Cargo To Africa

Category: Cargo Shipping

  • Comparing Container, Breakbulk, and Air Freight Shipping Methods for Cargo to Africa

    Comparing Container, Breakbulk, and Air Freight Shipping Methods for Cargo to Africa

    Introduction:

    Shipping cargo to Africa presents a unique set of challenges, as the continent features diverse infrastructure, varying customs regulations, and a wide range of logistical requirements. When selecting the most suitable shipping method, businesses must consider cost, transit time, and the goods’ nature. This blog post will delve into the specifics of the container, break-bulk, and air freight shipping methods, discussing the advantages and disadvantages of African cargo transportation.

    Container Shipping



    Container shipping, the most popular method for transporting goods globally, involves loading cargo into large, standardized metal containers, typically measuring 20 or 40 feet in length. These containers are then stacked onto large vessels specially designed to transport them.

    Container Shipping Advantages

    Cost-effective: Container shipping is often more economical than other methods, especially for large goods. The standardization of containers allows for efficient loading and unloading processes, reducing labor costs.

    Security: Goods are securely sealed within the containers, reducing the risk of theft or damage during transit.

    Versatility: Containers can accommodate various types of cargo, including dry goods, refrigerated items, and even vehicles.

    Container Shipping Disadvantages

    Limited accessibility: Not all African ports can handle large container vessels. In such cases, businesses may need to rely on transshipment or use smaller feeder vessels, potentially increasing costs and transit time.

    Infrequent sailings: Some African routes may have less frequent container shipping services, leading to longer waiting times between sailings.

    Breakbulk Shipping



    Breakbulk shipping is a traditional method of transporting cargo that only fits within standard containers. This method involves loading individual pieces or units of cargo directly onto a vessel, often using cranes or other specialized equipment.

    Breakbulk Shipping Advantages

    Flexibility: Breakbulk shipping is ideal for transporting large or irregularly shaped cargo, such as machinery, heavy equipment, or bulk commodities like grain and minerals.

    Customization: Breakbulk vessels can be designed or adapted to accommodate various cargo types, providing tailored solutions for unique shipping requirements.

    Breakbulk Shipping Disadvantages

    Higher costs: Breakbulk shipping often involves more manual labor and specialized equipment, leading to increased costs compared to container shipping.

    Longer transit times: The loading and unloading processes for breakbulk cargo can be more time-consuming, resulting in extended transit times.

    Air Freight



    Air freight is transporting goods via air cargo carriers on dedicated cargo planes or in the cargo hold of commercial passenger flights.

    Air Freight Advantages

    Speed: Air freight is the fastest shipping method available, with transit times, typically ranging from a few hours to a few days, depending on the destination.

    Reliability: Air freight services generally operate on strict schedules, providing greater predictability and reducing the risk of delays.

    Air Freight Disadvantages

    High costs: Air freight is often significantly more expensive than other shipping methods, particularly for heavy or bulky cargo.

    Limited capacity: Air cargo carriers have strict weight and size restrictions, which may only be suitable for some types of cargo.

    Conclusion

    When shipping cargo to Africa, the optimal method depends on factors such as the nature of the goods, budget, and time constraints. Container shipping is a cost-effective solution for most types of cargo, while breakbulk shipping offers flexibility for oversized or irregularly shaped items. Air freight may be the best option for time-sensitive shipments, albeit at a higher cost. Ultimately, businesses must carefully evaluate their specific needs and choose the shipping method that best aligns with their objectives.

  • Colossal Cargo Ship Benjamin Franklin to Operate in Pacific

    Benjamin Franklin is one massive container ship that will start carrying cargo from May

    This colossal container ship and five like it are going to carry cargo across Pacific Ocean but they would not be coming to Puget Sound Ports. These ships are planned to start their journey from May this year.French-owned CMA CGM Group has made an announcement on Thursday that the trans-Pacific deployment of their gigantic cargo ships is real close and each one of these will be able to carry 18,000 TEUs. Thanks to these mammoth ships, delivering sea cargo to Africa, China, UK, US and Canada along with other international destinations will be quiet cost effective.

