Send or receive your products in shipping containers at a very economical price, to and from anywhere in the world. We also carry out special cargo projects and full charters.
The most economical international transport of goods
If delivery time is not a determining factor when importing or exporting your products, container shipping is undoubtedly your best option.
You will benefit from a much lower cost compared to other means of intercontinental transport, and with the option of having at your disposal many types of shipping containers that will give you the flexibility to move all types of goods.
At Digiworld Imports you will find all the necessary services for the international transport of goods in shipping containers, from the loading or transshipment of goods to customs services, including the land transport of the containers with the cargo.
Our long experience in the industry will simplify all your processes. All we need to know is origin, destination and type of goods.
Containerized sea freight is currently the most widely used mode of international trade.
This type of transport by sea offers greater advantages for frequent shipment of common goods, with a cheaper price or a great flexibility in the type of cargo, if we compare it with other modes of transport of goods.
By specifying that this service is carried out in shipping containers, we mean that the goods travel in large containers.
These dimensions are defined by an ISO standard and are the same all over the world, which makes them easy to stack and connect with different types of vehicles so that they can later travel in other modes, such as road or rail.
Inside the shipping containers, the goods travel packed, in big bags, on boards or palletized, so that the interior space is better utilized and the goods are protected from damage.
Modalities of containerized maritime transport
There are two types of sea container transport known as full container shipment (FCL: Full Container Load) or sea groupage (LCL: Less than Container Load).
Full container transport
As its name indicates, a full container shipment is one in which the cargo belongs to the same seller and is moved using the space exclusively, without sharing it with other cargo.
To be an FCL it is not necessary for the cargo to occupy the entire available volume, it simply means that the container is reserved entirely for the company that has contracted the transport service.
Sea groupage
On the other hand, a maritime groupage, or LCL for “Less than Container Load”, is the modality in which the shipment is loaded in the same container together with the goods of other sellers.
For this reason, this mode is also called “shared container”.
Which type of shipping should I choose? FCL or LCL
These modes have four essential aspects that you must take into account when choosing:
- Volume of the goods. This refers to the amount of cargo you will import or export. Most of the time this is the decisive factor in deciding between FCL or LCL service.
- Cargo security. In case you want to maximize the level of security assigned to your sea container shipment. The less transshipment and handling by intermediate agents, the more you can ensure the integrity of the goods.
- Shipping costs. The price of the transport service can also be a determining factor in deciding between FCL or LCL if the cargo is not sufficiently bulky. However, there is a small range in which the cost difference between FCL and LCL is minimal.
- Urgency. The time required to get your cargo to its destination in the best possible time is the last of the determining factors. Although we always recommend that you plan ahead for your shipment, you may be required to ship as quickly as possible due to exigencies.
Differences between LCL and FCL
Having considered these aspects, let’s now look at which of them stands out on each point:
Differences | Less than Container Load (LCL) | Full Container Load (FCL) |
Shipping volume | Best choice for loads between 2m³ and 13 m³. Rarely is a shipment of less than 2 m³ cost-effective. | This option is most economical when the goods exceed 10 standard pallets, 11 European pallets or 14 m³. |
Load security | Recommended for sturdy or compact goods that can be handled without much trouble. | The goods travel with the container sealed from the point of origin to the destination. This is your option if you are looking for a more secure shipment. |
Cost of transport | The rates for LCL services are more stable compared to the FCL service. | Considering the volume available, prices are cheaper, but rates fluctuate much more than LCL. |
Delivery times | LCL works with longer transport periods, and delivery dates are not always guaranteed. | Recommended for time-sensitive shipments or shipments that must be at destination by a stipulated date. |
If you wish to send goods by sea container, regardless of the volume of the goods, Digiworld Imports offers you a complete catalogue of sea freight services.
Call us and our agents will help you define the best strategy for shipping your products.
Shipping Dangerous Goods IMDG
Sends or receives chemical, liquid or gaseous products or other dangerous goods in tank containers by sea, this being the most economical means of international transport.
Exporting and importing dangerous goods, safely and cost-effectively
When transporting dangerous goods by sea, the risks to the environment and people are multiplied.
Therefore, it is essential to comply with the IMDG regulations imposed by the IMO for this type of shipments by sea.
At Digiworld Imports we specialize in the transport, handling and storage of dangerous goods.
If you would like to consult our rates for logistics operations with hazardous substances or if you would like to request a quote for importing or exporting these goods, please call us.
