IMPORTAR EMBARCACIONES are cargo ships which carry goods on the ocean for import into a foreign country. These vessels are often specialised in the cargo they carry and are designed to handle particular types of products.

They may be geared or have cranes with grabs for unloading. They are also semi submergible, which allows them to load at ports that do not have a heavy-lift capability.

Heavy-Lift Vessels

Heavy-Lift Vessels are huge freight ships that are designed to transport cargo that goes above and beyond the size and weight of the kind of items usually found on a container ship. Such cargoes include dredging equipment, floating dry docks and plants, drilling rigs, offshore structures, and more.

These vessels are specially equipped with specialized machinery to handle these unusually heavy and large loads. They may have their own cranes to load and unload the cargo or they may use special trucks, barges or airlift to transport it.

Many of the ships in this category are open deck cargo ships. They have large ramps that span the beam of the vessel and are constructed of reinforced material to allow for the movement of vehicles and goods onto and from the ship’s main deck.

General Cargo Vessels

The majority of modern seagoing commercial vessels are designed to carry a variety of cargoes. These include dry bulk cargoes, liquid cargoes and specialised cargoes.

General Cargo Vessels are large, wide and flat ships with a streamlined hull design and open deck spaces for loading and unloading cargo. They may have one, several or multiple holds and tween decks.

These ships are typically fitted with cranes integral to the ship for loading and unloading cargo. They are also labeled a multi-purpose vessel for the wide range of load capacities they can accommodate and their adaptability.

These ships are specially built for oversized, sensitive and difficult-to-handle cargoes such as heavy machinery, construction equipment and wind turbines. They are able to handle very high cargo loads, and can even take on oil rigs or bulk commodities.

Container Vessels

There are several types of vessels that carry cargo, including container ships. These are large, heavily built metal boxes that make international shipping of goods easier and more efficient.

Modern shipping lines use container ships to transport dry and liquid freight. They can also handle specialised cargoes like passengers, livestock and heavy-lift/project cargoes.

These ships are designed to store standardized containers one on top of the other, with vertical bracings at the corners for extra stability and efficiency. They can carry around 24,000 TEU of cargo.

Ro-Ro Vessels

Ro-Ro ships, which can be either ferries, cruise ferries, barges or cargo vessels, allow vehicles to roll onto and off the ship without the need for cranes. The cargo is positioned on the vessel’s deck, secured with lashings to ensure safe transport.

Cars are typically shipped using Ro-Ro ships as this method of freight transport is fast, time saving and less costly than a container shipping operation. This is also an excellent option for private car owners and holidaymakers who want to take their vehicles overseas by sea.

A Ro-Ro ship can carry a wide variety of cargo from cars and trucks to heavy construction equipment. It is important to note that a Ro-Ro ship’s cargo capacity is measured in lane metres, which is calculated by multiplying the cargo length in metres by its width in a lane.

Sea Freight

Sea freight, or ocean freight, is an import method that utilises container vessels to transport goods across the world. This link in the supply chain is a vital part of cross-border trade, allowing massive amounts of goods to be transported through designated sea lanes.

It comes in two varieties: Full Container Load (FCL) shipping and Less than Container Load (LCL) shipping. Both are used for large-volume goods that cannot fit into a standard cargo ship.

Despite being less secure than air freight, ocean freight is a good choice for large or bulk goods that require a more reliable delivery time. However, it’s important to remember that it’s much more vulnerable to weather changes and port congestion. It also has a longer cycle time than other shipping methods, so it’s not suitable for shipments that must be delivered quickly.