Vehicle shipping

Shipping Terminology

The following terms are common-place when shipping goods in containers.

• Ocean Freight: The cost of actually shipping the container from A to B.
• Bunker: The cost of the fuel for the ship.
• Stuffing: Getting the goods into the container and sealing it. The details here are important as this may include moving the container around or not.
• Lashing: Physically lashing the vehicles into the container so they don’t move around.
• Unstuffing: Getting the goods out of the container, which again may include moving the container from the port to the yard or not.
• Documentation Fee: The cost of lodging all the paperwork with customs.
• Bill of Lading: The official document describing the contents of the container.
• Port Fees: The amount charged by the port to allow the container and it’s contents to pass.

Notes:

• All of the above may be charged per container or per vehicle and may cover both ends or not.
• Everyone seems to have a different idea about having separate Bills of Lading for each vehicle. If you do only get one, make certain it’s clear who owns which vehicle.
• Also make sure the Bill of Lading says “vehicle in transit”. We’re told this will make the process in Colombia much easier.