Dangerous goods transport services by sea
To regulate the transport of dangerous goods by sea, the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code (IMDG) was published in 1965 by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to impose a set of mandatory rules regarding the transport of noxious, explosive, toxic or radioactive goods by maritime means.
When transporting dangerous goods, the container must be well packed, labelled and authorized in advance. If the cargo exceeds 4000 kg, the UN number must be indicated and an orange placard must be affixed indicating the commodity code.
Failure to comply with the regulations may result in severe penalties for endangering the welfare of the environment, the means of transport and people.
IMDG Code 2018: 39-18
The IMDG IMO Code sets out detailed recommendations for the carriage of substances, materials and articles considered as dangerous goods by sea.
It also sets out a number of suggestions for good operating practices.
In addition, information on terminology, packaging, labelling, stowage, segregation, handling and emergency action is included within the code.
Although the information in the IMDG Code is primarily aimed at shipping companies, the provisions can influence a large number of industries and businesses.
Port authorities will find reliable guidance on how to deal with emergencies involving dangerous goods.
Currently, in 2021, the 2018 edition of the IMDG Code, which includes amendment 39-18 and entered into force on 1 January 2020, is still in force.
The incorporation of the 2020 amendment 40-20 will not become mandatory until June 2022.
Handling and identification labels
In the event that you want to ship products classified as IMO dangerous goods, it is mandatory to affix either stickers or identification placards informing of the CLASS to which the goods carried in the sea container belong.
This identification card must be weather resistant so that neither the colors nor the symbols printed on it degrade.
There are two types of labels for marking dangerous goods. On the one hand, we have the risk labels, which are the ones we have seen in the previous section, and on the other hand, the handling labels.
Characteristics of dangerous goods placards
Dangerous goods placards accompanying dangerous goods during transport are square in shape with a side of at least 100 mm x 100 mm and rotated 45°.
The inner line parallel to the edges of the rhombus must be at least 2 mm thick and separated from the edge by at least 5 mm.
The symbol appears in the upper half and the class and subclass number in the lower half.
At Digiworld Imports we constantly carry out transport services of goods by sea, especially IMO dangerous goods. We have all the authorizations and we always use all the security measures imposed by law.
UN number
The other mark that must accompany dangerous goods during transport, in addition to the diamond indicating the class and its risk, is the orange UN number identification panel.
The UN number or UN code is a four-digit code ranging from 0004 to 3548 and indicates the risk of danger of the goods being transported.
These code numbers are assigned by the United Nations Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods and are listed in the Orange Book of “Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods”.
Depending on the type of chemical or its nature, some harmful materials share the same UN codification, as is the case of flammable liquids (UN1993).
On the other hand, there are substances that have their own UN number, such as acrylamide (UN 2074).
This UN code may vary even if it is the same chemical compound if it has different levels of concentration in solution, if it is in a stable form or if the risk or hazard is different depending on whether it is in solid, liquid or gaseous state.
IMO classification of goods
The International Maritime Organization, better known as IMO, classifies dangerous goods into 9 groups. By definition, these goods consist of goods and materials that pose a threat to the well-being of both people and the environment due to their characteristics.
Depending on their degree of harmfulness and specific characteristics, these goods are divided into 9 classes. The product safety data sheet provided by the manufacturer, also known as MSDS, indicates the class to which the product belongs.
It should be noted that the numbering imposed on the different classes has no direct relation to the magnitude of the risk or hazard potential they pose.
A CLASS 1 cargo according to IMO regulations is likely to be just as dangerous as radioactive materials belonging to CLASS 7.
To comply with the regulations, the container of dangerous goods must have an orange panel on its sides with the UN number and the distinctive mark of its class.
The materials included in each class are detailed below:
Class 1. Explosives
This class is made up of different types of articles based on their risk of detonation. Among this merchandise we can find pyrotechnics, flares, rockets, bombs, etc.
In addition to being identified by the orange background label with the UN number, the maritime container must have a square panel with an orange background, rotated 45 degrees with the silhouette of an exploding bomb and a number 1 must be located at the bottom.
Class 2. Gases
This class covers all types of gases, whether they are transported in liquefied, compressed or dissolved under pressure.
Depending on their properties they are classified as toxic, flammable or asphyxiating.
Depending on their main property, the square panel rotated 45° can have a red background with a flame, a white background with a skull or a green background with a bottle.
Class 3. Flammable liquids
This class includes all liquids which have the peculiarity of burning easily on contact with a heat source, such as paint, petrol, varnish or turpentine.
