Question 1

How is ocean freight calculated?

Accepted Answer

Ocean Freight is calculated using the number of goods that are being shipped and where they are being shipped from/to. The current competition there is for shipping in that trade lane can also affect the rate. Individual carriers will have different free time agreements so this should also be factored in when choosing. 

If the goods are shipped in a container, the ocean freight rate will be calculated per container. These rates can be different for the size and type of container that is being shipped (EG 40’DV & 40’HC), so ask for a quote for the exact shipping equipment that you require.

If the goods are shipped as part of a loaded container (LCL), then the sea freight will be determined using the FCL container rate (that the co-loader will pay to the carrier), the loading/unloading, the administration and the volume/weight of your consignment. 

At Cory Brothers, we provide you with cost-effective ocean freight. Get in touch for more info.

Question 2

How does ocean freight work?

Accepted Answer

Ocean freight works by transporting goods in a container, or as bulk/break bulk, by sea vessel. The entire process for ocean freight is the same, whether you are importing or exporting your goods from the UK, but your part will be different depending on your role as either the buyer or seller. 

The beginning of the process is making the booking with the carrier to move your goods on a specific vessel, using a particular piece of equipment. The haulier will then collect this equipment from an assigned depot, advise the equipment number to your ocean freight forwarder and load the goods.

The carrier will book the equipment onto the port by updating the export manifest with the equipment number. Whilst the carrier must allocate the equipment numbers to a manifest, the customs clearance agent needs to provide the carrier with a clearance before the vessel is loaded.

If the shipment is bulk or break bulk, the goods will be unpacked at the port and loaded to the vessel directly. If the shipment is an LCL, then the goods will be taken to a warehouse for loading with other consignments before the containers manifest is provided to the carrier for vessel loading.

Once the goods are received at the Port Of Arrival (POA), they will require carrier release, customs clearance and inland haulage to take the goods to their destination. If the goods are LCL, then they will go to an Electronic Remote Transit Shed (ERTS) for devanning and collection by the importer.

Cory Brothers are experts in Ocean Freight coordination. Please get in touch for more information

Question 3

How long does ocean freight take?

Accepted Answer

Ocean freight takes varying lengths of time depending on where the goods are going, if there is a wait for the vessel to leave the port of loading and if the loading vessel is going to the port of arrival. Other delays can also come from customs, consolidators, documents and port congestion.

If your goods are coming from China to the UK, the ocean freight will take approximately 30 days to get to the Port of Felixstowe, or 36 days to get to the Port of Liverpool. This is because most vessels from China will go to Felixstowe but Liverpool containers will need transhipping in Europe first.

From arrival, your goods will be booked for delivery to you. This is usually within 5 days because of container free time but there may be longer free time available with certain carriers. To collect the container, it must be customs cleared and the Bill Of Lading presented to the carrier.

For LCL shipments, the container will usually be devanned and your goods available for collection within a week. However, even if your shipment is customs cleared, if there is a holdup of one consignment within the groupage container with Port Health, the container will remain in port.

Cory Brothers can give an accurate forecast for whatever movements you need. Contact us today.

Question 4

Is ocean freight cheaper than air freight?

Accepted Answer

Ocean freight is far cheaper than air freight if the only metric is transport cost by weight or per piece. If there is value in having the goods faster, or there are infrequent orders for a certain item that attracts high storage costs to keep on hand, then air freight could be a cheaper option overall.

When looking at the cost between ocean freight and air freight, sea freight is always preferable when there is no urgent need for a larger volume of goods. Air freight is normally selected when the goods are required asap, or for important documents, and the additional costs are worth the speed.

Cory Brothers supplies cost-effective solutions for ocean and air freight. Contact us for more info.

Question 5

How much is ocean freight from China?

Accepted Answer

How much ocean freight is from China depends on the competition and equipment you require. The cost for ocean freight can be as low as $600 for a 20’ if there are empties needed in the UK, to over $9000 when there was worldwide congestion before Christmas after the coronavirus lockdown.

During normal times, ocean freight fluctuates around $900 for a 20’ and $1800 for a 40’ from China to the Pot of Felixstowe in the UK. The transit time, terminal charges and the free time differ by carrier so these should also be factored in when deciding which carrier to use for your ocean freight.

