International Ocean Freight Services
Farnell Freight Forwarders, Inc. is a fully licensed NVOCC (Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier) and ocean freight forwarder providing services focused on the Bermuda market. However, as part of a full service company serving Bermuda, we do offer ocean transportation services around the globe. We maintain a network of companies that allow us to provide the most cost effective and efficient handling of your shipments.
Services Offered:
LCL (Less than Container Load)
LCL shipping is the most cost effective way to ship bulky cargo that isn’t enough to justify a full container but too big to go via courier service or air freight. Many customers are wary of shipping LCL freight based on the idea that it is more expensive than shipping FCL. Pure non-sense. The only reason LCL services are so popular and have a market at all is because it is cheaper!
The cut-off between FCL (20′ dry container) and LCL is about 600 cu-ft, depending on the commodity. To give you an idea, if you have standard-sized pallets of cargo (48″x40″) that average 45″ high, you could ship 12 of them LCL at exactly 600 cu-ft. Sure, if you want to pay for 6 – 8 more and build a full container, by all means! But do realize, by doing so you are spending more money for a cost savings of… zero?
Regardless, unless a client specifically requests cargo to ship via LCL then our default option is to ship in the most economically friendly method to our client. Not only is it good business but it is our legal obligation!
LCL shipments are loaded into dry containers only.
FCL (Full Container Load)
Full containers are the most effective method for shipping cargo overseas. We have customers that deliver 53′ trailer loads at a time, often multiple trailers. These are simple shipments and require unloading of the trailer and loading of the container to be sent to the port. These can be pallet loaded or hand stacked but this is where you get the most bang for your buck.
This is where people fall prey to the believe that LCL is more expensive than FCL. While it’s true that 900 cu-ft of LCL would cost more than FCL with 900 cu-ft, the real costs savings are seen in the delivery to the warehouse for trans-loading. Trucking has set pricing. The driver earns salary or hourly, you burn fuel and you have wear and tear on the truck. If you are delivering a 53′ trailer of cargo (2 FCLs) or a 35′ trailer (1 FCL) the cost is going to be the same, from the same locations which can be hundreds or thousands of dollars worth of savings.
FCL shipments can be loaded into a variety of equipment or varying sizes including dry containers, flatracks, ISO tanks, open top containers, etc.
Refrigerated Containers (Reefers)
Refrigerated containers have generators that control the temperature of the container during transit. These are pivotal for the transportation of seafood, frozen foods, flowers and other perishables. Due to the nature of them, we do not offer LCL refrigerated service – as all products require different refrigeration or freezing temperatures for transit.
With 3 days advance notice, however, we can receive and load out refrigerated cargo for FCL service.
Breakbulk
Breakbulk cargo is any freight delivered directly to the port to be loaded onto a ship. It is literally tied down (lashed) to the deck of the ship. This method of shipping should be limited to cargo that is over-sized for a regular shipping container. We do not recommend shipping anything breakbulk that can be easily damaged. The costs on breakbulk shipping exceed that of LCL and should be utilized when there is no other option.
RoRo (Roll-on, Roll-off)
RoRo ships are common for Caribbean islands due to their versatility. Often times, shipping lines don’t even utilize self-propelled ships but opt for large RoRo barges that are then towed to their destination by tug boats. However, not all ships are RoRo. The advantage to having a RoRo vessel is the benefit of driving containers or vehicles directly on board without the use of a crane.
There are many shipping lines that exclusively ship vehicles and their vessels are strictly RoRo freight – no shipping containers whatsoever.
Bulk Carriers
Bulk carriers encompass any type of tanker ship or dry bulk ship that carries loose cargo only. Oil, natural gas, gasoline, sand and cement are all common examples of singular commodities that are delivered by bulk carriers.
Captaining of Vessels
One type of ocean freight shipping that many forget about is the transportation of large boats of vessels. It may not be a feasible way to transport a small fishing boat from the US to Europe, but often we see clients asking us for breakbulk rates for small yachts or large fishing boats that can costs thousands of dollars to ship. In reality, the best (safest and most cost-effective) way to ship large boats it by sailing them to their destination. There are many captains for hire, if the journey can be safely taken in your boat.
Hazardous Cargo
Unfortunately for Jacksonville, our airport is not a Dangerous Goods classified airport. Hazardous cargo going out for export from Jacksonville is required to ship ocean freight unless it is re-directed to another airport with a DG classification. We carry all hazmat placards required for ocean transport and all of our staff are regularly trained in IMDG rules and regulations on an annual basis.