Sea transportation — comprehensive services from Unitex

Unitex specializes in sea freight from China, Korea, Japan, Vietnam, Malaysia, the USA and Turkey. We offer a full range of services: from route selection and freight to insurance and customs clearance. Our specialization is the import of equipment, household appliances and electronics, furniture, household goods, clothing, footwear, consumer goods, food products, construction and finishing materials, pharmaceutical products; and the export of grain, oil, wood and wood products, furniture, windows, confectionery and frozen products. We guarantee coordinated logistics solutions for the specifics of the cargo, taking into account packaging and storage requirements.

Unitex’s experience in sea logistics allows you to optimize costs and minimize risks in international deliveries.

Stages of organizing sea transportation

• Analysis of the client’s request: type of cargo, volume, terms, storage conditions – the key to the correct transport scheme.
• Selection of the route and type of container.
• Preparation of documentation: bill of lading, invoice, packing list, certificates.
• Cargo insurance – a mandatory option for valuable and fragile cargo.
• Customs clearance at the port of departure and arrival with brokerage support.
• Delivery of the container to the recipient’s warehouse by road and rail – we include multimodal solutions if necessary.

Advantages of shipping cargo by sea with Unitex

• Optimal price per ton-kilometer for large volumes – savings on freight and port fees.
• Possibility of combined solutions: sea transportation + rail or road transportation to the client’s warehouse.
• Transportation in selected types of containers – additional safety for the integrity of the cargo.
• Experience with different categories of cargo: equipment, household goods, consumer goods, construction and finishing materials, grain, oil, wood, food – minimizing the risk of damage.
• Network of partners in key ports of departure and destination, which reduces processing time and avoids additional costs.

Comparison: sea transport vs air/rail/road

• Sea freight: lowest cost for large volumes, longer delivery times; optimal for non-urgent and bulk cargo.
• Air: high speed and cost – for expensive and urgent shipments.
• Rail: compromise of price and speed on China-Europe routes; suitable for modular shipments.
• Road: door-to-door flexibility, indispensable for last mile and regional deliveries.

Criteria for selecting a maritime logistics provider

• Experience with your type of cargo (food, bulk, oversized, dangerous), confirmed by cases.
• Availability of insurance and brokerage support, speed of document preparation.
• Availability of agents at ports of departure/destination, possibility of alternative routes.
• Transparent pricing policy, clear delivery terms.
• Level of digital communication and efficiency: tracking, document management, electronic messages.

Checklist before sending sea freight

• Confirm the nature of the cargo and packaging.
• Determine the necessary certificates and permits.
• Assess the need for a refrigerated container or special packaging.
• Specify the shipping and transit times.
• Arrange cargo insurance with a risk overview.
• Agree on customs codes and Incoterms.
• Appoint a person responsible for communication with
• Unitex and contractors.
• Check the packaging for compliance with the requirements of the carrier and ports.

Factors affecting the cost of sea transportation

• Market freight rate (including seasonal fluctuations and market volatility).
• Container type: standard, tall, reefer – each has its own tariff rate.
• Port of departure and port of arrival – port dues and transit costs vary.
• Additional services: insurance, brokerage services, warehouse handling, downtime charges.
• Multimodality – the need for road/rail for the “last mile” and additional logistics operations.

Features of transportation by type of cargo (quick tips)

Equipment (industrial, medical, electronic):

• Use of strong securing systems (straps, chains, spacers) to prevent movement inside the container.
• Careful fixation on pallets, use of shock-absorbing materials and, if necessary, moisture absorbers.
• Clear marking of fragility and center of gravity.

Household and consumer goods (home appliances, furniture, clothing, toys)

• Use of strong secondary packaging (corrugated cardboard boxes), stretch film on pallets.
• Maximum dense loading of the container to avoid free space and cargo displacement (so-called “timesheet” or “loading plan”).

Building and finishing materials (bricks, tiles, mixtures, wood, rolled metal)

• Even distribution of weight over the entire area of ​​the container bottom, so as not to exceed the permissible load on the vehicle axle.
• Moisture protection (waterproofing) for hygroscopic materials.
• Particularly careful fastening of heavy elements, use of wooden blocks and stops.

Grain, oil and other bulk cargoes

• Make sure there are no cracks or damage to the container before loading, high-quality installation of flexi tanks for bulk cargo
• Use of specialized equipment for filling/backfilling and subsequent draining/unloading.

Food (vegetables, fruits, meat, frozen foods)

• Constant monitoring and documentation of temperature throughout the route.
• The container must be clean, dry and free of foreign odors before loading.
• Some types of fresh vegetables/fruits require constant air circulation (ventilation).

Organization of international sea freight transportation: what is included in the service

Our service includes a full range of operations:

• Route planning and selection of a transport scheme taking into account Incoterms conditions.
• Search for free places on ships and booking freight with an optimal schedule.
• Export/import clearance, coordination in ports and customs support.
• Insurance and support of cargo along the entire route with minimizing financial risks.
• Last mile logistics in Ukraine – delivery to the recipient’s warehouse.

Advantages of cooperation with Unitex in cargo transportation by sea

• Individual approach to the specifics of the cargo, delivery conditions and terms, and client needs.
• Transparent cost calculations and route optimization to reduce overall logistics costs.
• Support at all stages – from consultation and preparation of shipment to the certificate of work performed.
• Possibility of combined solutions and alternative routes.

Questions and Answers — FAQ about maritime transport services

1. How long does international sea transportation usually take? The duration depends on the route: from 10-15 days for European ports to 50-60 days for ports in the Far East and South America.

2. How is the cost of sea transportation formed? The cost is formed taking into account freight, port terminal fees, insurance and delivery to/from the port; seasonal fluctuations in freight rates may change the final amount.

3. Is it necessary to insure cargo when transporting by sea? Recommended for valuable and fragile goods. Unitex offers insurance packages that cover various risks during sea and land transportation.

4. What documents are required for exporting grain or oil? Commercial documents (invoice, packing list), certificate of origin, phytosanitary or sanitary documents are required depending on the cargo; additional quality certificates are possible for oil.

5. Is it possible to combine sea container transportation with rail/road delivery? Yes. We organize multimodal routes to optimize terms and costs, including last-mile delivery and empty return flights.

6. How long does it take to prepare a commercial offer for international sea freight? Usually, the preparation of a preliminary calculation takes 1-2 hours after receiving complete data on the cargo, route and terms; for complex multimodal schemes it may take up to 6 hours.

For a specific cost calculation and route calculation, please visit the Unitex container transportation service page or contact our manager – we will prepare a detailed logistics plan and financial offer for your cargo and terms.