LCL shipments will incur a fraction of the costs for container handling, as this is shared between all of the consignments inside a container. However, there will be other fees (again, as a fraction) incurred for the additional handling, administration and transporting of your shipment from the co-loader.

At Cory Brothers, we give you the best ocean freight options for your business. Get in touch today.

Name	Position	Location	Telephone / Email
Adam Rake	Operations Manager	Ipswich United Kingdom	Office: +44 (0) 1394 674822 Email: adam.rake@corybrothers.com
Alexis Van Costenobel	General Manager Global Hubs	Thames United Kingdom	Direct: +44 (0) 1268 723789 Office: +44 (0) 1268 723780 Mobile: +44 (0) 7831 667181 Email: alexis.vancostenobel@corybrothers.com Group: hub.agency@corybrothers.com
Chris Barker	Agency Operations Manager - Humber	Immingham United Kingdom	Office: +44 (0) 1469 565700 Mobile: +44 (0) 7885 803627 Email: chris.barker@corybrothers.com Group: agency.immingham@corybrothers.com
Colin Blogg	General Manager	Middlesbrough United Kingdom	Direct: +44 (0) 1642 264628 Office: +44 (0) 1642 264620 Mobile: +44 (0) 7500 442618 Email: colin.blogg@corybrothers.com Group: agency.tees@corybrothers.com
Danny Walsh	Logistics Manager	Grangemouth United Kingdom	Tel: +44 (0) 1324 514004 Mobile: +44 (0) 7899 875217 Email: danny.walsh@corybrothers.com
Dave Walmsley	Operations Manager - Mersey	Mersey United Kingdom	Direct: +44 (0) 151 737 5980 Office: +44 (0) 151 334 0530 Mobile: +44 (0) 7885 804625 Email: dave.walmsley@corybrothers.com Group: agency.mersey@corybrothers.com
David Hembling	Export Manager	Ipswich United Kingdom	Office: +44 (0) 1394 601107 Email: david.hembling@corybrothers.com
David Noble	Finance Director	Mersey United Kingdom	Email: david.noble@corybrothers.com
Erika Scarlett	Import Manager	Ipswich United Kingdom	Office: +44 (0) 1394 601148 Email: erika.scarlett@corybrothers.com
Fred Gladis	Operations Manager – East Coast	New Jersey USA	Office: +1 908 232 3200 Mobile: +1 908 499 7026 Email: fred.gladis@corybrothers.com Group: agency.newyork@corybrothers.com
Geoff Palmer	Agency Manager	Grangemouth United Kingdom	Office: +44 (0) 1324 473382 Mobile: +44 (0) 7966 966796 Email: geoff.palmer@corybrothers.com Group: agency.grangemouth@corybrothers.com
Guy Lear	Commercial Director – Agency & Hub	Basildon United Kingdom	Mobile: +44 7836 326126
Ian Pervis	Agency Manager	Middlesbrough United Kingdom	Office: +44(0) 1642 264620 Mobile: +44(0) 7879 437597
Ian Remington	Operations Manager	Southampton United Kingdom	Office: +44 (0) 2380 748860 Mobile: +44 (0) 7798 731772 Email: ian.remington@corybrothers.com Group: agency.southampton@corybrothers.com
James Crosby	Director, Logistics Division	Ipswich United Kingdom	Office: +44 (0) 1394 674822 Email: james.crosby@corybrothers.com Group: sales@corybrothers.com
Jared Bunge	General Manager - USA	Houston USA	Office: 001 832 870 3777 Mobile: 001 713 904 5782 Email: jared.bunge@corybrothers.com Group: agency.houston@corybrothers.com
Jason Laugharne	Agency Manager	Milford Haven United Kingdom	Office: +44 (0) 1646 692472 Mobile: +44 (0) 7880 785 993 Email: jason.laugharne@corybrothers.com Group: agency.milford@corybrothers.com
Jenny Butler	Director, LINER Division	Ipswich United Kingdom	Office: +44 (0) 1394 601142 Email: Jenny.butler@corybrothers.com
John Snip	Agency Manager	Amsterdam The Netherlands	Office: +31 20 448 6843 Email: john.snip@corybrothers.com
