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Ocean freight · FCL & LCL · Door to door

Ocean Freight Shipping Services

Interworld Freight ships FCL and LCL ocean freight between the US and ports on five continents, door to door, with space secured in any season.

+1 (646) 722-0968 · +1 (786) 550-0401

Get my ocean quote Talk to a specialist

4.5 on Google · 190+ reviews · WCAworld North America Best Partner 2022

Since 1992

WCA founding member

CTPAT certified

NVOCC · FCL · LCL

continents on our ocean lanes

30,000+

TEUs moved every year

Weekly

sailings on every major lane

FCL · LCL

full or shared containers

LCL and full container Same-day reply

Quote your ocean shipment in under 2 minutes

Consolidation (LCL) or full container (FCL). Tell us your lane and cargo, and we come back with rate and next sailing.

What kind of shipment is it?

Free, no commitment
No sign-up needed
Same business day reply
Moving cargo since 1992

Where does your cargo ship from?

Pick a port and we quote port to port. Pick your city or zip code and we add the pickup.

Where is it going?

Pick a port and we deliver to our destination warehouse. Pick a city and your executive quotes door delivery.

How big is your cargo?Which containers do you need?

One line per package type. Several identical packages? Raise the Quantity. Different size or weight? Add another line.

Container type Number of containers

Weight per container (kg) (optional) Commodity (optional)

Number of packages (optional)

Cargo is hazardous (IMO)

Where should we send your rate?Who should we prepare the proposal for? The all-in price lands in your inbox within a minute.A sales executive writes to you with rate, carrier and next sailing for your container.

Email Company Phone (optional)Phone (so sales can call you)

Additional notes (optional)

or press Enter ↵

Certifications & memberships

Ocean services

Choose your ocean freight service

Two ways to ship by sea: a container just for your cargo or shared space. Pick the one that fits your volume.

FCL: full container load

The container is exclusively yours: more control, less handling and a direct departure for large or delicate loads.

LCL: shared container

Share the container and pay only for the volume you use. The economical option for smaller shipments.

Compare

FCL or LCL: which fits your load?

Two ways to ship by sea, side by side: equipment, pricing, handling and departures.

	FCL: full containerFCL: full	LCL: shared containerLCL: shared
Best for	Large or delicate loads	Smaller, flexible shipments
The container	Exclusively yours	Shared with other shippers
Priced by	Per container: 20ft, 40ft or 40ft high cube	Per cubic meter (CBM) or metric ton, whichever is greater (W/M)
Handling	Loaded once, sealed to destination	Consolidated at our CFS
Departure	Direct	Weekly consolidation schedule

Daniel Zapata · Operations Director

Not sure between FCL and LCL?

Send Dani your volume and he prices both options, so you pick the lowest total cost.

Compare both prices

Estimated transit times

Caribbean

3–14 days

Weekly sailings from Miami to the islands, customs cleared on arrival.

Central America & Mexico

7–18 days

Weekly departures to Central America and Mexico from the US.

South America

4–25 days

Weekly sailings to South America, depending on the port of discharge.

Europe

15–32 days

Transatlantic lanes from the US to European ports.

China → Caribbean (LCL)

24–55 days

Weekly consolidation transshipped through the US, depending on the island.

Ocean freight services worldwide

International ocean freight shipping

As a leading ocean freight forwarder, Interworld Freight ships goods worldwide and specializes in shipping to, from and within the Americas.

Along with global full container load (FCL) and less-than-container-load (LCL) ocean freight services at competitive rates, our ocean & air multimodal option offers affordability and faster shipping for intercontinental freight.

Interworld can connect your business with overseas customers and suppliers in any location via a full range of integrated transportation services, on land and in the air, as well as at sea.

