Container Shipping to and
from UK
Do you want to know more about prices for container shipments to the UK? Are you aware of specific shipping documents you might need to get your freight moving? Here you’ll find all the answers related to your questions around container shipments to the UK.
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Relevant shipping information
Transit times depend on the vessel rotation, and whether containers need to be connected to other vessels on their journey and how many calling ports there are on the route.
For example, you can ship a container from China to the UK from 28 days, from a main port like Shanghai.
Twill, supercharged by Maersk, offers market-leading transit times for the UK from all its key markets. Our strong transit times ensure you keep your lead times to a minimum, while being able to keep cargo moving at a good pace.
Insurance is not necessarily required to ship to the UK but you should review whether this is something you should consider based on the Incoterms you have agreed with your supplier.
Dependant on the Incoterms chosen, the risk associated with your purchase moves at a specific point in the shipping process. For example, if you chose to work with DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) terms then the Seller bears all Risk until the Buyer receives the goods, while if you chose FOB (Free On Board) terms the Risk moves to the Buyer at the point it loads on the vessel at Origin.
You should always ensure you read the fine print to ensure insurance coverage meets your needs, with policies varying on commodities, routes and value. Only specific policies cover delays, while most do not. Other policies cover you only for General Average Contribution, which are the costs associated with loss or damage to a ship or its cargo, with costs shared between the owners of the ship and owners of the cargo on board.
If you’re shipping your cargo across the sea, you want to know that you won’t lose money if your cargo is damaged or lost. This is why South Ocean offers Value Protect, giving you peace of mind that your cargo is protected during the transportation with us.
Local Solutions
When shipping containers into the UK you are required to provide documentation to HMRC Customs for their review & approval to clear your goods into the country.
As well as your shipping documentation (Bill of Lading), common paperwork required is a Commercial Invoice which details the goods you are buying, full details of the seller, and the associated value of the goods. The Packing List is also needed and gives a fuller breakdown of the items inside your container, product, numbers of items and the packed dimensions and weights. You would also be expected to provide the Customs Tariff Numbers (HS Code) associated with those products.
In some instances, documents such as a Certificate of Origin and GSP Certificates (Generalised System of Preferences) will also be used. The GSP Certificate for some commodities can mean you get a concession against the standard UK import tariff, so a reduction in costs. The Certificate of Origin proves the source and therefore your eligibility for the duty reduction.
Each Incoterm option plays a factor in your overall cost of the goods & who is responsible for what part of the shipping journey costs.
For example, if you chose to work with DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) terms then Seller would be responsible for the full costs of shipping and costs would normally be added within the invoice for the goods the Buyer is purchasing.
If parties agree FOB (Free On Board) terms the Buyer can control when and who they ship with, taking on the the associated costs of shipping from the origin port. The Seller would take on the costs & responsibility of having the container trucked to port and laden on board the vessel chosen by the Buyer.