    Most of the cargo will be coming from China and will be delivered to international markets especially the US. Early this week, the Benjamin Franklin made quiet some news locally as well as globally when it reached the Terminal 18 at Seattle. It attracted plenty of notables and they all have shown their willingness to bring more and more ships like this one to their waters. That is a good news but they will have to wait as CMA CGM Group’s pearl River Express Service is going to use all these cargo ships on the route between West Coast of the United States and China, and unfortunately, Seattle does not come on this route.

    These ships are moved as constant stream in a circle, in China they will be calling at five ports before they arrive at the Port of Long Beach where they will unload import cargo. From there onwards, the ships will move up the coast to the Port of Oakland where they will load export cargo and finally head back to China where they will unload this cargo.

    The Benjamin Franklin ran a similar route early this week up the West Coast from Long Beach to Oakland, from where it went to Terminal 18 in Seattle. ED McCarthy, Chief Operating Officer, said Monday that they will be bringing the ship to service between China and Europe. He further added that “it will go back into Europe-Asia trade, that’s what the vessel normally does. The other five are in the Europe-Asia trade today. This will join in the Europe-Asia trade.”

  • How to be Smart When Sending Cargo to Nigeria?

    During the cargo delivery, human mistakes – caused by the human actions – are the common factor. What are the common mistakes that Nigerians do in the shipping process? How these shipping errors can be minimized?

    Like other life projects of the world, the shipping industry of Nigeria is also difficult and risky. There are many risks and difficulties in the Nigerian import and export business.  Many mistakes arise from the human actions which makes the shipping so difficult. These mistakes usually arisefrom the use of outdated methods of shipping and the lack of sensible about the shipping business. What major mistakes they do with the import and export business? The two major mistakes of Nigerian shipping business are given below.

    Indecorous packing of the goods

    The outer cover of the body saves the internal organs from damage and harm. In the same way the unusual wrapping of the shipment is not proved a healthy protector of the interior items. The packing is the vital element in the process of the shipping. Good packing keeps your products safe from damages and environmental factors. The damaging of the goods during the process of shipping happen routine wise due to human and mechanical errors. The fragile items are found in the list of mostly damaged items in the shipping process.

    Environmental conditions also effect the goods during the shipping which is apart from human error.  But these risks can be minimized by the use of good quality packing for the shipments. The care of the cargo handling staff is also considerable. They play an important role in the careful delivery of the goods.  This damage can be decreased by the proper monitoring of the cargo before delivery.

    The packing must be high quality for the safe shipping. Ceramics, breakable plates, electronics and any other thing that is fragile in nature required good packing for the shipping.

     Why Customs Seizure Happens?

    The mostly happened Nigerian customsseizures can be stopped by the removal of the agents and the importers from the process of the shipping.  What are the causes of the customs seizure? What the shipping agent do with the delivery? The following will help you to understand the customs seizure. The shipping agents play a game during the clearance process by hiding the airwaybill of the cargo. They do not pay the customs duty of the cargo.

    They hide the airway bill so cunningly and if this is detected during delivery, it could lead to customs seizure. The reliance on the cargo agent must lead your cargo to the customs seizure. The importing and exporting of the illegal things and the nonpayment of the duty are the major causes of the Customs seizure.

  • Elbe River Stuck Container Ship Rescued

    The two previous attempts had failed to free the container ship which had run aground

    What happened?

    A container ship had run aground in the Elbe River near Hamburg almost a week ago. The authorities made two attempts previously which had been unfruitful and failed miserably. It is expected to continue its voyage after the rescue.

    Many container and cargo ships run aground every now-and-then while they sail to deliver sea cargo to Africa, United State, China, United Kingdom and other countries of the world.

    When the rescue efforts began?

    At 2 a.m. local time (o1:00 UTC/GMT), the rescue efforts began and after 20 minutes of extensive efforts the cargo ship CSCL Indian Ocean was freed up. This ship had run aground almost a week ago in the Elbe River about 22 miles northwest of Hamburg. During the rescue attempts the affected section of the Elbe River was closed off to traffic. This operation was facilitated by the south-westerly winds in the North Sea and high tides on a new moon, then there were 12 tugboats that finally released the container ship.

