Today’s global economy and international business often requires that employees be relocated outside the United States for extended periods of time. They will usually want to bring their personal effects and household items with them. Having familiar items around helps relocated employees make adjustment to a new environment easier. Household items and personal belongings can be shipped in ocean containers using freight services in place of an international moving company. Shipping personal belongings in ocean freight containers can save a considerable amount of money over the moving companies. There are specific requirements for packaging as well as loading the ocean crate. Household items like furniture, dishes, and electronics, as well as personal belongings like clothing may be shipped via cargo transport ships at a savings over international moving costs. As long as the items are properly packaged and labeled and not for resale in the destination country, shipping personal belongings in ocean containers should be reasonably trouble free.

Our freight containers are available in varying sizes to accommodate large or small shipping requirements. Containers are available in 20 feet (6.1 m) and 40 feet (12.2 m) sizes. Containers up to 45 feet are available for large cargo shipping requirements. The 20 feet container is usually sufficient for shipping most personal belongings. If the amount of personal belongings to be shipped will not fill the 20 feet container, it can be shipped LCL or less than container load as long as the items are crated, palletized, and properly boxed. Cargo should be placed on a pallet and shrink wrapped to protect against shifting during transit. Shrink wrapping also helps to keep out moisture. Care should be taken when packaging electronics in particular because ocean containers are stacked on the ship for transport, and will be exposed to changes in temperature and humidity. We work with you to ensure that personal belongings arrive safely at the destination port.

Special care should be taken when completing the bill of lading prior to shipping. We help you make sure that the bill lists all boxes and items that are going to be placed in the container for international shipping. A bill of lading may sometimes be amended, but it is not always possible to amend it. The bill of lading has to be presented at the destination port to recover the cargo once it has arrived. Some items can not be shipped in cargo containers on ocean going vessels. Most restrictions are common sense. Live animals and plants, for example, can not be shipped as ocean cargo. Food items, whether dried or canned, should not be shipped in cargo containers. Most food items will probably not be permitted to enter the country of destination. Cargo shipments containing household good and personal items not for sale with a total value of less than $2,500 are exempt from SED filing requirements. We work with you to make sure that all paperwork is completed so that your cargo is available for pick up at the destination port without delay.