There are many things to consider when making this decision, but the leading factors are the estimated through transit time and the total costs involved.
So, the right choice is the balance between the transit time and the all-in rate. It should be noted that both kinds of transport can suffer a delay because of circumstances beyond your logistics provider control, such as but not limited to strikes, natural disasters, lost packages, weather conditions, peak season rush, rollovers, missed connections, etc.

The transit time from port to port may vary according to the ocean carrier used. Different carriers use different routes, involving a mixture of direct services and services via transhipment ports. The announced transit times are provisional and should not be considered as being fixed. Please contact us to discuss your transit time and price needs and we will create a combined transport tailor-made solution for you via the ports of Varna, Burgas, Thessaloniki, Piraeus, Constanta or the North-European gateways.

FCL stands for Full Container Load and is used when the whole container is used to load the cargo for one shipper and one consignee.
LCL stands for Less Than-Container Load and is actually a consolidation service where one container is used to carry the smaller shipments of more than one shipper and consignee.

There are different kinds of container equipment - standard dry, high cube, open top, refrigerated, tank, flat rack containers, etc. and each type is used to cover a particular cargo need. The most common dimensions are 20ft, 40ft and 45ft. Just contact us and we will give you a professional advice which one will best serve your requirements. You may also visit our Help Center to learn more about the container type dimensions and how many pallets fit in each of them.

To handle properly your particular business it is very important, that you provide the correct cargo data. The particular details should be coordinated between our ocean freight team and the booking party. The most important details are cargo readiness, commodity type, cargo particulars such as number, dimensions and weight of packages, shipper's name, consignee's name, pick up address, delivery address, freight payer. The agreed Incoterms with your trading partner will also assist. Please follow this link to learn more about the applicable Incoterms.

Especially for the LCL it is recommendable to arrange the transport by yourself, instead of leaving it to your origin partner in order to avoid high local charges at destination. For more information, please consult with us. Follow this link to learn more about the specifics of shipping your import LCL shipments on prepaid or collect basis.

5 calendar days are free at the warehouse from the date of discharge. Thereafter storage fees apply. These terms can be found on your arrival notices.

Unimasters' team strongly recommends insurance when shipping your cargo. It provides protection against risks of damage or loss during shipping. Carriers have limited liability, so the cargo insurance could definitely save you a lot of headache by a prompt and full recovery of your losses. We are working with first-class insurance brokers and companies, so you may also consult with us about the applicable terms and rates. Here are seven reasons why you need to buy a marine insurance.

There are other possibilities for the transportation of your cargo in case of oversize dimensions or excessive weight, such as specially designed flat racks, shipping as breakbulk on dedicated vessels or as part cargo, etc. Our dedicated project cargo team is at your disposal to discuss your special cargo needs and offer you the best tailor-made solution.