Sea Freight

Customs

Trade Ocean is a fully accredited clearing and forwarding agent capable of managing customs clearances through the paperless EDI system. We have skilled staff employed specifically to manage submissions of entries to customs. With more than 100 years of collective experience with the Customs Department, we also offer services such as interpretation of the Customs Act, as it relates to sea and air freight both overseas and in South Africa, as well as tariff determinations.

Owing to our online service with customs, documentation presented for clearance is released almost immediately. We have staff who are permanently on the road in order to collect documents and obtain releases from port authorities and shipping lines. Furthermore, where requested, we assist clients with ITAC permit applications, State Vet permit applications and the customs registration documentation process to get our clients registered with customs.

We provide 24-hour dock supervision to oversee the loading and unloading of cargo from the vessels that we represent. We also engage accredited surveyors in order to provide certification for cargo where and when it is required.

We manage one of the largest meat and fish networks in South Africa, with full logistical services, including SABS inspections, State Vet releases and VL measurements for certain products. In addition, we supply equipment, such as 20’ and 40’ freight containers for both GP and reefer sea-going cargo.

Forwarding/Freight Broker

We arrange for the collection and delivery of our clients’ cargo anywhere in the world, which, along with our favourable sea freight rates for both LCL and FCL cargo, makes us the international shipping company of choice.

As customs and forwarding/freight brokers, we arrange for payment of sea freight and all landside costs on behalf of our clients in South Africa, Namibia and abroad. We also arrange for Marine Insurance upon request.

As customs brokers and sea freight agents, we are represented in all the major ports in the world, including Walvis Bay, Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg and in conjunction with our trade partners we offer extremely competitive shipping rates.

Contact us via or give us a call for more information on our sea freight and customs broker services.