Full Container Load (FCL)
You book the whole container, so your cargo is sealed at origin and opened only at destination. It suits larger volumes and goods that should not be handled twice. Get an FCL quote
Sea freight forwarder for FCL and LCL ocean shipping from India
Delayed sailings and unplanned charges are two of the biggest risks to the cost of ocean freight. Cargoking Shipping & Logistics, a sea freight forwarder based in Mumbai, India, plans Full Container Load (FCL) and Less than Container Load (LCL) ocean freight from Nhava Sheva and other Indian ports to six continents. Every quote is itemised line by line, and complete enquiries are normally answered within the same working day.
- 25+ years in freight forwarding
- 500+ business clients
- 100+ overseas specialists
- ISO 9001:2015 Certified
- MTO Registered
- FFFAI Member
- MSME Registered
Service overview
What do our FCL and LCL sea freight services include?
Our ocean freight shipping covers FCL, LCL and port-to-port movements for exporters in India and overseas buyers sourcing from Indian suppliers. Cargo can be collected from factories across India and fed to the chosen port by road transport or rail freight, so the departure port is chosen to suit the trade lane.
- FCL and LCL ocean freight on major trade lanes
- Container booking, stuffing and gate-in coordination
- Export and import documentation checked before cut-off
- Destination delivery planning by our overseas specialists
Choose your option
FCL, LCL or out of gauge: which sea freight option fits your cargo?
The right sea freight option depends on your volume, cargo type and how much handling the goods can take. Pick the one closest to your shipment.
Less than Container Load (LCL)
Your cargo shares a container with other shippers and you pay for the space you use. It suits part loads, as our LCL freight forwarder team consolidates them at a Container Freight Station (CFS). Check if LCL is more affordable for your volume
Out of gauge (OOG) and project cargo
Machinery and equipment too wide, tall or heavy for a standard container move on flat rack or open top containers, with lashing and road permits planned in advance. Plan an oversized shipment
Hazardous cargo
Chemicals and other regulated goods are classified, packed and declared under the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code before a carrier accepts them. See hazardous cargo handling
Industries served
Sea cargo services for manufacturers, traders and project contractors
From raw materials to complete machinery, we plan each container around how the cargo is packed, loaded and cleared, with export crating through our export packaging team where needed.
- Manufacturing
- Automotive exports
- Retail supply chains
- Bulk commodities
- Industrial equipment
- Project cargo
- Import-export trade
Common problems
How can exporters avoid sea freight delays and extra charges?
Most sea freight delays and extra costs come from a few predictable issues: rolled containers, charges added after booking, port holds and late paperwork. Here is how each one is handled on a Cargoking file.
Container rolled to a later vessel
Carriers may roll containers when a vessel is overbooked. We confirm the booking, track the cut-off and inform you as soon as a rollover is announced, with the next sailing options.
Surcharges added after the quote
Bunker Adjustment Factor (BAF), General Rate Increase (GRI) and Peak Season Surcharge (PSS) can move with fuel and demand. Each quote names the charges it includes and states its own validity, so changes are visible before you book.
Demurrage and detention
Demurrage builds up when a container sits at the terminal past its free days. Detention builds up when the carrier’s container is kept outside too long. Preparing clearance before arrival and planning the empty return reduce the risk of both.
Cargo held for documents
A mismatch between invoice, packing list and Harmonized System (HS) code can stop a container at the port. Our team checks the file first, and filings go through our licensed customs clearance specialists.
Wrong container weight
Every export container needs a Verified Gross Mass (VGM) before loading. We check the figure and send it to the carrier before the cut-off.
How it runs
What is the sea freight forwarding process?
Four stages, each owned by the same coordinator, so nothing is passed between companies while your cargo waits.
01
FCL or LCL, decided on numbers
We work out whether your volume justifies a full container or whether consolidation costs less once handling at both ends is counted, and we show you the comparison.
02
Carrier and sailing selected
Our sea freight team places the booking with the shipping line on the service that fits your date, with transhipment, routing and the carrier’s estimated transit time stated at booking rather than discovered later.
03
Export documents and Bill of Lading (B/L)
The shipping bill, HS classification, certificate of origin where required and B/L instructions are prepared with you and checked by our team, with official filings through our licensed customs clearance specialists. Our DGFT documentation team supports Importer Exporter Code (IEC) and licence queries.
04
Loading, sailing and arrival
Factory stuffing or CFS handover, gate-in, sailing confirmation and arrival notice come back through your coordinator, with the carrier reference for your own tracking.
Not sure which stage your shipment is at? Send your packing list for a container plan.
Why Cargoking
Why choose Cargoking as your sea freight forwarder?
Ocean freight looks like a commodity until something goes wrong: a rollover, a congestion surcharge or a port examination. That is when the difference between forwarders shows.
We work within reach of Nhava Sheva, one of India’s busiest container ports, and see those exceptions early. Clearance is planned before the vessel arrives, which reduces the risk of demurrage and detention reaching your invoice.
Quotes cover the whole movement, so you can compare them honestly with another forwarder’s and with the final invoice. As an MTO registered with the Directorate General of Shipping (DG Shipping), we can also cover combined sea, rail and road legs under one document. See our freight forwarding services.