Ocean freight shipping and delivery services

97 container ports we connect on five continents

United States 17

PortMiamiPort EvergladesJacksonvilleSavannahCharlestonNorfolkBaltimoreNew York–New JerseyHoustonNew OrleansMobileTampaLos AngelesLong BeachOaklandSeattleTacoma

Oceania 5

SydneyMelbourneBrisbaneFremantleAuckland

Caribbean 16

KingstonCaucedoHainaSan JuanNassauFreeportPort-au-PrinceBridgetownPort of SpainPoint LisasWillemstadOranjestadRoad TownSt. John'sCastriesGeorge Town

Middle East & Turkey 7

Jebel AliKhalifaDammamJeddahAmbarlıMersinİzmir

Mexico & Central America 13

Manzanillo (Mexico)VeracruzLázaro CárdenasPuerto QuetzalSanto Tomás de CastillaPuerto BarriosPuerto CortésAcajutlaCorintoMoínColónBalboaManzanillo (Panama)

Europe 11

RotterdamAntwerpHamburgBremerhavenLe HavreFelixstoweValenciaBarcelonaAlgecirasGenoaPiraeus

South America 13

CartagenaBarranquillaBuenaventuraGuayaquilCallaoSan AntonioValparaísoSantosParanaguáBuenos AiresMontevideoPuerto CabelloLa Guaira

Asia 15

ShanghaiNingboShenzhenQingdaoGuangzhouXiamenTianjinHong KongBusanKaohsiungYokohamaSingaporePort KlangHo Chi Minh CityNhava Sheva

Cargo types

Cargo we ship by sea

From everyday dry goods to temperature-controlled, hazardous and oversized cargo, each with the right equipment and paperwork.

Dry general cargo

Boxed, palletized and bagged goods in standard 20ft, 40ft and 40ft high cube containers.

Refrigerated (reefer)

Food, pharma and other perishables in temperature-controlled containers set to your cargo.

Dangerous goods (IMDG)

Hazardous materials packed, labeled and declared under the IMDG Code.

Vehicles (RoRo)

Cars, trucks and machinery rolled on and off RoRo vessels or shipped in containers.

Breakbulk & oversized

Out-of-gauge and heavy pieces on flat racks, open tops or breakbulk vessels.

Consolidated LCL

Smaller shipments grouped with other cargo at our CFS and shipped on weekly departures.

Ocean freight pricing

What goes into an ocean freight rate

Six lines make up the total cost of a sea shipment. Your quote itemizes each one, so you compare totals and not just base rates.

Ocean freight

The port-to-port rate for the lane, set by carrier and season; peak season adds surcharges.

Origin charges

Pickup, CFS consolidation for LCL and terminal handling at the port of loading.

Destination charges

Terminal handling charges (THC), port dues and deconsolidation at the port of discharge.

Documents & filings

Bill of lading, commercial invoice, packing list and certificate of origin, plus ISF 10+2 for US imports and AES and VGM for exports.

Customs clearance

Customs entry at origin and destination; duties and taxes depend on the HS code and the country.

Inland trucking

Drayage between the port and your warehouse at each end when you book door to door.

Why shippers trust Interworld

More than 30 years moving cargo worldwide

Founded in Miami in 1992, Interworld Freight moves cargo to five continents, ranks among the leading NVOCCs on the US–Latin America trade and was a founding member of the World Cargo Alliance, hosting its first meetings in our Miami offices in 1999 and 2000.

1992founded in Miami

350+employees

World Cargo Alliance

Founding member since 1999

WCAworld Best Partner 2022

North America award

IATA accredited

Cargo agent accredited by the International Air Transport Association

CTPAT certified

U.S. CBP supply chain security program

How we work with you

How your ocean shipment moves

You send one form; the rest of the lane runs through the same advisor.

Tell us the load

FCL or LCL, origin and destination. Your rate and next sailing come back with a full cost breakdown.

Book & documents

Space secured before the weekly cut‑off; bill of lading, commercial invoice and packing list prepared for you.

Load & sail

Your container is loaded at origin, or your cargo is consolidated at our CFS for LCL, and sails on the weekly schedule.

Customs cleared

Clearance handled at origin and destination, so no missing paper holds your cargo at the port.

Delivered & tracked

Delivery with live tracking on our tracking portal until the file is signed off.

You talk to a human

Daniel Zapata

Operations Director · Miami HQ

“

One advisor from quote to delivery: Dani answers every message on your file, in English or Spanish.