     

    The ship is towed back into the shipping channel and five tugboats pulled it safely to the Hamburg at about 5:30 a.m. local time.

    Is the ship healthy enough to continue its voyage?

    The accident had been caused by a defect in the steering system, said the rescue team from the “Havariekommando Cuxhaven”. They said after initial check-ups that the steering system was in working order again and they have not found any evidence of any lasting damage. The authorities said that it will take a week for further check-ups and after that the cargo ship may leave Hamburg to continue its voyage on due course.

    What are the details of the vessel?

    CSCL Indian Ocean is one of the largest cargo ships in the world which was put in operation last year. It is 400 meters long and 59 meters wide and has the ability to carry the maximum number of containers is 19,100 teu. If you don’t know what teu is then in terms of measurement it is twenty-foot equivalent unit. There are only a few cargo vessels in the world that exceed 19,000 teu.

  • What are the Major Differences Between Strategic and Transactional Shippers

    Two types of the shippers are working in the logistics industry that are the Strategic and Transactional shipper. The key difference between both the shippers is given in the following article.

     What is Strategic shippers?

    The strategic shippers are risk opposing and they worked with renowned logistic companies. They are cost sensitive and strategic shoppers pay less price for freight and to get better services.

    Strategic shippers  consider their logistics capacity as basic to their prosperity.

    What is Transactional shippers?

    They do not  work for any logistics company. The Transactional shippers are price driven and see logistics services as a trade product.  In transactional shipper case the decision on the purchase is based only on the value of the freight.

    What are the key differences between the both types of the shippers?

    A solid  relationship with logistics providers

    The Transactional shippers have less sense about  to create a solid relationship as the strategic shippers build. The relationship between the workers and surroundings is most fruitful for the business development.  The strategic shipper on the other hand can build a healthy relationship with  logistics services. However the transactional shipper are not the true image of relation development.

    Difference of  shipping cost

    The strategic shipper’s sole concentration is on the cost of the shipping. In some events they pay some amount for the shipping but they consider the total cost to decrease the logistics charges.On the other hand the transactional shippers do not examine the cost of the shipping because their sole decision of the purchase is based on the total price of the freight.

    The use of  technology

    Strategic shipper is connected with a logistics company so that they can use their software to store the information and records of the shipping.  They are advanced than the transactional shippers in the setting of technology.  The use of technology reduces the risks and errors in the process of shipping. However, the Transactional shippers do not use the technology. They cannot take the benefits of software provided by outdoor logistics services.

    The use of KPIs (Key Process Indicators)

    The use of KPIs is a key process in the system of shipping. The value of KPIs can describe the quality value of the logistics service. In the case of strategic shippers and transactional shippers the concept of key process indicators is very different. According to the  strategic shippers point of view without the use of key process indicators you cannot manage the process of shipping. They use the KPIs to decrease the cost and to develop the shipping service.  The transactional shippers are totally different from strategic shippers because they don’t use KPIs in their process of shipping.

  • Nigerian Shippers Council Starts Cargo Tracking

    Nigerian shippers council starts tracking the cargo to check swift practices and opted for the International Cargo tracking Note (ICTN)

    Shippers’ Council begins cargo tracking to determine the sharp practices, the Nigerian Shippers Council has opted for ICTN systems with an early revenue target of around $87 million. The new tracking policy will also assist the country authorities to ascertain of goods coming to the country and it will be implemented Nigerian port transportation authorities.

    Estimated Cost To Instigate The Scheme

    According to the documents based on the 2014 NPA operational cargo statistics, the sum of N17,238,054,156.84 or $87,060,879.58 is estimated to instigate the system. The system proceeds to be generated at the present rates of administrative  fees for different cargo types.

