Main Services
Global ocean freight.
Ocean freight services for containerized import and export shipments. Evaluate FCL or LCL, define the port or door scope and connect the sea leg with inland transportation at each end.
Shipment planning priorities
Container approach
Evaluate dedicated or shared container space.
Defined scope
Confirm where transportation starts and ends.
Connected inland legs
Plan port handoffs and onward transportation.
Ocean Freight
The sea leg is part of a larger move.
The vessel carries only one part of an international shipment. Pickup, export port delivery, destination release and onward transportation can all determine whether the complete ocean freight plan fits the cargo and receiving schedule.
Prisma Freight coordinates the requested transportation scope and communication between shipment participants. Cargo details, container requirements, routing and the responsible documentation contacts are reviewed before booking.
Freight Options
Start with the cargo and the scope.
Compare dedicated and shared container space, then identify the inland and port activities required for your import or export.
Full Container Load (FCL)
FCL gives the shipment dedicated container space. Assess container type, usable dimensions, cargo weight and loading or unloading arrangements; a dedicated container does not have to be filled to capacity.
Less Than Container Load (LCL)
LCL shares container space with other shipments. Smaller loads require suitable packaging and planning for consolidation at origin and separation at destination.
Import and export coordination
Align exporter and importer requirements with cargo readiness, booking instructions and appointed broker contacts. Define who coordinates each inland leg and port handoff.
Port-to-port
Identify the origin and destination ports. Clarify responsibility for inland pickup, delivery and activities outside the agreed port-to-port transportation scope.
Door-to-port / port-to-door
Include inland transportation at the selected end of the sea leg. Confirm pickup or delivery access, port appointments and the release information required for the handoff.
Connected inland transportation
Evaluate container drayage, a transload to another vehicle or onward inland transportation. The choice depends on equipment, cargo handling and destination requirements.
Shipment Journey
From cargo origin to final destination.
A door-to-door ocean shipment combines these stages. For port-only scopes, confirm which inland activities remain the shipper's or consignee's responsibility.
Origin
Prepare the cargo, packaging and shipment details. Confirm the transportation scope and document contacts.
Inland Transport
Coordinate origin pickup or container positioning against the agreed export port cutoffs.
Export Port
Deliver cargo or the loaded container according to terminal, booking and documentation requirements.
Ocean Transit
Follow the planned vessel movement and communicate schedule changes that affect destination readiness.
Destination Port
Confirm arrival, release status and contacts responsible for customs and terminal requirements.
Drayage / Transload
Coordinate the released container's port move and any planned cargo transfer to inland equipment.
Inland Transport
Match onward transportation with cargo readiness, route requirements and the delivery appointment.
Final Destination
Complete the receiving handoff and confirm container return arrangements where applicable.
FCL and LCL involve different consolidation and handling activities. Cutoffs, release requirements and inland responsibilities are shipment-specific.
Connected Transportation
Plan beyond the vessel.
Container availability at the terminal is not the same as delivery to the consignee. Plan release, port transportation and the next equipment handoff together.
Drayage and port handoffs
Drayage connects the container terminal with a nearby facility or inland handoff. Review release status, pickup appointments and container return deadlines with the responsible parties.
Transloading and multimodal connections
Transloading transfers cargo out of the container into other equipment. Review packaging, handling methods and storage needs before connecting to road or another transportation mode.
Documentation and destination readiness
Identify exporter, importer and appointed broker responsibilities early. Customs and terminal release requirements must be satisfied before the cargo can move onward.
FAQ
Ocean freight questions.
How is FCL different from LCL?
FCL reserves a container for one shipment, even if it is not completely full. LCL combines shipments in shared container space and includes consolidation and separation activities. Compare cargo volume, weight, packaging, handling needs and the full origin-to-destination scope rather than the ocean leg alone.
Can the plan include inland transportation?
The requested scope can include inland transportation at origin, destination or both, subject to shipment review and available arrangements. Confirm whether drayage, transloading, storage or delivery appointments are required.
What is needed for an ocean freight quote?
Provide origin and destination, commodity, package count, dimensions, weight, requested dates and the desired port or door scope. Include equipment, handling and documentation requirements, with importer, exporter and appointed broker contacts where applicable.
Continue Exploring
Connect ocean freight to the wider supply chain.
Continue with the related services that support inland transportation, storage or an alternative international mode.
Let's Move Forward
Plan your next ocean shipment.
Tell us the commodity, shipment size and origin and destination. Specify FCL or LCL if known, and whether the plan should start or end at a port or include inland pickup and delivery.