Weekly sailings on every major lane

FCL · LCL · door to door

Rated 4.5 across 190+ Google reviews

Start with step 1: get my quote

Answered by Dani, in English or Spanish

Most booked lanes

Top ocean freight destinations

From the Caribbean and Latin America to Europe, the Middle East and Australia: the lanes our clients book most, with rates and transit times on each page.

From USD 2,000

Specialized ocean services

More ways to ship by sea

Container shipping by country, door-to-door programs and project cargo.

31 destinations

Container shipping by country

FCL and LCL rates, transit times and ports for every destination we sail to.

Door to door to the Bahamas

Pickup at origin, the ocean leg, customs and final delivery, with one team accountable end to end.

Project cargo

Oversized and out-of-gauge pieces, RoRo and time-charter vessels, planned piece by piece.

No-commitment quote · Reply within one business day

Ready to move your ocean freight?

Rate, next sailing and documents confirmed in writing, with a clear breakdown from the first email: no surprises, no fine print.

Quote your cargo today

Moving cargo worldwide since 1992. Tell us the load and get a written quote with every cost itemized.

Request a quote Talk to a specialist

or call +1 (646) 722-0968 · +1 (786) 550-0401

LCL from China to the Caribbean

From Chinese factories to every Caribbean island

Weekly LCL consolidations from Shanghai, Ningbo, Shenzhen and other Chinese ports. We collect at your supplier, measure and load your cargo with compatible shipments, transship it through our US hubs and handle customs and last-mile delivery on the island. You pay only for the cubic meters you ship.

20Caribbean islands served

24–55days port to port

Weeklyconsolidations from China

Explore LCL from China

Pick your island

Rates, transit times and customs requirements on each page.

Greater Antilles & Bahamas

Bahamas25–32 days Cayman Islands24–30 days Dominican Republic28–38 days Haiti28–38 days Jamaica28–33 days Puerto Rico28–32 days Turks & Caicos28–35 days

Eastern Caribbean & ABC islands

Antigua and Barbuda35–45 days Aruba33–40 days Barbados35–42 days British Virgin Islands28–38 days Curaçao28–35 days Dominica30–40 days Grenada45–55 days Saint Kitts & Nevis28–38 days Saint Lucia30–38 days Saint Vincent & the Grenadines35–48 days Sint MaartenOn request Trinidad & TobagoOn request US Virgin Islands35–45 days

Ocean freight in depth

What to know before you ship by sea

Pricing, capacity, containers and multimodal options, with the detail behind each one.

Competitive pricing, dependable capacity

Interworld Freight is one of the largest NVOCCs moving cargo between the United States and Latin America, a huge factor when you need to secure space and guarantee low ocean freight rates.

Reliability, stability, and great container rates? That’s Interworld

For ocean shipping to Latin America, Interworld is an unbeatable partner, no matter where your business is based, and with our door to door international shipping services, we’re the only ocean freight forwarder you need. Testament to that is our receipt, in 2022, of the WCAworld organization’s North America 2022 Best Partner award.

Our experience is built on more than 30 years of forwarding sea freight to Central and South American markets, and providing shipping services for cargo owners in Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. With a physical presence in the United States, Panama, the Dominican Republic and the Bahamas, we’ve earned our credentials on the ground.

So when you need an ocean freight forwarder that can assure a combination of competitive container shipping rates and reliable access to capacity, at any time, in any season, we can fast-track your enterprise to a competitive supply chain advantage.

Ask us for an LCL or FCL quote for your next shipment, and let us show you what we can do.

In detail

Containers: think inside the box

Containerized transportation offers the following benefits for shippers like you:

Seamless shipping: Containers are designed to standard specifications, meaning carriers can transport them by ship, train, and truck, without any need to handle the contents.
Increased efficiency: Containerized shipping allows for the more efficient use of space on ships and in ports.
Security: Containers are sealed and can be constantly monitored with sophisticated ocean freight tracking solutions, reducing the risk of cargo damage or theft.
Flexibility: Containers are suitable for transporting a wide variety of goods, including perishable and hazardous materials.
Options: Shippers can choose between full-container-load (FCL) and less-than-container-load (LCL) shipping, giving them a wide range of possibilities for large or small consignments.

