Mercator was instructed to arrange the sea freight shipping of three mobile cranes from Southampton in the UK to Taiwan. The cargo was classed as oversized (also sometimes referred to as out of gauge cargo). Due to the dimensions, non-standard shipping containers were used. If oversized cargo shipping is not planned thoroughly then it can end up being very expensive. The three cranes were loaded onto two flat rack shipping containers and one open top container.
Two of the cranes fitted into the parameters of the flat rack shipping containers after some adjusting – including removing the wing mirrors. This small adjustment took a few minutes but saved thousands in shipping costs. If the crane were overhanging the sides of the shipping container (even if it was just a wing mirror) then the shipper would be liable to pay for all the spaces around the container on the ship which would be unusable. The other crane was driven into the open top container, it was such a tight squeeze that the driver had to climb out of the window as the door wouldn’t open.
We managed to get the cargo into three shipping spaces on the vessel, but if not done thoroughly then it could have been up to 6 or 7 spaces to pay for for each crane! Therefore, it’s really important if you are going to ship something that is oversized to ensure that you choose a reputable freight forwarder who will do everything that they can in order to keep the cargo within the gauge of the container. A good freight forwarder is worth their weight in gold.
To ensure that everything would go smoothly, our MD (Paul) took a trip to Southampton Port on the morning of the crane loading and strapping to ensure he was satisfied with the shipping plans. The lashing on the cargo is important to ensure that there is no movement (and therefore avoiding damage) during the shipping process. Each mobile crane weighed in at about 25 tonnes, therefore the lashing put in place would have been for up to 3 times the cargo weight.
Later that day, the cranes were transported to the dock side, loaded onto the shipping vessel and set sail for Taiwan.
If you have an unusual load that you need to ship internationally, then get in contact with Mercator’s shipping team. We have over 20 years’ of experience in international freight forwarding, and thanks to our founding membership of MarcoPoloLine (a worldwide network of independent, vetted freight agents in over 90 countries) we have contacts across the globe to ensure the safe onward transit of your shipping consignment.
We were recently tasked with shipping a rib from Hamble in Hampshire to Egypt. Our customer had bought the boat a few months previously but was struggling to find a freight forwarder who offered a sensible solution to the shipping task.
When the customer approached our export department, we suggested loading the rib into a 40 foot container, this would ensure that the cargo was safe and secure in transit, and provides an easy onward forwarding solution once the container arrived in Egypt.
Other freight forwarders that our customer had spoken to had suggested shipping the cargo from Felixstowe or London Gateway. As the customer was located in Hampshire, the best, most cost effective way to transport the container was via the Southampton port. As such, we were able to save our customer money on the transportation costs, and a lot of headaches by ensuring that the boat was secured within the container.
Mercator Cargo is an independent, family-run freight forwarder based in Portsmouth. We are big enough to cope but small enough to care. If you are looking for a new freight forwarder then please do get in touch, even if it is for a quote comparison.
Mercator’s export team arranges shipping to Egypt regularly and are well versed in transit routes, times and customs requirements. So if you have cargo which you wish to ship to Egypt, get in touch today with our team of experienced freight forwarders – Tel. 02392 756 575. Email: sales@mercatorcargo.co.uk.
The government recently highlighted a huge gap in the UK’s potential exports. The UK’s largest manufacturing sector is food and drink, with a turnover of in excess of £90bn. Despite this impressive statistic only 10% of UK food and drink manufacturers currently export their goods.
If you’re a UK food or drink manufacturer and have not been involved in shipping before you may be asking ‘how do I export my goods?’
Obviously the first step is to find a buyer for your goods abroad. Once you have achieved this, the next step is to arrange the shipping of your food or drink.
In order to do this, the best route is to appoint a freight forwarder to handle this for you. Finding a reliable and reputable freight forwarder can be a bit of a task. Your freight forwarder will need to have knowledge of required documents for exporting food and drink, and also understand port health restrictions, which differ from country to country.
For this reason, it is important to choose a freight forwarder who has contacts globally. Mercator Cargo has these relevant contacts as we are a founding member of the global freight forwarding network Marco Polo Line (MPL). Using our contacts from MPL, we can draw on local knowledge at your cargo’s destination.
In the sector of international trade and shipping, knowledge is extremely powerful; it can avoid great mistakes and achieve great advantages. Mercator has a core team of experienced freight forwarders who have been working in the industry for the entirety of their careers; freight forwarding is their bread and butter.
When in discussion with your buyer, you will need to agree on what “INCO terms” you are selling your food or drink. “INCO terms” are an internationally understood terms of buying and selling, the terms outline what you as a seller are liable to pay for and what the buyer will need to pay. Discuss this in further detail with our export team if you are unsure, we will do our best to make this clear for you.
Give Mercator Cargo a call today and ask for the export team to discuss exporting your UK manufactured food and drink – Tel. 02392 756 575. Email: sales@mercatorcargo.co.uk.
Have you had problems with your shipments recently that your freight forwarder has not attempted to resolve for you?
When you call your freight forwarder do you always speak to a different person, and therefore lack continuity?
Are you unhappy with the service that your freight forwarder provides?
Does your freight forwarder not have the specialist knowledge needed to handle your shipments?
If the answer to any of the above questions is ‘yes’, then it is time you looked to change your freight forwarder. Having a freight forwarder that does not fit or understand your business can be very costly to you and your company.
Mercator Cargo is an independent freight forwarder based in the UK and has been running for over twenty years under the same managing family.
