Importing goods into Ireland might feel like a daunting and challenging process if this is the first time that your business is looking to bring in goods from another country. At Emerald Freight we have extensive experience in working with clients looking to import and export, working with companies across the world.

Our sea freight services are second-to-none, putting your mind at ease that, should you import goods to Ireland from abroad, that all the relevant paperwork, logistics, and costs are taken care of by our expert team. We are here to offer you all the insight and guidance to importing by sea, showing you every step that must be undertaken, alongside the benefits of choosing this transportation route instead of by air freight or road freight.

Reasons to import by sea

There are a few good reasons why you should choose to import by sea. Our sea freight service offers you a cost-effective solution for clients that either have larger shipments that are difficult to process logistically by air or road, or for those with goods that do not need to be delivered at speed. Cost is a big incentive to import by sea, as it is more cost effective than importing goods by air and road, but there are other factors too. Sea freight handles full container loads (FCL) and smaller, less than container loads (LCL) that shares space with other consignments. It’s a flexible and secure route for importing goods into Ireland from around the world.

What’s the difference between FCL and LCL?

Understanding the difference between FCL and LCL is important, as it shows you the range of options open to your business for importing goods by sea into Ireland.

What is FCL?

A Full Container Load (FCL) is where the shipping container is full of your goods alone. The consignment is large enough to fill a container. This can speed up processes at the port, as it is only your items being handled.

What is LCL?

Less than container load (LCL) shipments are better if you are importing a smaller quantity of goods that would not fill a full container. Your items share space with other shipments. This can bring down the cost of shipping, but it might take longer, especially at the port where there are multiple orders to sort through.

What can you ship?

Before you book a shipment to import goods to Ireland by sea, it’s best to check what you can and can’t import or what specific freight forwarders will handle. Most will take on a wide and varied range of goods, from palletised items, boxes, machinery parts, pharmaceuticals and hazardous materials. Some can handle cold chain logistics, but there are limits to certain routes and container ships, so always double check.

The importance of paperwork

One of the biggest challenges of importing by sea is getting the documentation in order. That’s where we come in. Our years of experience in matching our clients with the right logistics partners from around the world also includes ensuring all paperwork is correct. When importing from another European Union (EU) country it is straightforward with some documentation still required. For imports from outside the EU there is sometimes extensive documentation that must be applied. We’ll make sure, as your freight forwarder, that all documentation is present, accurate, and up-to-date, minimising delays at customs and border control.

Tracking your shipment

If it is your first time importing by sea it is understandable that you might have some worries about where your shipment is during its journey. To give you peace of mind, our service includes the utilisation of the latest technology and communication processes. This ensures that you know from start to finish where your goods are along the journey.

Shipping terms

There are some shipping terms that are used globally that outline the responsibility of suppliers when shipping cargo. These include:

EXW (Ex-Works)

This is where the customer is responsible for all costs and risks from the door of the supplier to your business door in Ireland. As the buyer, you pay the shipping company all the costs to make the necessary arrangements to ship the goods. This does mean that there are no hidden costs, but it can take longer to establish the specific costs.

FOB (Free on Board)

It is ‘free; for the customer to get their items onboard the ship, as the seller pays all charges in the country of origin. However, these expenses are added to the price of the products. This is often a good choice as you know the full costs sooner than on EXW terms, and your choice of freight forwarder deals with the transportation of goods to your door.

CIF/CFR (Cost, Insurance & Freight, or Cost & Freight)

The seller often pays for insurance on CIF terms, but both are similar. On CFR terms the buyer will be responsible for insurance once it has arrived at the Irish port. This can become complicated for a first-time importer.

How we can help you import by sea

As a freight forwarder we understand the mechanisms involved in importing by sea. Managing sea freight with no experience is challenging to say the least. By employing our team we’ll take care of choosing the best method of shipping your goods, the best route, and the best logistics partners. We’ll also take care of all the paperwork and tracking of a shipment to give you peace of mind and allow you to focus on what you’re good at, running your business.

Expert Sea Freight Services

If this is your first time importing by sea do not worry, the Emerald Freight team is here to support you. Connect with a freight expert today and we’ll be happy to sit down with you to plan your import. We’ll be here to support you through transit solutions, customs clearance processes, and the final delivery of goods, minimising delays at every stage through careful documentation and application of our services. Our global network of trusted partners ensures that we can always have the perfect match to suit your needs, from the type of goods you are importing to the desired schedule of delivery and budgets.