In detail

Multimodal: by air and by sea

Our multimodal services offer you the optimum tradeoff between cost and speed. Choose air/ocean for the shortest overall transit time, or ocean/air for greater economy. Either way, multimodal will keep your freight costs low while you enjoy faster shipping to destinations in South and Central America.

For shipping via China – Latin America trade lanes, Interworld’s multimodal service combines the speed of air freight and the affordability of ocean freight container rates with prompt and efficient transhipment hubs in the United States.

Quote a multimodal shipment

One operation

Combine ocean with the rest of the lane

Air, road and warehousing run by the same team, plus programs built for your industry.

Air freight

Time-critical cargo flown on deadline, charter and air express, door to door.

Road freight

FTL, LTL and trucking to and from every US port and airport.

Warehousing

Bonded, FTZ and temperature-controlled storage in Miami and Latin America.

Ocean freight by industry

All industries →

Aerospace Food & beverage Chemicals Building materials Electronics Used clothing

Client testimonials

Shippers who move their ocean freight with us

Real reviews from our Google profile.

4.5 / 5 · 190+ Google reviews

“I've been working with this freight forwarding company for a while, and their service is truly outstanding. They follow up proactively and make sure everything runs smoothly from pickup to delivery. It's rare to find a company this reliable and customer-focused.”

Marcia Vazquez

Google review

“Did great with shipping my items to The Bahamas. Everything was done in a timely manner.”

Lynn Rolle

Google review

“The attention from everyone I dealt with is always excellent. You can see the professionalism and care the very first time they attend to you, and it is genuine. Highly recommend Interworld.”

Nestor Gonzalez

Google review

“I was very pleased with the service, from beginning to end. Everything was explained to me step by step till I was ready to pick up my machine from the warehouse. I didn't expect to get such service — so professional and knowledgeable.”

Ely Krasner

Google review

“Great experience working with them. 100% recommended.”

Interprint C.A.

Google review

“Excellent company to work with. Very professional.”

Elena

Google review

“The service I received was excellent. I highly recommend this company.”

Richard Stifano C.

Google review

From the blog

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FAQ

Ocean freight, answered

What importers and exporters ask us before their first sailing.

Ask us directly

or call +1 (646) 722-0968

How much does it cost to ship a container overseas?

It depends on origin, destination, container size and whether you ship FCL or LCL. As a reference from our own lane pages, a 20ft container to the Caribbean and Latin America starts between USD 1,000 and 2,000 depending on the destination, and a 40ft between USD 1,500 and 3,500. Request a quote and you get the full breakdown for your exact lane. LCL is billed per cubic meter or per metric ton, whichever is greater (W/M).

How long does ocean freight take?

On our weekly schedule, transit runs about 3 to 14 days to the Caribbean, 7 to 18 days to Central America and Mexico, 4 to 25 days to South America and 15 to 32 days to Europe. LCL from China to the Caribbean takes 24 to 55 days depending on the island. Your exact sailing and ETA come confirmed with the quote. Times are port to port, so pickup, customs clearance and final delivery add to the door-to-door total.

Do you offer door-to-door ocean freight services?

Yes: pickup at origin, the ocean leg, customs clearance at both ends and final delivery, with one advisor accountable for the whole lane. Our door-to-door service to the Bahamas runs exactly that way. Our own offices in the USA, Panama, the Dominican Republic and the Bahamas support clearance and delivery on those lanes.

Do I need a customs broker for ocean freight?

For US imports, a customs broker files the entry with CBP, and the ISF 10+2 has to be filed before the cargo is loaded. We coordinate clearance at origin and destination with the broker, so you deal with a single contact for the whole shipment. Importers also need a customs bond, and the entry is filed in ACE on CBP Form 7501.

Is Interworld Freight an NVOCC or a freight forwarder?

