Transport
PlannedOcean freight: full containers and shared containers by sea.
The economical way to move volume between continents. Planned with FMC-licensed ocean partners, with drayage at both ends and the documents in one place.
ErisWorlds is preparing to launch and is not arranging shipments yet. Send an inquiry and we will tell you when service opens on your lane.
Planned international gateways: Mexico City (Latin America), Monterrey (Latin America), Panama City (Latin America), Bogotá (Latin America), São Paulo (Latin America), Santiago (Latin America), Rotterdam (Europe), Frankfurt (Europe), Madrid (Europe), Dubai (the Middle East), Riyadh (the Middle East), Mumbai (Asia), Singapore (Asia), Hong Kong (Asia), Shanghai (Asia), Tokyo (Asia). Origins shown: Miami, Houston and Dallas–Fort Worth.
- Best for
- Larger shipments where cost matters more than days
- Options
- FCL, LCL, port to port, door to door
- Moved by
- Ocean carriers, through FMC-licensed partners
- You see
- Milestones from booking to the empty container's return
When to use it
Choices inside ocean freight
- You ship enough to fill a 20-foot or 40-foot container.
- You ship a few pallets and can wait for a consolidation.
- The landed cost matters more than speed.
Full container (FCL)
A container for your cargo alone, sealed at origin and opened at destination.Shared container (LCL)
Your cargo shares a container. Priced by volume in cubic meters, or by weight when that is greater.Port to port
The sailing only. You or your agent handle the ends.Door to door
Drayage at origin, the sailing, customs coordination and delivery.
Choosing
A full container or a shared one?
Volume decides it. Past about half a 20-foot container, compare both.
| Criterion | Full container (FCL) | Shared container (LCL) |
|---|---|---|
| Typical size | From about 15 cubic meters | 1 to 15 cubic meters |
| How it travels | Sealed at origin, opened at destination | Consolidated at origin, separated at destination |
| Priced by | The container | Volume, or weight when greater |
| Timing | Sails on the booked vessel | Adds days at both ends for consolidation |
How a shipment runs
Step by step, with nothing off the record.
Request
Cargo, volume, ports or addresses, and the sale terms.
Booking
Space on a sailing, with cut-off dates for cargo and for documents.
Origin
The container is loaded and trucked to the port. For US imports, the importer security filing is lodged at least 24 hours before loading abroad.
Sailing
The cargo moves under an ocean bill of lading.
Arrival and customs
The arrival notice goes out. The importer's licensed customs broker makes the entry.
Delivery
Drayage from the port, unloading inside the free time, and the empty container returned.
What the record shows
- Order created
The shipment is on the record: origin, destination, freight details and requested dates.
- Pickup scheduled
A pickup window is confirmed with the shipping location, and the carrier is named.
- Driver assigned
The carrier has named the driver and the equipment for the pickup, so the shipper can check both at the dock.
- Picked up
The freight is loaded and the carrier has signed for it. Custody passes from the shipper to the carrier.
- Origin hub
The freight is at the carrier terminal, cargo gateway or port where it is consolidated or accepted for the main leg.
- In transit
The main leg is under way, with position or status updates along the route and any exception reported with its cause.
- Customs processing
A licensed customs broker has the entry in hand: documents checked, declaration filed, release awaited.
- Destination hub
The freight is at the last terminal or gateway before the delivery address, released for the final leg.
- Out for delivery
The freight is on the delivery vehicle, with a delivery window or appointment.
- Delivered
The consignee has signed for the freight. Custody passes to the consignee and proof of delivery goes on the record.
Documents
The paperwork, and what each document is for.
Every document is attached to the shipment record, so nobody has to ask for it twice.
Ocean bill of lading
The receipt, the contract of carriage and, in negotiable form, title to the goods.Commercial invoice and packing list
What the goods are, their value and how they are packed.Importer security filing (ISF)
For US imports. Filed by the importer or its agent at least 24 hours before the cargo is loaded.Arrival notice
Tells the consignee the vessel is due, what is owed and where the cargo will be.
Responsibilities
Who does what.
A shipment passes through several hands. Each stage has one party responsible for it, and the record names that party.
| Stage | Shipper | ErisWorlds | Carrier | Consignee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Booking | Provides cargo details and documents before the cut-off. | Coordinates the booking with the licensed ocean partner and the drayage. | The ocean partner books space and issues the bill of lading. | Appoints its customs broker. Files the importer security filing for US imports. |
| Origin port | Loads the container, or delivers cargo to the consolidation warehouse. | Records gate-in and the documents. | The terminal loads the vessel. The ocean carrier sails. | No action |
| Arrival | No action | Tracks the arrival and the free time left on the container. | Sends the arrival notice. The terminal releases the container when cleared. | Its customs broker makes the entry and pays duties and taxes. |
| Delivery | No action | Arranges drayage from the port and records the delivery. | The drayage carrier delivers and returns the empty container. | Unloads inside the free time and signs. |
Our role
How this service is delivered.
Ocean freight is planned. It will be offered when ErisWorlds holds a Federal Maritime Commission license, or through FMC-licensed partners named to you before booking.
Before this service opens
- A Federal Maritime Commission license, or a signed agreement with an FMC-licensed ocean transportation intermediary.
- A named partner for each lane, disclosed with its license number.
Registrations, insurance and the carrier standard are published in the trust center as each one is verified.
Questions
Asked before a first shipment.
LCL suits a few cubic meters. As the volume approaches about half a 20-foot container, a full container often costs the same or less and involves fewer hand-offs.
Charges for using a container beyond the free time: demurrage while it sits in the terminal, detention while it is outside it. A quote states the free time.
A licensed customs broker, appointed directly by the importer with a power of attorney. The broker makes the entry and advises on classification, value and duties. ErisWorlds coordinates the transport and shares shipment milestones with the broker.
By law. In the United States the limit is $500 per package or customary freight unit unless a higher value is declared on the bill of lading. Cargo insurance is the usual answer, and applies only when confirmed in writing.
Related
Often used together.
- Planned
International shipping
Door-to-door forwarding, explained for first-time importers and exporters.International shipping - Planned
Cross-border
US, Mexico and Canada moves, with entries made by licensed customs brokers.Cross-border - Planned
Warehousing
Storage, cross-dock and distribution at partner facilities.Warehousing
Tell us what is moving.
Origin, destination, freight and dates. A person replies within one business day.
ErisWorlds is preparing to launch and is not arranging shipments yet. Send an inquiry and we will tell you when service opens on your lane.