When a manufacturer has to ship his product overseas, the requirements are different than shipping the same product across the country. There are very specific requirements:
1. The goods must be packed for export, assuring they arrive in good condition
2. Proper labels to insure the goods get delivered to the proper place
3. Correct documentation for both US and foreign destination purposes
4. Insured against damage, theft and delay in arrival
International freight forwarder:
The international freight forwarder acts as an agent of the exporter of the product. These forwarders are intimate with the requirements imposed by foreign governments on in-bound shipments. They understand the crating shipping Utah requirements as well as the demands of the US government which relate to foreign trade.
The freight forwarder determines the freight costs, documentation fees, insurance charges and any other fees that are imposed. The forwarder can advise the shipper the exact method of packing that is demanded and if necessary can arrange for crate shipping suppliers in Utah to build the crates or if necessary, have the goods crated at the port of embarkation. The freight forwarder is responsible for reserving space aboard the carrier, either ocean vessel or aircraft.
When the order is completed and ready for shipment, the freight forwarder reviews all the documentation to insure it is complete and accurate. The documentation is extremely important if the transaction includes a letter of credit. Once the shipment takes place, the documents are all sent to their respective agencies such as the buyer or the bank which will pay the LC.
Packing for overseas shipments:
The demands for packing good destined for a foreign country are much more stringent than packing for domestic transfer. When crate shipping in Utah is called for, the provider must design and fabricate the crate bearing in mind breakage, theft, water ingress and excessive weight.
The crate design will be different if the shipment will take place in a container or break-bulk. Break-bulk use slings and cargo nets to load the crate onto the deck, there is more potential for damage than sliding it into a container. Break-bulk shipments may be pounded by storms during transit and when it arrives in the foreign port, it may be unloaded and handled in a very unprofessional manner with rudimentary handling equipment.
Moisture is a major concern when shipping goods overseas. Even though the hold of a ship may be air conditioned and be equipped with dehumidifiers, moisture is still possible. Even if the cargo gets to the destination dry, during offloading it may be done in the rain or the port may not have covered storage yards. The international freight forwarder is familiar with the demands of foreign ports and he will consult on the type of crate shipping to construct.
