SHIPPING

Your sea freight forwarding partner

Sea freight is the most common way to ship goods across the globe. It’s an affordable way to import and export goods, gain access to new products and markets and to grow your business.

The process can seem confusing, with plenty of potential for hold-ups and delays. For that reason, most companies will choose to work with a third party sea freight service such as SSO Logistics.

SSO Logistics is one of the UK’s leading sea freight forwarding companies. Based in the Northwest of the UK near major air and seaports, with good motorway access to the rest of the UK, we make the process straightforward.

With our extensive network of contacts across the industry, we can ensure that your goods are shipped as efficiently and cost-effectively as possible.

What our services include

SSO Logistics provide a comprehensive set of sea freight forwarding services to get your goods to their final destination, safely, efficiently and at a price that works for you. As well as taking care of the practicalities, we’re also on hand to provide advice and support every step of the way.

We work with a range of global agents to arrange sea transportation for your goods from door to quay, or door to door.

We take the hassle out of finding affordable shipping and customs, allowing you to successfully trade across borders.

Some of the comprehensive set of services we provide include:

Global FCL & LCL services
Customs clearance
Facility to customs clear and deliver cargo from all major UK ports throughout the UK
Storage facilities in St Helens
Consular documentation
Inward processing expertise and support

Why choose sea freight forwarding?

Sea freight is the most common way to ship goods internationally, with vast amounts of products being transported across the globe by carrier ships every day. The goods are packed into containers and then loaded onto a vessel before beginning their journey.

Cargo ships are large and can typically carry around 18,000 containers. This makes shipping via sea highly cost-effective when it comes to transporting large quantities over a significant distance.

There are a number of different methods for transporting goods via sea freight. These include:

FCL

FCL stands for Full Container Load. This is when you purchase one or more containers for your sole use to send on a ship. It can be more cost-effective for larger quantities of goods and reduces the amount of handling that those goods will have during the shipping process.

LCL

LCL stands for Less Than Container Load. This is a shipping method where goods from different companies share a container. This will usually be chosen when the quantity of goods being shipped by an individual company is not enough to fill most of a single container.

While this is cheaper for smaller quantities, it is actually more expensive per cubic metre than purchasing a full container. Once the container reaches the destination, the container’s contents are divided and continue on with their journey.

RORO

RORO or Roll On Roll Off is a sea freight shipping method where products do not leave the vehicles they are in to go onto the cargo ship. The vehicle drives onto the ship, then drives off at the other end. That vehicle may then complete the journey.

Dry Bulk Shipping

This method is used for some specific items, which are then deposited into the hold of the ship instead of travelling in a container.

Choosing the right shipping method for you

Your choice of shipping method can have a significant impact on the overall cost of your sea freight. Your freight forwarding company will advise about the most efficient and cost-effective means to transport your goods and will negotiate a competitive price with a shipping company.

The process itself can seem confusing. Finding a reliable and competitive shipping method, handling documentation and customs all present plenty of potential for pitfalls and hold-ups.

Employing a freight forwarding company is a practical option, helping you streamline your business while allowing your import and export operation to grow.

Make SSO Logistics your first choice

SSO Logistics have a proven track record in sea freight forwarding. We provide invaluable support, based on our extensive knowledge of shipping, import and export procedures to our growing client list.

Excellent customer service is at the heart of everything we do, removing the hassle and hard work from the sea freight shipping process. We take care of all the details allowing you to focus on your core business.

Despite our commitment to reducing costs we never compromise on the quality of the companies that we work with. All of our logistics partners have a proven track record of delivery and reliability.

We also work quickly, meaning that if you need to organise shipping for your goods in a short space of time, then we can deliver.

Our location in St Helens means that we have ideal links to both the M6 and M62 motorways with easy access to Liverpool Seaport and the rest of the UK. Our services are also adaptable, and we work with companies of all sizes, finding solutions that fully meet the requirements of our clients.

We’re always happy to answer any questions you might have about sea freight forwarding or any of our services. Contact us today to find out more.