Kyle Casciaro	Agency Manager	Gibraltar	Office: +35 0200 44004 Email: Kyle.casciaro@corybrothers.com Group: agency.gibraltar@corybrothers.com
Mark Cooke	Brand Ambassador	Ipswich United Kingdom	Direct: +44 (0) 1394 601129 Office: +44 (0) 1394 674822 Mobile: +44 (0) 774 769 2418 Email: mark.cooke@corybrothers.com
Marta Tirado	Head of HR	Ipswich United Kingdom	Office: +44 (0) 1394 674822 Mobile: +44 7909 243189
Martin Castro	Group Legal Counsel and Company Secretary	Ipswich United Kingdom	Mobile: +44 7909 244830
Mike Bowden	Group Marketing & PR Manager	Ipswich United Kingdom	Direct: +44 (0) 1394 601102 Office: +44 (0) 1394 674822 Mobile: +44 (0) 7741 741724 Email: mike.bowden@corybrothers.com
Natalie Tippins	Commercial Team Leader	Ipswich United Kingdom	Office: +44 (0) 1394 601168 Email: natalie.tippins@corybrothers.com
Nathan Gearing	General Manager	Immingham United Kingdom	Office: +44 (0) 1469 565700 Email: nathan.gearing@corybrothers.com
Neil Flower	Director, Agency Division	Mersey United Kingdom	Office: +44 (0) 151 334 0530 Mobile: +44 (0) 7879 437608 Email: neil.flower@corybrothers.com Group: agency.mersey@corybrothers.com
Paul Richards	Agency Manager	Teesport United Kingdom	Office: +44 (0) 1642 468331 Mobile: +44 (0) 7879 437595 Email: paul.richards@corybrothers.com Group: agency.potash@corybrothers.com
Paul Scott	Brand Ambassador	Southampton United Kingdom	Office: +44 (0) 2380 748860 Mobile: 07525 908011 Email: paul.scott@corybrothers.com Group: agency.southampton@corybrothers.com
Peter Wilson	Managing Director	Ipswich United Kingdom	Direct: +44 (0) 1394 601136 Office: +44 (0) 1394 674822 Mobile: +44 (0) 7831 516266 Email: peter.wilson@corybrothers.com
Phoebe Smith	VIP Team Manager	Ipswich United Kingdom	Office: +44 (0) 1394 601145 Email: phoebe.smith@corybrothers.com
Richard Jennings	General Manager of Sales	Ipswich United Kingdom	Direct: +44 (0) 1394 601116 Office: +44 (0) 1394 674822 Mobile: +44 (0) 7711 177586 Email: richard.jennings@corybrothers.com
Richard Smith	Agency Manager	Cardiff United Kingdom	Office: +44 (0) 2920 361540 Email: agency.cardiff@corybrothers.com
Saravanan Samiya	Head of Operations - Asia	Singapore	Office: 0065 6339 3637 Mobile: 0065 9791 1313 Email: saravanan.samiya@corybrothers.com Group: agency.singapore@corybrothers.com
Sean O’Brien	Compliance Director	Southampton United Kingdom	Office: +44 (0) 2380 748860 Mobile: +44 (0) 7917 899229 Email: sean.obrien@corybrothers.com Group: agency.southampton@corybrothers.com
Shaun Gray	Customs Manager	Sheerness United Kingdom	Office: +44 (0) 1795 667971 Mobile: +44 (0) 7584 489614 Email: shaun.gray@corybrothers.com Group: customs.sheerness@corybrothers.com
Sue Gibbons	Logistics Manager	Cardiff United Kingdom	Office: +44 (0) 2920 360298 Mobile: +44 (0) 7775 400540 Email: sue.gibbons@corybrothers.com Group: logistics.cardiff@corybrothers.com
Tania Pearson	Market Intel Manager	Ipswich United Kingdom	Office: +44 (0) 1394 601118 Email: tania.pearson@corybrothers.com
Teressa Harding	General Manager of Ocean Freight and Procurement	Ipswich United Kingdom	Direct: +44(0) 1394 601183 Office: +44 (0) 1394 674822 Mobile: +44(0) 7990 573763 Email: teressa.harding@corybrothers.com

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Resources

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Our People

Not sure who you need? Send your enquiry to the relevant division at:

Want to know more about our services? Explore the divisions here:

Logistics

Ships Agency

Hub Agency

Liner Agency

Ships
Agency

Hub
Agency

Liner
Agency