Oversized and overweight cargo can be transported by sea. Sea freight is suitable for transporting large quantities of bulky, heavy, and oversized cargo, such as large machinery and equipment, steel, and ship parts. For oversized and overweight cargo, appropriate transportation methods can be selected based on its size and weight, such as using special containers like 45-foot containers, open-top containers, and flat rack containers, or transporting it by bulk carrier or roll-on/roll-off vessel.
The calculation of special loading charges for sea freight is complex; the following is a detailed explanation.
Overweight surcharge: Different shipping companies and routes charge different rates. Taking a 20-foot container as an example, cargo under the standard weight limit of 24 tons is subject to only the base freight rate. However, for cargo weighing 24-26 tons, shipping companies typically charge an overweight surcharge of US$50-100 per ton. Above 26 tons, the rate jumps to US$100-200 per ton. For example, CMA CGM imposes a fixed overweight surcharge of US$200 per container for containers weighing over 15 tons.
Overlength surcharge: Cargo exceeding a certain length is subject to both a length surcharge and an operational risk fee. For example, overlength cargo (over 6.1 meters) on US routes incurs an additional cost of 50%-100% of the base freight rate. Overlength steel sheet piles of 25 meters require special lashing and space adjustments, and the additional cost can reach 80% of the base freight rate.
Special Container Fees: If you use special containers like open-top containers or flat rack containers to transport oversized or overweight cargo, the rental fee is typically 30%-50% higher than for standard containers.
Other Fees: Transshipment triggers a double-charge mechanism, with a 20%-30% transshipment surcharge added for each transshipment. Furthermore, some ports may charge additional fees for oversized cargo, such as port handling insurance. For example, the Port of New York requires a mandatory $2,000 per shipment for cargo exceeding 3 meters on a single side.
(Note: All fees listed above are for reference only. Please refer to your actual invoice for details. Thank you!)
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