SEA FREIGHT AND RAILWAY TRANSPORTATION

Historically, containers have been a key transport mode for sea freight shipping. However, containerized rail freight transportation has remained in a state of a high demand providing a wide range of logistic services. The reason is a high speed, fast delivery and relatively low costs regardless of sea freight. In addition, it  shows the highest cargo turnover. The statistics says that half of cargo turnover is performed by rail freight transportation.

Railway transportation has been so effective and beneficial due to its ability to deliver standardized containers. Moreover,  it provides safe and fast delivery to even the most remote areas, with security of cargo provided along the whole route. Rail cargo transportation is performed in compliance with special containers, rules and documentation providing easy delivery within a continent. International rail shipment is highly requested on the logistics market.

The key advantages of railway transportation are

• Best prices compared to other transportation modes;
• Maintenance a high level of service quality and safety cargo delivery;
• Highly developed railway infrastructure, rail capacity and stability in rail traffic networks;
• Rail services are not affected by weather conditions or environmental impact;
• Safe and fast delivery of dangerous goods and oversized cargoes;
• All containers are used depending on the type of cargo in compliance with all required documentation and regulations;
• Trace and track features from cargo pick up to the door delivery;
• Maintenance of all required conditions and providing containers for all types of

Benefiting from numerous railway transportation advantages clients my face a certain amount of difficulties. Firstly, all routes must be performed in accordance to rules and technical specifics of different countries. The process of arranging cargo and customs documentation, getting approvals from several authorities must be taken into consideration in advance. Secondly, the planned route depends on the railway timetable.

Sea and ocean containerized cargo transportation has been a safe, efficient and cost-effective process. Sea cargo transportation is performed in case of a short distance between neighbouring countries. The sea freight shipment is in high demand especially in countries where road  transportation is poorly developed. As a result, costs for sea cargo transportation are much lower and reduced regardless of road expenses. Ocean freight services are performed in case of long-distance cargo shipment between continents.

Sea cargo transportation advantages:

• Flexible pricing policy;
• Oversized and heavyweight cargo shipment;
• Safety delivery during loading/unloading
• Precise traceability from door-to-door;
• Collaboration with all parties involved during the transportation;
• Large cargo turnover in seaports;
• High carrying and volume capacity regardless of other transport modes.

The main disadvantage of sea/ocean freight  is environmental impact. Shipment delivery can be affected by adverse and extreme weather conditions which may cause sea/ocean freight cancel or disruption delivery.

As a result rail freight wins market over sea/ocean cargo transportation  because of its increasing speed and volume. Moreover, sea/ocean freight transportation is limited by the restrained  port capacity.