Mercator’s export team recently managed a shipment for sea freight to USA, moving a 40’ high cube container from a customer’s premises in the UK through London Gateway port and on to Charleston, USA. The movement was handled on a CFR (cost and freight) basis, with our team arranging everything from collection at origin through to landing at Charleston port in the USA, at which point (under CFR incoterms) the responsibility and risk transferred from the UK exporter to the US importer.
The process began at the client’s door in the UK, where the container was positioned for loading. Once packed and sealed, we arranged for the container to be transported to London Gateway, ready for export sea freight to USA.
UK export customs clearance was completed in-house utilising our specialist software and direct links to London Gateway port, with all documentation checked and submitted to ensure compliance. As with all sea freight to USA movements, attention to detail at this stage is essential. Our team also arranged the verified gross mass (VGM), allowing the container to be accepted for loading without delay.
Routing via London Gateway provided a reliable and efficient departure point for this sea freight to USA shipment. With regular direct transatlantic services available, the container was loaded onto the scheduled vessel and departed as planned. Careful selection of the sailing ensured a fast crossing, with a port-to-port transit time of 10 days into Charleston.
For many clients, transit time plays a key role when choosing sea freight to USA, and this shipment demonstrates how ocean freight can offer both reliability and competitiveness when planned correctly. Particularly when shipping to the East Coast of the USA, there are many options for shipping lines and routings, with some sailings taking as little as 7 days.
From initial collection through to departure, this shipment highlights the benefit of a fully managed approach for sea freight to USA by an experienced freight forwarder. With our team coordinating each stage of the movement – transport, documentation, compliance and sea freight to USA – we were able to deliver a smooth and predictable service.
If you have a shipment for sea freight to USA, whether it is a full container load or a single pallet for LCL (less than container load) shipping, get in touch with our team who will be glad to provide you with a quote. We can handle shipments to the USA on all incoterms, including DDP (delivery duty paid – a full door to door service) thanks to our strong connections with our US freight forwarding partner agent based in Chicago and New York.
To request a quote from our team, you can call us on (+44) 02392 756 575, email sales@mercatorcargo.co.uk or complete the form below and we will be in touch.