The diamond-shaped placard which must be clearly visible on the tank-container in which it is transported must have a red background, the symbol of a flame, black or white, and the number 3 at the bottom.
Class 4. Flammable solids
This is the turn for class 4, which covers solids which are easily ignited or which release gases when they come into contact with water. This class also covers self-reactive products and explosive goods.
The markings accompanying the goods travelling by sea must have a black flame and, depending on their reactive nature, a white and red background or a blue background.
Class 5. Organic oxidizers and peroxides
Liquids or solids which promote combustion or promote the development of fires through the combustion of other substances.
Organic peroxides are unstable substances which burn easily. They burn quickly and intensely.
Their IMO marking labels have a yellow background, or yellow and red, and have a flame at the top, either on a line or in a circle.
Class 6. Toxics
This class covers a variety of infectious and toxic substances. The former contain micro-organisms that cause all kinds of diseases, such as laboratory samples and cultures. The latter, toxic substances, are those that can cause death by inhalation, topical absorption or ingestion.
The panels identifying this class of dangerous goods have a white background, the number 6 at the bottom and either a skull or three crescent moons joined at their widest part in the center.
Class 7. Radioactive material
Class 7 is reserved for chemically unstable materials with activity. This group includes uranium, plutonium and thorium, elements used in the nuclear industry.
In this case, the identification signs themselves include the word “radioactive” and the number 7 at the bottom. The background is soft and in some cases the upper half is yellow.
Class 8. Corrosives
Substances classified as number 8 according to IMO are goods that react on contact with other materials. These products can destroy skin, tissue and even disintegrate solids.
Examples of this type of goods are sodium hypochlorite or sulphuric acid.
The mandatory label for this IMO class has a black and white background, and has the image of two test tubes spilling fluids on a solid and a silhouette of a hand.
Class 9. Miscellaneous dangerous articles
This class covers all other articles and substances not covered by any of the previous 8 classes.
In this category can be found batteries and lithium batteries, dry ice and waste goods which are pollutants to the sea.
The identification for this class has a white background with black vertical stripes in its upper half and the 9 in its lower corner.
Break Bulk Cargo and Special Projects
Sea transport service for special cargoes. Project Cargo is the shipment of indivisible oversized cargo, while Break Bulk moves unbundled and loose cargo.
Oversized goods and break bulk via sea freight
Do you need to export oversized freight such as metal structures or windmill fuselages?
Or are you looking to import raw materials or break bulk goods, such as anthracite, from another continent?
If these examples are similar to the situation you are dealing with, what you are looking for is a Break Bulk or Project Cargo sea freight service.
At Digiworld Imports and freight forwarders specialized in sea transport, we have a team of experienced workers with extensive knowledge in shipping special cargo, Break Bulk and Project Cargo.
Do you wish to discuss a bulk break/cargo project with us?
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The logistics of international projects that require large infrastructures, such as in the renewable energy sector, demand specialized agents with a high level of knowledge in transport and a long experience in this type of operations in order to know how to act in the event of unforeseen events.
These types of logistics operations usually work with high-cost freight, and any logistical failure could jeopardize the success of the supply chain.
In order to avoid this from happening, excellent coordination between the different agents involved in the logistics chain is essential.
At Digiworld Imports we are aware of the importance of these logistical operations, as we have been carrying them out for more than 40 years.
Maritime Project Cargo
Project Cargo refers to those logistic operations in which the cargo has an excessive size or volume that cannot be divided into smaller pieces and inserted in standard shipping containers.
Due to this characteristic, oversized cargo requires a dedicated system for its transport. In this aspect, Project Cargo by sea uses only specific vessels to transport these cargoes.
For this type of specialized service, it is necessary to hire cargo ships with large spaces and uncovered holds where the goods will be placed.
This service is mainly designed for indivisible goods of large volume and size such as oil machinery, wind turbine blades, structural steel parts or large engines.
Maritime Breakbulk cargo
On the other hand, this mode of cargo transport, also known as break bulk or bulk transport, involves the transport of split goods, like minerals, but in high volume.
When transporting such large quantities, the use of sea containers is avoided, as the loading and unloading costs would be too high, and the full or partial chartering of a cargo ship is chosen for this operation.
Break Bulk cargoes can travel in boxes, drums, barrels, drums or unit loads attached to pallets. These are usually loaded at the seaport by accessing the vessel directly by roll-on/roll-off transport or by the use of forklift trucks.
To optimize loading and unloading times, vessels specializing in this type of operation are equipped with cranes capable of lifting large amounts of weight.
