Here are some important steps involved in maritime freight transportation:

• Packaging and Goods Preparation: Before being transported by sea, goods must be properly packaged to protect them from damage and weather conditions. The packaging should be waterproof and sturdy to withstand handling.
• Documentation and Customs Formalities: Exporters and importers need to complete the necessary paperwork to allow the transportation of goods across borders. This may include documents such as commercial invoices, packing lists, bills of lading, certificates of origin, and other documents specific to each country and type of goods.
• Vessel Selection: To perform maritime transportation, an appropriate vessel must be selected based on the size and type of goods being transported. There are different types of ships, such as containerships, bulk carriers, roll-on/roll-off (ro-ro) vessels, tankers, and many others.
• Loading of Goods: Goods are loaded into containers or directly onto the ship’s deck, depending on the type of vessel and the size of the goods. In the case of containers, goods are often placed in standardized containers to facilitate handling and storage on the ship.
• Sea Transportation: The ship departs from the loading port and sails along the planned route to the destination port. This phase can take from several days to several weeks, depending on the distance and weather conditions.
• Unloading of Goods: Upon arrival at the destination, the goods are unloaded from the ship and stored in the destination port or temporary storage facilities.
• Customs Formalities and Documentation at Destination: Upon arrival of the goods at the destination port, necessary customs procedures are carried out to allow the entry of the goods into the respective country. All documents must be in order to avoid delays or issues.

Almost always, maritime transportation is followed by:

• Land Transportation and Distribution: After the goods are cleared by customs authorities, they are further transported to the final destination using land transportation means such as trucks or trains. This is known as land transportation or distribution.
• Delivery to the Consignee: Finally, the goods reach the consignee, who receives and utilizes them according to their needs.

Maritime freight transportation is one of the most efficient and economical ways to transport large quantities of goods over long distances, but it requires careful planning and coordination to ensure that the goods arrive safely and on time at their destination.