE, MSC, Hapag-Lloyd.
In which situations do I choose an LCL container?
When you have too little goods to fill a full container, inquire about the possibilities for a shared container. Transport specialists call this Less Than Container Load (LCL). The premise of LCL is that you share the container with other importers. You benefit from many advantages: it’s perfect for shipping small loads, reduces the costs of keeping a high inventory of goods stored and it offers consistent weekly sailing schedules for sea freight. Watch out: if your shipment takes up more than half a container, then FCL is probably a more favorable choice. LCL shipping charges are generally computed based on the volume and weight of the packages.
- With LCL transport, your cargo is transported in a partial container.
- A good solution for shipping volumes between 3 m3 – 13 m3.
- You just pay for the used volume of the full container.
- More Availability During Peak Season.
- Available at: e.g. POL, Evergreen, Yang Ming, Wan Hai, HMM.
Special containers for special freight
The range of boxes is very varied for the shipment of your goods. Each type of cargo has its own characteristics and methods. The Dry Van is most commonly used in maritime transport. Special boxes are also being used for oil, petroleum, and freshwater, meat, fish and frozen foods or very expensive items. You can read more about it below. We also provide more information about sea transportation to Alexandria (EGALY), port of Thamesport (GBRCS), Kingstown (VCKTN) harbor and terminal Amsterdam (NLAMS).
- Bulk Containers: used in for transporting bulk cargo like wheat and other grain crops.
- Flat Rack Containers: versatile containers that make it possible for you to ship unique cargo.
- Hard-Top Containers: the latter has a removable roof due to which the door header can be pivoted outside.
- High-Cube Containers: perfect when some extra height is required.
- Insulated Containers: for shipping fresh products and keep up their freshness.
- Open-Top Containers: perfect when large cargo needs to be loaded safely from above.
- Palletwide Containers: more popular and common in the European continent.
- 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: used to transport cargo with good moisture contents which requires ventilation while transit.
Freight types: What do you want to ship?
Importing stuff by sea from Rotterdam (NLRTM) to Tacoma (USTIW) has lots of advantages: attractive prices, it is great for transporting bulky goods and it’s better for the environment than air freight. Popular types of ocean cargo that are transported by sea are: roll on/roll off, containerized, neo bulk, break bulk, liquid bulk. Below we explain some goods/cargo.
- Car shipping: your vehicle will be shipped safely and insured internationally.
- House Moving: fast and cheap way for international relocations.
- Removals (Household Goods): your household effects are shipped precisely and neatly.
- Liquid Bulk: e.g. gasoline, chemicals, diesel, kerosene, biofuels, petroleum.
- Dry Bulk: coal, iron ore, grain but also stuff like rods, plates, sugar, cement.
- Roll on Roll off (RORO): vessels that are used to carry wheeled cargo.
- Breakbulk: are frequently packaged in smaller boxes: bags, boxes, cartons, crates, drums, or barrels/vats.
- Retail & other: products like clothes, medical/pharmacy, sports equipment, electronic goods, toys + drinks, fashion, furniture, shoes, food.
All you need to know about international transport (FAQ)
Shipping a container from Rotterdam (NL) to Tacoma takes about 28 days. The total distance is approx. 6800 nautical miles (M). That equates to 12594 km. If you make a sea shipment, you will have to deal with ETD and ETA. ETD means the Estimated Time Of Departure. Estimated time of arrival (ETA) is the date and time that a shipment is predicted to arrive. The precise shipping time depends on condition of the hull and the propeller, sea weather condition and delay at the port.
Shipping rates from Rotterdam (Netherlands) to Tacoma (United States) are relatively expensive. The total costs are determined by various features such as container size, transit time and freight forwarder handling fees. Contact us for a price proposal and transit times.
When sending goods to Tacoma, there are documents you need for customs clearance. The following documents are required: Letter of Credit, Import/export Licenses, Certificate of Origin, Insurance Certificate, Packing List, Commercial Invoice. For more detailed information then we advise you to 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 globally recognized trade rules organized into 11 abbreviated terms. Two of the most common Incoterms are CIF and FOB. CIF (Cost, Insurance and Freight) means the selling party arranges the transportation to the agreed port. The meaning of Free on Board (FOB) is the seller is responsible for the goods until they have been placed on board of the ship. There are additionally more Incoterms 2000 like Delivered Duty Paid (DDP), Ex Works (EXW), Free Carrier (FCA), Carriage Paid To (CPT) and Cost and Freight (CFR), Carriage and Insurance Paid To (CIP), Delivered at Place Unloaded (DPU).