Mode of Shipment:
Liner shipping involves two modes of shipment viz., Break-bulk mode and the containerized mode. The SCI, true to its role as the leading shipping company of the country has a presence in the Break-bulk and the container shipping modes. Even though the SCI started as a predominant break-bulk shipping company, with the change of time, we have gradually shifted our focus towards containerization and are at present a force to reckon with in the containerized liner services market from India to the major trade destinations of the world.

Measurements involved:
In the break-bulk era, the cargo offered by a customer for shipment was charged on the basis of weight (Metric Tonne) or volume (Cubic Meter) depending on the nature of the cargo. In the containerized era, the measurement is predominantly based on the number of containers (measured in TEUs - Twenty foot equivalent Units) that the cargo would occupy.

What is a Container ?
A container is a steel box which has the following dimensions

TEU - Length - 20` Breath - 8` Height - 8`6` (overall)

FEU - Length - 40` Breadth - 8` Height - 8`6` (overall)

A standard 20` container has an internal volume of approximately 31 cubic meters and a pay load of 18 tonnes. Leaving aside the question of stowage factors and packaging, it would appear that any cargo with a density in the vicinity of 0.6 Tonnes/Cubic meter (18 Tonnes/31 Cubic meter) could be containerized. This threshold density will ensure that the load carrying capacity and the space available inside a container is utilized optimally. Any cargo with a density far greater than 0.6 Tonnes/cubic meter will reach the weight limit of 18 tonnes before the container space is fully utilized and on the other hand a cargo with a density very much less than 0.6 Tonnes / cubic meter will use the entire space available even before the weight limit is reached. Hence, the density of a material plays an important role in whether the same could be containerized or not.

Special Containers:
These are containers specially designed for particular type of cargoes. We can see a few of them here:

1) Unpacked heavy pieces and machinery - OPEN TOP CONTAINER OR FLAT RACKS
2) Dry Bulk Cargoes - BULK CONTAINERS
3) Liquid Bulk Cargoes - TANK CONTAINERS
4) Temperature Sensitive Cargoes - REEFER CONTAINERS

FCL - LCL Containers:
Containers passing through a port can be classified as FCL (Full Container Load) or LCL (Less than Container Load). This has nothing to do with the quantity of goods in the container but refers to their origin and destination. An FCL originated container arrives at the port fully loaded ready to ship. An LCL shipment arrives as breakbulk cargo (possibly from several different consignors) and has to be stuffed in the container in a groupage shed or Container Freight Station (CFS).

CFS and ICD:
A CFS is a groupage shed or storage area which is near a port and where stuffing and destuffing of containers is done. On the other hand, ICD (Inland Container Depo) is a port away from the port. As the name suggests ICD is located in a inland area far away from the Sea Port but with all the customs facilities of a sea port. Containers for inland locations are transported by land to these ICDs and all clearing formalities are completed here as being done in any sea port.

SCI`s Container fleet:
The SCI which is the largest Indian Shipping company has a total fleet of approximately 48,000 TEUs under its command at any point of time. Out of this, 5850 TEUs are owned by the SCI and the rest are taken on Master Lease / long-term lease from renowned container lessors around the world. The SCI can provide to its customers any type of containers as per their requirements and these activities are taken care by the worldwide Agency Network of SCI.

How to Ship Cargo with SCI ?
Customers can plan their shipping schedule based on the long-term Shipping Schedules for the various SCI Liner services. For further details regarding ETA / ETD of SCI vessels and booking of cargo, our Agents in the respective ports could be contacted. If after shipping of cargo, the customers would like to know the whereabouts of their container, the same could be checked on our website. (Liner division home page)

U.S. Customs 24-Hour Advance Vessel Manifest Rule:

U. S. Custom filed new regulations on October 31, 2002 that will have significant documentation implication to clients in the import and export business relating to shipment information.

Terminal Handling Charges at Indian Ports

Container Maintenance Charges for Indian Ports (including ICDs)