This type of project involves goods such as generators, construction equipment and other items that are disassembled into different pieces when transported and then reassembled on arrival at the destination.
Bulk transport by sea
If, on the other hand, the goods arrive at the port in bulk and without palletization, loading is carried out using cranes with hydraulic grapples.
This type of goods requires a great deal of logistical coordination, as the goods are normally transported to the port shortly after extraction, loaded as soon as possible and sailed to the port of destination in the shortest possible time, so that the goods suffer as little as possible.
For any kind of special cargo logistics operation, it is necessary to have a thorough knowledge of the goods being transported, both at origin and destination.
Because of the complicated nature of special cargo logistics, manufacturers and wholesalers of oversized goods choose the specialist agents of Digiworld Imports to carry out these operations.
Our agents are at your disposal to support you in the planning of the operation, execute and supervise the logistical measures necessary for the transport of your cargo.
Sea Project Cargo
Designing logistics solutions for industrial projects requires flexibility, specific knowledge, a lot of experience and a real passion for finding solutions to the challenges that arise.
At Digiworld Imports we are experts in all the logistics operations involved in a complete sea project cargo from start to finish.
We provide our clients with the right vessel for special cargoes by coordinating a comprehensive logistics service, which includes collection of the cargo at origin, storage, dispatch and administrative management of the entire transport process.
Buy or rent used Shipping Containers
Buy or rent used shipping containers
Do you need extra storage space on your property? Do you want to set up or expand a business and are looking for quick construction options?
Used shipping containers have become one of the options for building outdoor space economically.
It’s a quick solution for building tool sheds, homes, offices, and restaurants, businesses in public places, gyms and even swimming pools.
If you would like to come and see the containers we have available at our container depot facilities, request an appointment and an agent will accompany you on the visit.
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For the last few decades, shipping containers for the transport of goods have found a second life as a construction material due to their versatility and self-supporting structural capacity.
They are perfect for building homes inside them, for setting up shops or for developing the project you have in mind, or simply for storage in solar farms.
In short, they are the best solution to materialize your idea.
Given their short life in the world of building, homes and spaces made with shipping containers are still considered to be modern constructions, with a high versatility, and with the capacity to find solutions for each project.
By reusing shipping containers you can create magnificent annexes to extend your premises or home without having to invest a lot of money and time in renovation. You only need to prepare the land where the container will be located.
Also, as they are resistant, easy to transport and economical, the most common use given to these transport units is for storing tools in fields or as a tool room on building sites.
Price of a used shipping container
The price of a used sea container varies depending on the condition and dimensions of the container.
We have sea containers available, both 6 meters (12 feet) and 12 meters (40 feet), with normal width or pallet wide. These containers can be with or without a navigation plate.
If you would like to see the units available and obtain a specific quotation for the container you like, please request an appointment to visit our facilities.
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How to Buy Shipping Containers
Are you interested in buying one, but you still don’t know which model best suits your project?
At Digiworld Imports we have a wide variety of shipping containers, so finding the one that best suits your project is as easy as coming to see them.
- 20′ DRY VAN containers
- 40′ DRY VAN containers
- 20′ PALLET WIDE containers
- 40-foot PALLET WIDE containers
- 20-foot REEFER containers
- 40-foot REEFER containers
- HIGH CUBE 40-foot containers
- 40-foot PALLET WIDE HIGH CUBE Containers
- 45-foot PALLET WIDE HIGH CUBE containers
Dimensions of used shipping containers
The following table shows you the internal dimensions of the pre-owned containers we have available for sale.
Type | Interior length | Interior width | Interior height |
DRY VAN – 20’ | 5,9 m. | 2,35 m. | 2,40 m. |
DRY VAN – 40’ | 12,03 m. | 2,35 m. | 2,40 m. |
PALLET WIDE – 20’ | 5,9 m. | 2,44 m. | 2,40 m. |
PALLET WIDE – 40’ | 12,03 m. | 2,44 m. | 2,40 m. |
REEFER – 20’ | 5,5 m. | 2,28 m. | 2,25 m. |
REEFER – 40’ | 11,57 m. | 2,28 m. | 2,25 m. |
HIGH CUBE – 40’ | 12,03 m. | 2,35 m. | 2,70 m. |
PALLET WIDE HC – 40’ | 12,03 m. | 2,44 m. | 2,70 m. |
PALLET WIDE HC – 45’ | 13,55 m. | 2,44 m. | 2,70 m. |
