International Sea Freight & Ocean Container Shipping Services
Ocean freight for full containers and shared LCL shipments, with origin consolidation in China, port clearance at destination, and one team from your supplier to your door.
Global Sea Freight Logistics Guide
Sea freight moves goods in shipping containers by ocean. Use a full container load (FCL) when your cargo fills a 20ft, 40ft or 40HQ container. Use less than container load (LCL) when your cargo fills part of a container, and you share space with other shippers and pay per cubic metre. Sea freight is usually the lowest-cost way to move heavy or bulky goods from China. It is slower than air. For China to Pakistan, transit from the Chinese port to Karachi or Port Qasim is measured port to port, and door-to-door time adds pickup, clearance and delivery. Speedline quotes each shipment against its port pair and cargo.
How sea freight works at Speedline
- Send your cargo details. Origin city, cargo type, weight, dimensions or CBM, and destination port.
- We recommend FCL or LCL. We compare the two on cost, volume and transit.
- We collect, consolidate and book. Cargo is collected from your supplier or received at our warehouse, checked, and booked on a vessel.
- We prepare documents. Commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading and certificate of origin where needed.
- We ship and track. You receive a container number and a bill of lading reference, and updates at each milestone.
- We clear and deliver. At destination we handle customs clearance, terminal release and trucking to your address.
Full container load (FCL)
For cargo that fills one or more containers, FCL gives you the full container for your goods. Common options:
- 20ft standard (20GP): About 28 to 33 cubic metres (CBM) and a maximum payload of about 28,000 kg. Suits dense cargo such as metals, machinery parts and chemicals.
- 40ft standard (40GP): About 67 to 68 CBM and a maximum payload of about 26,000 kg. Suits general merchandise, furniture and electronics.
- 40ft high cube (40HQ): About 76 CBM with an extra 30 cm of height. Suits lightweight, bulky cargo such as textiles, footwear and packaged goods.
- Specialised containers: Reefer for temperature-controlled cargo, open top for tall machinery, and flat rack for heavy or out-of-gauge equipment.
Less than container load (LCL)
LCL suits shipments that do not fill a container. Your goods are consolidated with other shipments, and you pay for the space they use.
Consolidation. We receive your goods at our consolidation warehouses in Yiwu, Guangzhou, Foshan, Shenzhen or Ningbo. We measure, check cartons against your packing list, and load your cargo into a shared container for your destination port.
How LCL is billed. Ocean freight is billed on volume in cubic metres (CBM): length Ă— width Ă— height in metres. For ocean billing, the standard ratio is 1 CBM = 1,000 kg. If your cargo weighs more than 1,000 kg per CBM, the weight is billed instead.
When LCL makes sense. A useful rule: once a shipment passes about 15 CBM, a 20ft FCL often costs less than LCL. Compare both quotes before you decide.Â
Origin ports
We ship from these Chinese ports: Shanghai (Yangshan and Wusong), Ningbo-Zhoushan (Beilun), Shenzhen (Yantian and Shekou), Guangzhou (Nansha), Qingdao, Tianjin, Xiamen, and Dalian.
Destination ports
Pakistan (confirmed). Sea cargo discharges at Karachi Port or Port Qasim. We handle customs clearance, terminal release and trucking to Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad and other inland cities.
UK, USA, UAE (requires confirmation). Typical UK discharge ports are Felixstowe and Southampton. Typical US discharge ports are Los Angeles and Long Beach on the West Coast, and New York and Savannah on the East Coast. Jebel Ali (Dubai) is listed in the FAQ only if confirmed.
Transit times
Transit times are port to port unless noted. Each figure is an estimate. Customs assessment, port congestion, peak seasons and routing changes can all add time.
Route | Typical transit (port to port) | Notes |
China to Karachi or Port Qasim | 14 to 22 Days | Depends on origin port and routing |
China to UK (Felixstowe, Southampton) | 25 to 38 days | Direct or transhipped service |
China to US West Coast (LA, Long Beach) | 18 to 35 Days | Faster than East Coast |
China to US East Coast (New York, Savannah) | 12 to 25 Days | Slower; sometimes via Panama or Suez |
Door-to-door time is longer. It adds the factory pickup, consolidation, export clearance, port clearance and delivery to your address. Ask us for a door-to-door estimate with your quote.
Sea freight costs
A standard quote includes these components:
- Ocean freight: the carrier charge per container (FCL) or per CBM (LCL)
- Terminal handling charge (THC): port fees for loading and discharge
- Bunker adjustment factor (BAF) and low-sulphur surcharge (LSS): fuel-related surcharges set by the carrier
- Documentation and release fees: bill of lading and cargo release
- Origin charges: pickup, consolidation and export clearance where included
- Destination charges: port handling, customs clearance and delivery where included
Ocean rates on China lanes change often. Monthly rate reports from market sites show sharp swings on the same lane. For that reason we quote per shipment and state how long each quote is valid.Â
Incoterms for sea shipments
- FOB: your supplier pays for the goods to be loaded at the Chinese port. You pay for ocean freight and everything after loading. We can manage the Chinese export side for you under FOB.