    All cargo types supposed to depart from Nigerian ports either they are exported cargo imported from other countries or transit cargo must take a Nigerian Shippers Council entry number or ENS when it is a cargo from the UK or anywhere else from the world. An Exit summary Number EXS shall be needed in case of exports departing fro Nigeria. The Bill Of Lading must show these numbers and the final manifest of the vessel also require thee numbers.

    Advanced Cargo Declaration process

    The Shipper can use top 5 cargo carriers for shipping purpose. The shipper of the cargo according to the declaration is the person who is responsible for the declaration procedure. He delivers all the relevant information to the cargo.

    The procedure will ensure that the declaration made, is correct and all the information provided is true.  If the vessels are chartered ships, the Advanced Cargo Declaration shall be completed by the Chartered who issues  the Bill of Lading rather than the company owning the vessel.

    Projected Revenue Breakdown

    The projected revenue breakdown is mentioned according to the type of the cargo shipped, Containerised cargo at N5,263,731,000, while the Ro-Ro Cargo has N491,047,920, General Cargo N736,444,912, Bulk Cargo at N2,282,225,580, and the Crude Oil exports at N3, 464,604,744.48.

    Presidential approval by Ministry of Transport

    On 14th of May Ministry of Transport has given the presidential approval for the ICTN system to Nigerian Shipper Coucil NSC, but the scheme yet to be taken into effect.

    The documents show the presidential approval letter which is as, “Please evoke that following the presidential approval to the Federal Ministry of Transport (FMOT) for the re-introduction of the International Cargo Tracking Note (ICTN) scheme and the execution of the system by Nigerian Shippers’ Council – being the Interim Economic Regulator of the port sector in Nigeria, as carried to the council by the Director (Maritime Services) vide a letter Ref. T.0160/S.30/T4C dated 14th May, 2015, the Hon.

    Minister of Transport, in line with the presidential approval, requested Nigerian Shippers’ Council to work out/negotiate the Terms and conditions of the implementation contract of the scheme with Messrs Transport and Port Management System (TPMS) Nigeria Limited, as the technical implementation agents, and enter into an agreement with them in that regard.”

  • East African Countries To Use Electonic Cargo Tracking System

    Kenya and Rwanda to replicate electronic cargo tracking system previously used by Uganda

     

    Kenya and Rwanda confirm that they are looking to replicate the electronic cargo tracking system (ECTS)this year. This system will ultimately reduce the cost of transporting cargo on the northern corridor. The heads of the state summit in Kigali stated that the process of procurement and installation will be finalized soon to address the issues of cash deposits and overstayed cargo in Mombasa.

    What the new system will bring new?

    The new system is expected to lower the cost of transportation of cargo and time. It will also reduce the curb thefts of cargo while delivering from one place to another and diversion of goods destined for its market from the port of Mombasa. The revenue authority commissioner of Uganda for customs

    The Revenue Authority commissioner for Customs Richard Kamajugo, the framework will enhance the productivity of Customs procedures bringing about higher income accumulations.

    Benefits of electronic tracking system

    There will be a pre-entry clearance of goods route before the ship touches base at the port of Mombasa and the containers, which will spare time, said Mr Kamajugo, including that the new framework will likewise give real time data on the area and the status of the payload in travel. Prior to the presentation of the innovation, one could just know the area by calling so as to travel load the driver.

    ECTS trigger an alarm whenever there is a diversion from the actual route, it will also inform on every unusual or long stopover and it will even inform the authorities if someone tries to open the containers illegally. The new system will help in sealing the loopholes that cause these countries loss in revenues through suspected under-declaration of the value of the exports and theft of cargo. The electronic tracking system had helped the traders in Uganda to minimize the costs and time of doing business from one week to just one and a half day.

    Costs of the system

    When the trucks face delay along the transit route, it costs $200 to $250 per day. Sometime the total cost or maybe a partial cost is passed over the owner of the goods. All this process was increasing the overall cost of goods being transported through this transit route. It was not only because of the unusual stoppages in the corridor, but the distance also was a factor.

    The New system will ensure that the countries will get precise information on imports and exports of goods from the port to the destination.