Both. As a forwarder we arrange the whole move; as an NVOCC we contract ocean space and ship under our own bill of lading. Based in Miami since 1992, a founding member of the WCA and CTPAT certified. An NVOCC takes carrier responsibility in its own bill of lading, and in the U.S. it is regulated by the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC).

Which Incoterm should I use for ocean freight?

It depends on how much of the lane you want to control. With FOB and EXW the main freight sits with the buyer, with CIF and CFR it sits with the seller, and DAP or DDP deliver to the door. Tell us your Incoterm and we quote the legs that apply. Under Incoterms 2020 (ICC), risk passes to the buyer once the goods are on board the vessel under FOB, CFR and CIF, and at the seller's premises under EXW.

Do I need an ISF filing to import by sea into the United States?

Yes. U.S. Customs and Border Protection requires the Importer Security Filing (ISF, known as 10+2) for ocean cargo bound for the United States, filed at least 24 hours before the cargo is loaded at the foreign port. The filing has 10 data elements from the importer and 2 from the carrier, and late or inaccurate filing can draw CBP penalties of up to USD 5,000 per violation.

Can you ship dangerous goods by sea?

Yes, when the cargo travels with its UN number, safety data sheet and IMDG-compliant packaging. Our chemicals logistics program moves regulated cargo this way. Dangerous goods fall into IMDG classes 1 to 9, and the container carries placards and a dangerous goods declaration.

Do you ship refrigerated (reefer) containers?

Yes. Chilled and frozen cargo travels in reefer containers set to the temperature the product needs, for example in our food and beverage program. Reefer setpoints range from about -30 C to +30 C, and the unit is plugged in at the terminal and on the vessel to hold the temperature.

Can you store my cargo before or after the ocean leg?

Yes. Our own warehousing in Miami covers bonded storage, FTZ, 3PL and temperature-controlled space, so cargo can wait, consolidate or be distributed without changing providers. Bonded storage defers duties under a CBP bond, and a foreign-trade zone (19 CFR Part 146) lets goods be stored and processed with duties deferred or eliminated.

What documents do I need for ocean freight?

The bill of lading, the commercial invoice and the packing list; some goods also need licenses or certificates of origin. We prepare them with you on every shipment. The commercial invoice must show value, HS code and Incoterm, and the bill of lading can be an original negotiable bill, a straight bill or a sea waybill.

Can I track my ocean shipment?

Yes: every container is trackable live through our tracking portal, from booking to delivery. Container numbers follow ISO 6346, four letters followed by seven digits, and identify the unit in the tracking portal.

What are demurrage and detention charges?

Demurrage is the daily charge a carrier applies when a loaded container stays at the port beyond the agreed free time; detention applies when the empty container is returned late. Both are avoided by having documents and customs ready before arrival, which we coordinate on every shipment. Free time varies by carrier, port and container type, so check the free days stated in your booking.

What is transshipment in ocean freight?

Transshipment moves cargo from one vessel to another at an intermediate port before it reaches destination. Our LCL service from China works this way, with cargo transshipped through US hubs to reach the Caribbean. A through bill of lading covers the whole journey even when the cargo changes vessels.

Is cargo insurance included in ocean freight?

Carriers only accept limited liability for loss or damage, capped per kilo or per package under international conventions, so the freight rate is not full cover. Cargo insurance is a separate policy based on the cargo value: under CIF and CIP the seller buys it, under other Incoterms the buyer decides. Tell us the cargo value when you request the quote and coverage is settled before booking. Marine policies follow the Institute Cargo Clauses (A), (B) or (C), where (A) gives the widest all-risks cover, and the usual insured value is 110% of the CIF value.

How do ocean freight rates for a 20-foot container compare to those for a 40-foot container?

Rates for a 40-foot container are typically higher than for a 20-foot container but offer a better value per volume unit, making them cost-effective for larger shipments. A 20-ft holds about 33 m³ (1,170 cu ft), a 40-ft about 67 m³ (2,390 cu ft) and a 40-ft high cube about 76 m³, so the 40-ft costs less per cubic meter.

How do seasonal trends affect ocean freight rates?

