Ocean Freight

Full container and consolidated ocean freight, managed by people who take ownership of your shipment and keep you informed from booking to delivery.

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Ocean freight without the guesswork

When you ship by ocean freight, you need to know where your cargo is, when it will arrive, what it will cost and what happens if something changes. Our job is to give you those answers clearly, and to keep giving them until your goods are delivered.

Whether you need a dedicated container or space in a shared one, we plan the right option for your cargo, manage the booking and paperwork, and stay with the shipment from origin to destination.

Our ocean freight services

Dedicated shipping container for full container load freight

Full Container Load (FCL)

A container used only for your cargo. FCL suits larger volumes, high-value or sensitive goods, and shipments where you want the container to stay sealed from origin to destination.

Consolidated cargo being loaded into a container

Less than Container Load (LCL)

Cost-effective consolidation for cargo that does not need a full container. Your goods share a container with other shippers' cargo, so you pay for the space you use. LCL suits smaller or regular shipments, and businesses moving goods to a new market or from a new supplier.

FCL or LCL?

The right choice depends on your volume, budget, timing and the type of goods. As a general guide:

	FCL	LCL
Best for	Larger volumes and goods that should not be mixed with other cargo	Smaller shipments that do not fill a container
Cost	One price for the whole container	Pay for the space your cargo uses
Transit time	Usually faster, as the container goes straight to the port	Usually longer, allowing for consolidation and unpacking at each end
Handling	Packed once and opened at destination	Handled more often in consolidation warehouses

Where your volume sits close to the point at which a full container becomes better value, ask us to compare both options. That point varies by trade lane and season.

Container handling at a freight terminal

What we handle

Space booking with carriers
Export and import documentation
Customs clearance, through our Customs Clearance service
Collection and delivery by road, through our Road and Inland Transport service
Storage before or after the ocean leg, through our Warehousing and Distribution service
Shipment updates from booking to delivery

How it works

Tell us what you are shipping.
The goods, the volume and weight, where they are going from and to, and when they will be ready.
We set out your options.
FCL or LCL, routing, cost and expected transit time, with any risks explained plainly.
We book and prepare the documents.
Space with the carrier, and the paperwork needed at each end.
We manage the shipment.
You get updates as the shipment moves. If a sailing is delayed or cancelled, we tell you and set out the alternatives.
We complete the delivery.
Customs clearance and final delivery, coordinated by the same team.

Why ship with Seaboard Freight

Experienced people, senior involvement

You deal with people who know international shipping, and senior staff stay involved. You are a customer, not an account number.

Straight answers

We tell you the cost, the timing and the risks as they are, including when the news is not what you want to hear.

Updates before you chase

We manage your shipment actively and keep you informed, so you are not left calling to find out where your cargo is.

Options when plans change

Blank sailings, port congestion and route disruption happen. When they affect your cargo, we look for alternatives and explain the trade-offs so you can decide.

Strong carrier and partner relationships

Our relationships with carriers and partners across major trade lanes give you more options on space, routing and timing.

One team across every mode

Ocean, air, road, Customs and project cargo are coordinated by one accountable team, so you do not have to manage several providers.

Container vessel at an international port

Where we ship

We focus on trade between the UK and Europe, the Middle East and GCC, Pakistan and South Asia, as well as wider Europe to Asia ocean freight.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between FCL and LCL?

With FCL, your cargo has a container to itself. With LCL, your goods share a container with other shippers' cargo and you pay for the space you use. FCL is usually faster and involves less handling. LCL is usually more economical for smaller volumes.

How long does ocean freight take?

It depends on the route, the carrier and the service. Port-to-port sailing time is only part of the journey, so also allow time for collection, Customs clearance and final delivery. We give you an expected transit time with every quote.

What information do you need for a quote?

A description of the goods, the number of packages with their weight and dimensions or total volume, the collection and delivery addresses, the date the cargo will be ready and the agreed Incoterms, if known.

Can you handle Customs clearance?

Yes. Our Customs Clearance service coordinates the formalities and documentation so your cargo moves compliantly across borders.

What happens if my sailing is delayed or cancelled?

We tell you as soon as we know, explain the options, such as another sailing, another routing or another mode, and agree the next step with you.