  • North Sea Storm Destroys Cargo

    The strong winds are causing more damage to the ships than anything else

    This week the North Sea is really furious and causing severe damage to the cargo ships whether they be sailing to deliver sea cargo to Africa or U.S. or any other country across the globe. The damages that we are talking about is related to ships being smashed against docks, cargo being torn from weather decks, vessels being aground by the high winds and waves of Storm Frank.

    The incidents are being reported at the Valhall, Eldfisk, Troll, and Embla fields offshore Norway, and heavy weather has also cause accidents around the region. The cargo that gets damaged during such incidents is supposed to be used for door-to-door deliveries, parcel deliveries and others like that. On Wednesday, a general cargo vessel Norholm went hard aground in Marstal Harbor, Denmark.

    According to Poul Sakmose, yard manager, they were about to receive the ship for classification service and regular inspection when the current and strong southeast wind carried her off. After the incident, it is reported that there was no damage to ship, pollution to area and injuries to the crew or workers sustained.

    Storm’s heavy waves have repeatedly smashed Condor Liberation, Condor Ferries high-speed passenger vessel, against the dock in the harbour at Poole, England. According to the authorities, the wind speed approached 55 knots at the harbour when the incident took place. Refund or re-routing has been offered by Condor for the passengers who were to sail on 2, 3 and 4 January. It will not set sail until the inspection and repairs are done and the Storm Frank subside.

    “This has been a very difficult first year of service for condor Liberation and we share the disappointment of our customers that three scheduled sailings between 2nd and 4th January will be cancelled.

    The conventional ferry services continue to maintain the lifeline link between the islands and UK. The ceaseless atrocious weather over the New year on both sides of the Channel has exceeded the storms earlier in 2015 and has given us operational challenges,” said Condor’s Executive Director of Operations, Captain Fran Collins.

    While berthing at Guernsey earlier this year, the Liberation sustained damage. The local government was prompted by the incident to commission an independent “suitability and performance” review of the vessel. It has been found by the review that the Liberation “is safe and stable, extremely well suited to operating in the Channel Islands, and is performing well.”

  • Can Moisture Damage Your Freight During Containerized Shipping?

    How you can save your products from damage during containerized shipping from damage? Moisture is harmful for your delivery so it is important to know how to protect your cargo from container rain.

     

    It is crucial to know that about ten percent of cargo products are wasted due to moisture in container shipping. A large number of freight goes to waste, it is not only the cause of economic loss but also disturbing our natural surroundings.

    It is very important to prevent the cargo from damage and in this way we can not only minimize the economic loss but we can also save our atmosphere. Here are a few tips about how to protect your cargo from moisture damage.

    Use of good packing material

    There are a few things you may need to think to avoid container rain. Almost, all the containers have  moisture to some amount, because the  air always holds water. But the cargo may also contain moisture.  Many cargo products contain moisture like furniture, handicrafts, agricultural products, clothes and other fabrics, hold a certain amount of moisture at origin that can be released under the right cooling conditions.

    The packing materials also contain some extent of moisture like cartons and pallets, etc. Both the shipments and the packing materials, have moisture so it is important to use good quality packing material to save your products from moisture and fungus. The use of ventilation is a good method to avoid container rain.

    Wood pallet absorbs moisture

    Another method  to decrease the moisture in containers is to make sure not to have the pallets standing outside. Wood absorbs moisture, especially if the air is warm and moist. EUR-pallet can absorb up to 20 liters of water, and a standard 40 feet container puts up about 40 pallets.By giving attention to the specifics of your shipment, you may be able to decrease the chance of container rain, and protect your things from moisture and fungus.

    By giving attention to the specifics of your shipment, you may be able to decrease the chance of container rain, and protect your things from moisture and fungus.

    The best method to prevent containerized cargo from damage

    If you are shipping costly products that are delicate, or if your issues are such that there is a high chance of container rain, you should consider using dehydrated elements.

    Desiccant prevents the build-up of moisture in the air to levels where it may cause damage. This is done by using absorbing bags based on calcium chloride, which is a liquid brine in its natural state, and is transformed into a dry material by removing the water through warming.