Rates often rise during peak shipping seasons, holidays, and due to seasonal demand for certain goods, affecting overall shipping costs. Peaks include the weeks before Lunar New Year, when Asian factories close, and the run-up to the U.S. holiday season from August to October.

Quote your ocean freight

Tell us what you ship, the load type and the lane. Dani replies with your rate, next sailing and the documents you need.

+1 (646) 722-0968 · +1 (786) 550-0401

9601 NW 112th Ave, Miami, FL 33178

Documents we prepare for you

Bill of lading (BL) · Commercial invoice · Packing list

Talk to a person, not a bot

Daniel Zapata · Operations Director

Dani prices your lane himself and confirms rate, sailing and documents, in English or Spanish.

4.5 / 5

190+ reviews on Google. Exporters and importers already moving their cargo with Interworld.

Contact an expert today

We reply within one business day

Global freight forwarder headquartered in Miami since 1992. Ocean, air and road freight, warehousing and container shipping worldwide.

Miami (HQ)

9601 NW 112th Ave, Miami, FL 33178

+1 (305) 599-2115

Panama

P.H. Plaza Credicorp Bank, floor 6, office 605, Calle 50, Panama City

+507 212-9148

Dominican Republic

Spring Center Plaza, suite 701, Arroyo Hondo, Distrito Nacional

info@interwf.com

Services

Air Freight Ocean Freight Road Freight Warehousing Warehousing in Miami Cold storage warehouse in Miami Temperature controlled warehouse in Miami FTZ warehouse in Miami 3PL in Miami Project Cargo Specialized Freight Shipping Container Door to door Moving services Humanitarian and disaster relief logistics

Industries

Aerospace & AOG Chemicals Consumer Electronics Food & Beverage Building Materials All industries

About us

Our Purpose The Company Our People Core Values Interworld Cares Work with us 4PL Freight glossary

Highlights

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Ocean Freight Shipping Services

Quote your ocean shipment in under 2 minutes

What kind of shipment is it?

Where does your cargo ship from?

Where is it going?

How big is your cargo?Which containers do you need?

Where should we send your rate?Who should we prepare the proposal for? The all-in price lands in your inbox within a minute.A sales executive writes to you with rate, carrier and next sailing for your container.

Your shipment is with our FCL team

Choose your ocean freight service

FCL: full container load

LCL: shared container

FCL or LCL: which fits your load?

Not sure between FCL and LCL?

Estimated transit times

International ocean freight shipping

97 container ports we connect on five continents

United States 17

Oceania 5

Caribbean 16

Middle East & Turkey 7

Mexico & Central America 13

Europe 11

South America 13

Asia 15

Cargo we ship by sea

Dry general cargo

Refrigerated (reefer)

Dangerous goods (IMDG)

Vehicles (RoRo)

Breakbulk & oversized

Consolidated LCL

What goes into an ocean freight rate

Ocean freight

Origin charges

Destination charges

Documents & filings

Customs clearance

Inland trucking

More than 30 years moving cargo worldwide

World Cargo Alliance

WCAworld Best Partner 2022

IATA accredited

CTPAT certified

How your ocean shipment moves

Tell us the load

Book & documents

Load & sail

Customs cleared

Delivered & tracked

Top ocean freight destinations

Puerto Rico

Haiti

Dominican Republic

Jamaica

Australia

Europe

Turkey

UAE

More ways to ship by sea

Container shipping by country

Door to door to the Bahamas

Project cargo

Ready to move your ocean freight?

From Chinese factories to every Caribbean island

Pick your island

Greater Antilles & Bahamas

Eastern Caribbean & ABC islands

What to know before you ship by sea

Competitive pricing, dependable capacity

Reliability, stability, and great container rates? That’s Interworld

Containers: think inside the box

Multimodal: by air and by sea

Combine ocean with the rest of the lane

Air freight

Road freight

Warehousing

Ocean freight by industry

Shippers who move their ocean freight with us

Ocean shipping guides

LCL vs FCL: Where the Breakeven Really Sits on Caribbean Imports