- EXW: your supplier makes the goods available at their factory. We handle collection, export clearance and the rest.
- CIF: your supplier pays freight and basic insurance to the destination port. You pay for import clearance, port charges and delivery.
- DDP: we handle the full journey, including duties and taxes, for one quote. See our DDP shipping service.
Read our Incoterms guide to compare them in full.
Documents you need
- Commercial invoice showing the actual transaction value
- Packing list with carton count, weight and dimensions
- Product description with material, function and model number
- Bill of lading or sea waybill (we issue a House B/L; the Master B/L comes from the carrier)Â
- Certificate of origin, where your goods qualify for a preferential duty rate
- Certificates for restricted goods, such as MSDS or brand authorisation
Compliance: SOLAS VGM and ISPM-15
Verified gross mass (VGM). Under SOLAS, the shipper must declare the verified gross mass of each packed container to the carrier and terminal before loading. We collect the declaration and submit it. The shipper remains responsible for the accuracy of the weight. We can arrange a certified weighbridge weighing where needed.Â
ISPM-15 for wooden packaging. Wooden pallets, crates and dunnage must be heat-treated or fumigated and carry the official ISPM-15 stamp. Cargo without the stamp can be refused or held at destination.
Container security. Containers are sealed at origin with ISO 17712 high-security bolt seals, and the seal number is recorded on the bill of lading.
Port time and charges
- Demurrage: charged by the terminal when a loaded container stays inside the port beyond the free period.
- Detention: charged by the shipping line when an empty container is kept outside the port past the return date.
- Free time: the number of days a container can stay at port without charge.Â
Plan your collection and delivery dates around the free time so you avoid these charges.
Why Speedline for sea freight
- Consolidation at origin. Warehouses in Yiwu, Guangzhou and Foshan let you combine suppliers into one container or one LCL booking.
- Documents handled by one team. Invoice, packing list, House B/L, VGM and certificate of origin are prepared in one place.
- Tracking. Each shipment has a container number and milestone updates.Â
- Destination clearance. Port clearance and trucking to your address are included when you ask for them.
Table of Contents
Get a Shipping Quote!
Send us your origin, destination, cargo weight, and dimensions. We’ll provide competitive sea and air freight rates.
About Speedline
Speedline Logistics is a trusted international freight forwarder in Pakistan. We offer sea container shipping, standard and priority air cargo, and customs clearance services.
Frequently Asked Questions — International Sea Freight
 FCL (full container load) means the whole container is used for your cargo. LCL (less than container load) means your cargo shares a container with other shipments and you pay for the volume it uses. FCL usually costs less per unit once your cargo fills a container. LCL suits smaller volumes.
We operate out of Shanghai, Ningbo-Zhoushan, Shenzhen (Yantian/Shekou), Guangzhou (Nansha), Qingdao, Xiamen, and Tianjin, with direct consolidation from our warehouses in Yiwu, Guangzhou, and Foshan.
SOLAS VGM (Verified Gross Mass) is mandatory international maritime law requiring the exact verified weight of every ocean container to be declared prior to vessel loading for safety compliance.
Demurrage is charged by the port terminal when a loaded container stays inside the terminal beyond free time. Detention is charged by the shipping line when an empty container is held outside the port beyond the return date.
Yes. Under FOB, your Chinese supplier pays local port handling and inland transport in China, while you pay ocean freight and destination clearance. Under EXW, Speedline manages factory pickup and Chinese export filings on your behalf.
Yes, all ocean shipments are assigned a Container Number and Master Bill of Lading (MBL), allowing real-time tracking from origin vessel loading to arrival at destination port.
Standard options include: 20GP (approx. 28–30 CBM, max cargo weight 21–25 tons); 40GP (approx. 56–58 CBM); 40HQ (high-cube, approx. 68 CBM, ideal for voluminous goods); and specialized 45HQ, open-top, and flat-rack containers.
LCL freight is calculated on a per-CBM (Cubic Meter) or Revenue Ton (W/M) basis. The volume is calculated as Length x Width x Height in meters. For standard general cargo, 1 CBM equals 1,000 kg for billing purposes.
We contract with premier ocean container lines including COSCO Shipping, Maersk, CMA CGM, MSC, Evergreen, and ONE, securing reliable space allocations and preferential freight tariffs.
Yes. At destination ports such as Karachi Port, Port Qasim, and Dubai (Jebel Ali), we coordinate full customs brokerage, terminal gate pass collection, and container trucking to your door.
 LCL is billed per cubic metre of volume (length × width × height, in metres), with a standard ratio of 1 CBM to 1,000 kg. If the actual weight is greater than 1,000 kg per CBM, the weight is billed instead.
 Transit from the Chinese port to Karachi or Port Qasim is measured port to port. Door-to-door time is longer and includes pickup, consolidation, customs and delivery.
SOLAS VGM is the verified gross mass of a packed container. Under international maritime safety rules, the shipper declares it to the carrier and terminal before loading. We collect the declaration and submit it for you. The shipper remains responsible for its accuracy.
Yes. Each shipment has a container number and bill of lading reference. Updates are sent at key milestones from loading to arrival at the destination port.