As COVID-19 pandemic continues to rage worldwide, the logistics industry struggles in delivering both aid and trade where it is needed. Disruptions to supply chains have been evident as travel restrictions were put in place.
While both air freight and sea freight were severely impacted, shipping via air experienced much worse as several airports were shut down. In fact, global air cargo capacity has declined 29% from last year according to a Seabury report. This leads to countless businesses relying on sea freight instead.
Curious why? Read these 5 benefits of using sea freight during COVID-19.
5 Advantages of Using Sea Freight Amidst COVID-19
1. Low Cost
Maintaining low costs has always been an objective for many business owners. And given the current pandemic, the importance of saving costs is more magnified.
Fortunately, sea freight offers the most competitive shipping costs to businesses, especially over long distances. In fact, it is generally around four to six times less expensive than air freight.
Since ocean freight shipping is billed by container load, the shipment’s actual weight usually doesn’t affect the cost. So, the larger your shipments are, the larger your savings on shipping costs.
Ultimately, sea freight is a highly-recommended low-cost shipping option amidst COVID-19. And unless your products require a fast turn-around, it’s best to choose ocean shipments over air freight.
2. Efficiency
Under normal circumstances, air freight can deliver products in only one to two days while sea freight might take a week or more. While this is still true in the current COVID-19 situation, flight patterns are a lot more volatile compared to ocean routes. Many airports are reopening but air cargo companies are running in limited routes and capacity.
Sea freight companies, on the other hand, continue to accommodate shippers’ needs, no matter the size of their cargo. Smaller shipments are usually transported in a single container with other shipments. Larger cargo can fill one or more containers, providing unmatched bulk options to any business.
Overall, sea freight is the ideal shipping choice for businesses transporting small or large amounts of goods or raw materials.
3. Flexibility
Unlike air freight carriers that have certain cargo restrictions (weight, volume, etc.) for each flight, ocean freight shipping is more lenient.
It offers more flexibility in terms of space, dimensions, and weight within the vessel’s containers. As such, you can ship almost any size and weight of goods. This is especially crucial given today’s pandemic since most businesses would rely more on sea freight to ship all kinds of items.
4. Safety
If you’re shipping hazardous materials or dangerous cargo, you can ensure that these items remain safe in ships.
Sea freight containers are designed to be sealed and locked during shipping for extra security. In addition, ocean freight companies follow international regulations to ensure the safety of the vessel, cargo, crew, and environment. Plus, the staff is well-versed in handling such goods.
You can ultimately have peace of mind when using sea freight, knowing that logistic experts are handling your cargo.
5. Document Processing
Both air freight and sea freight shipment require documentation to keep track of cargo deliveries.
Air cargo is, without a doubt, the fastest shipping mode. But unless your freight forwarder completes the transaction through automated electronic processes, you can experience documentation-related delays on top of travel restrictions due to COVID-19. This defeats the entire purpose of using air freight services in the first place.
To allow more processing time to achieve the proper and complete documentation, you should take advantage of sea freight’s longer transit times. This ultimately ensures that the shipment goes hassle-free once they arrive at the port destination.
The COVID-19 pandemic undoubtedly affected cargo shipping, especially air freight as airports were closed down and flights disrupted. Fortunately, sea freight is an affordable, efficient, and flexible alternative that can transport your goods safely into the consumers’ hands.
ALSO READ: Fly or Float? The Differences Between Air Freight and Sea Freight
Do you have an important cargo to transport? Worklink Services Inc. is one of the most reliable courier companies in the Philippines. We offer domestic sea freight services that aim to deliver your shipment safely and on time, even amidst this health pandemic. Message us to avail of our shipping service today!
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