At Mercator we pride ourselves on excellent customer service. If (and we mean IF) there was a problem with your shipment, we would endeavour to sort it for you, it is after all our job. Remember we are working for you.
When you choose Mercator as your new freight forwarder you will be appointed a personal contact here in the office. This experienced member of our team will handle all your shipments and be in contact with you personally about the movements of your goods.
Mercator is a founding partner of a global network of freight forwarders. Our membership in this network means we have personal contacts in over 90 countries worldwide. We regularly attend the network conferences which means we have built excellent working relationships with other forwarders globally. This will benefit you as a customer because we can offer ‘to door’ shipments in almost every country and we have valuable local knowledge where ever your cargo goes.
Our freight forwarding team is long-standing and the majority are part of the managing family. This is huge strength because it means our best interests for you as the customer are at the heart of what we do. Each member of our team cares for the company and our customers.
Now that you know you’re looking for a new freight forwarder, why not give Mercator a call now to discuss what we can do for you and your business – Tel. 02392 756 575. Email: sales@mercatorcargo.co.uk.
Marco Polo Line (MPL), a global network of independent freight forwarders held its annual conference last week in Cape Town, South Africa. Mercator Cargo is a founding partner of the network, and this year our representatives were Paul (our MD).
There were just over ninety freight forwarders from across the world in attendance this year. The annual conferences allow Mercator the opportunity to network with other freight forwarders that we work with on a regular basis. This has great advantages to our service offerings globally, for example, if there were a problem at your cargo’s destination, we could call on our local freight forwarder there to resolve the issue. Having contacts in most countries also means we have access to valuable local information, for example customs and document requirements.
We believe that being part of the global network MPL enhances our service we offer to our customers. As an independent freight forwarder, we pride ourselves on providing a personal service to our clients no matter how large or small.
If you’re looking for an experienced freight forwarder to handle your shipments, whether they are imports or exports, then give us a call to discuss your requirements – Tel. 02392 756 575. Email: sales@mercatorcargo.co.uk.
The export market for goods to be shipped to Australia from the UK has grown recently. As a result, Mercator has seen an increase in shipping activity to Australia from the UK, and as such we have become more experienced in handling shipments to Australia.
Our experience in shipping to Australia means that we have had the opportunity to build great working relationships with other agents in Australia. This can be extremely helpful to you as a customer when you are shipping your goods to Australia, as we can arrange for our partner agents to complete your customs clearance and delivery to the door of your goods destination.
Australia has some strict customs rules to understand before you begin shipping to Australia from the UK. Even if your product is safe to pass through customs without an issue, there is even the packaging to consider. Any kind of wood will need to be treated for shipping to Australia from the UK. This is a topic you can discuss with one of our freight forwarders if you think it might be an issue.
The typical sea freight shipping time to Australia from the UK is up to forty-five days, this depends on which port your goods are being shipped to. This is something you can discuss with our export department in further detail.
Give us a call to discuss your shipping to Australia from the UK for further details and for a quotation – Tel. 02392 756 575. Email: sales@mercatorcargo.co.uk.
The Turkish economy has been strengthening over the past few years. As such, people who live in Turkey have been demanding bigger and better houses and more sophisticated technology. This has led to a demand in imports in Turkey for raw materials for construction, technology items, clothing, household furniture and goods, and so on.
Shipping UK manufactured goods to Turkey has become big business; Turkey has become a leading source for exports from the UK. Istanbul’s high street is now lined with shops such as Marks and Spencer and Next. It is the perfect time for the UK’s economy to cash in on Turkey’s construction and economic boom.
Mercator Cargo is an independent freight forwarder and over the past couple of years we have seen a big increase in shipping to Turkey services, in particular sea freight, where it is more cost effective to ship large amounts of goods (as opposed to air freight services).
Shipping to Turkey can be a complex task if you decide to arrange it without the help of a freight forwarder, it can be more cost effective to use a freight forwarder. This may seem a silly statement, but if you use a freight forwarder for your shipping to Turkey, then they will phone around the shipping lines, or airlines, to get the best deal. Often a freight forwarder’s long-term business relationship with the carriers will pay off. Also, by using a freight forwarder you are going to avoid simple mistakes which could end up quite costly to you and your business. It is a simple decision to instruct a freight forwarder who will handle all elements of your shipping to Turkey.
Contact our export department to discuss shipping to Turkey, to arrange a service fitted to your business needs and get a no obligation quotation – Tel. 02392 756 575. Email: sales@mercatorcargo.co.uk.
Mercator Cargo is an independent freight forwarder based in the UK. We’ve been running for over twenty years and have offered air freight services since forming in 1991.
This year, Mercator Cargo has become a member of the international freight forwarder association IATA (International Air Transport Association). This means that Mercator‘s freight forwarding team can deal with the airlines for air freight services direct. This allows our air freight services to be more competitive, flexible and have a greater coverage of the globe.
We can now provide air freight services to more countries, at better rates and more frequently than before. We cover both air freight imports and exports thanks to our founding membership of the international freight forwarder network MarcoPolo Line (MPL).
If you are looking for a freight forwarder that offers air freight services internationally, then give one of our freight forwarders a call today to discuss your air freight shipment and provide a quote – Tel. 02392 756 575. Email: sales@mercatorcargo.co.uk.
10, St George’s Business Centre,
St Georges Square,
Portsmouth, PO1 3EZ, UK
Mercator is a family-run, UK based independent freight forwarder, offering highly effective sea, road and air freight services around the world.