- FCL on major trade lanes
- LCL consolidation for part loads
- Nhava Sheva and other Indian ports
- Hazardous and out-of-gauge cargo
What your sea freight quote includesItemised, so nothing arrives as a surprise
- 01Ocean freightLine rate for FCL or LCL on the agreed sailing
- 02Origin handling and THCStuffing or CFS handover, terminal handling charges and gate-in
- 03DocumentationDocument checks, B/L issue and customs filing coordination
- 04Destination and deliveryImport handling and inland delivery where agreed
Import duties and taxes are shown apart from our charges, because the destination government sets them.
Get an itemised sea freight quoteContainers
20 ft or 40 ft: which container size is right for your shipment?
A 20 ft container suits heavy or compact loads, a 40 ft container suits larger volumes and a 40 ft high cube adds height for light, bulky cargo.
- 20 ft standard: about 33 cubic metres (CBM) of internal space, often used for dense cargo such as metals, tiles or machinery parts
- 40 ft standard: about 67 CBM, used for larger volumes of general cargo
- 40 ft high cube: about 76 CBM, with extra height for light, bulky goods such as furniture or textiles
- Flat rack and open top: for OOG cargo that cannot fit through standard doors or under a fixed roof
- Reefer containers: carrier refrigerated containers for temperature-controlled cargo, planned through our temperature-controlled logistics
Usable space and weight limits vary by carrier and by the road rules at each end, so we confirm the right container with your dimensions and weights. Not sure which container? Send your dimensions.
Before shipment
What documents are required for sea freight from India?
Most sea freight exports need a commercial invoice, packing list, shipping bill, VGM declaration and B/L instructions, plus any certificate or licence the goods require.
- Commercial invoice with accurate descriptions, values and HS codes
- Packing list with gross and net weights, package count and dimensions
- Shipping bill, with filing coordinated by our documentation team
- VGM declaration for each container
- B/L instructions: shipper, consignee, notify party and the type of B/L your sales terms need
- Certificate of origin, where the buyer’s country or a trade agreement requires it
- IEC details for exporters, and an IMDG declaration with the safety data sheet for hazardous cargo
Trade lanes
Which countries do we ship sea freight to?
Each lane has its own ports, routing and destination rules, so each has its own guide.
India to UAE
Jebel Ali and the wider Gulf
India to UK
Felixstowe, Southampton and London Gateway
India to USA
East, Gulf and West Coast ports, with Importer Security Filing (ISF) timing flagged before loading
India to Kenya
Mombasa and Nairobi, through our own registered entity in Kenya
India to Singapore
A transhipment hub for South East Asia
Common questions
Frequently asked questions about sea freight
Yes, we book FCL and LCL sea freight from Nhava Sheva and other Indian ports, choosing the gateway that suits the lane and your factory location. Cargo is fed to the port by road or rail, timed to the vessel cut-off. See our rail freight options.
Apart from ocean freight, a sea freight quote usually includes Terminal Handling Charges (THC), a B/L fee, origin handling and destination charges, plus CFS charges for LCL. We list each one on its own line, so each cost is visible before you book. Request an itemised quote.
Both are possible: FCL containers can be stuffed and sealed at your factory, while LCL cargo is delivered to a Container Freight Station (CFS) to be consolidated. We arrange the empty container, transport and gate-in either way. See our warehousing for staging before export.
For LCL and most forwarded shipments you receive a House Bill of Lading (HBL) issued by the forwarder, while the Master Bill of Lading (MBL) is issued by the shipping line. For FCL, we can arrange either, depending on what your buyer and bank need. Tell us your payment terms and we set up the right documents. See our freight forwarding services.
If customs selects a container for examination, your coordinator tells you straight away and arranges for the inspection to be attended with the shipping documents. Clean, matching paperwork is what shortens an examination, which is why we check the file before cut-off. Read about our DGFT and export documentation support.
Book sea freight as soon as your cargo-ready date is known, because vessel space and empty containers can run short in busy periods. An early booking gives more sailing options and time to prepare documents before the cut-off. Our logistics consultancy can help plan regular shipments.
Yes, hazardous cargo is shipped under the IMDG Code and oversized machinery as Out of Gauge (OOG) cargo on flat rack or open top containers. We need the safety data sheet for hazardous goods, and dimensions and weights for OOG cargo, before booking. See our hazardous cargo handling.
Your coordinator sends milestone updates from gate-in to arrival, together with the carrier reference so you can check the vessel yourself. You receive updates without needing to follow up. Contact our sea freight team.
Yes, we arrange the B/L type your sales terms need, including an original B/L, a telex release or a sea waybill. A telex release lets the buyer collect the cargo without the original papers once you approve it, which helps when payment is confirmed. See our DGFT and export documentation support.
Wooden crates and pallets for most destinations must meet ISPM 15 (International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures No. 15), which means heat treatment or fumigation and an official mark. Untreated wood can be refused or held at destination. Our export packaging team can advise on compliant crating for your destination.
More questions? Read our full FAQ page or our freight guides.
Related
Services that work alongside sea freight
Air Freight
For urgent cargo that cannot wait for a vessel.
Compare air freight options
Road Transport
Trucking from factories across India to the port, timed to the gate-in cut-off.
Plan road transport to the port
Rail Freight
Container rail from inland depots to port terminals for heavy or long-distance moves.
See rail freight options
Cargoking Express
International courier for samples and documents that travel ahead of the main shipment.
Send samples with Cargoking Express
Planning your next sea freight shipment?
Send us the route, cargo, weight or volume and your cargo-ready date. You will get an itemised FCL or LCL option and the routing behind it.