Container Shipping from the UK

ShipCars UK books container space every week out of Felixstowe, London Gateway, Southampton and Tilbury. Whether you need a single 20ft box for a household move or a rolling programme of 40ft high cubes for commercial export, we hold rates with the major carriers and NVOCC operators and pass the routing options to you in writing.

Full container load gives you exclusive use of the equipment. Less than container load — groupage — lets you pay only for the cubic metres you occupy, which suits part loads and first-time exporters. Both are quoted port to port as standard, with door collection and destination delivery available as add-ons.

UK ports we sail from

• Felixstowe — the UK's busiest container port, with the widest choice of direct mainline services to Asia, the Middle East and the Americas.
• London Gateway — a deep-water terminal on the Thames a few minutes from our East Tilbury warehouse, ideal where inland haulage cost matters.
• Southampton — strong coverage of Asia–Europe and transatlantic strings.
• Tilbury — shortsea and feeder services to the Mediterranean, Baltic and North Africa.
• Liverpool — the natural gateway for North Atlantic and West African trades from the north-west and Ireland.

Equipment and capacity

A 20ft standard container holds roughly 28 cubic metres and up to 21 tonnes of payload — enough for a two to three bedroom house move or one large vehicle. A 40ft container doubles the volume to around 58 cubic metres, and a 40ft high cube adds a further 30 cm of internal height for a total near 67 cubic metres. Out-of-gauge cargo travels on flat racks and open tops; temperature-controlled goods travel in reefers with continuous monitoring.

Choosing between FCL and LCL

• FCL suits consignments above roughly 12–15 cubic metres, time-sensitive cargo, and anything you would rather not share space with.
• LCL groupage suits smaller consignments, first export shipments and personal effects, priced by the cubic metre with a typical two cbm minimum.
• LCL adds a day or two either end for consolidation and deconsolidation at the groupage warehouse.

Transit times

Indicative port-to-port transit from our UK loading ports: Northern Europe 2–5 days, the Mediterranean 8–14 days, West Africa 14–24 days, the Middle East and Indian Subcontinent 16–26 days, East Asia 28–38 days, Australia 35–45 days, and North America east coast 10–16 days. Transhipment routings via Rotterdam, Antwerp or a Mediterranean hub can add several days but often improve the rate, and we always offer both a direct and a transhipment option where one exists.

Customs, documentation and insurance

Our in-house team raises the UK export declaration, checks commodity codes, prepares the packing list and issues the bill of lading. Where the destination requires a certificate of origin, fumigation certificate or pre-shipment inspection, we arrange it before the box is gated in. All-risk marine cover is available at 1.5% of the declared CIF value.

Documents we typically prepare

• HMRC export declaration and Movement Reference Number (MRN)
• Commercial invoice and detailed packing list
• Bill of lading — original, telex release or seaway bill
• Certificate of origin or preference declaration for trade-agreement destinations
• ISPM15-stamped dunnage certification for any wood packaging
• VGM (Verified Gross Mass) declaration, mandatory under SOLAS before loading

Packing and loading at East Tilbury

Where you send cargo to us for packing rather than self-loading, it is received into our warehouse, checked against your packing list, braced with dunnage and strapping, and photographed at each stage. We build a loading plan for every container so weight is distributed correctly and nothing shifts in transit, then seal the box in front of you or your representative on request and provide the seal number on the shipping documents.

Costs and what affects your rate

Ocean freight is only one line on the invoice. A full landed cost typically includes UK haulage to the port, terminal handling charges at both ends, the ocean freight itself, documentation fees, and — unless quoted DDP — duty, VAT and destination handling paid by the consignee. As a guide, a 20ft FCL to Western Europe starts from around £900–£1,200 all-in from a UK port, rising to £2,500–£4,000+ for longer hauls such as West Africa or the Gulf; LCL groupage typically runs from £95–£160 per cubic metre depending on route and season.

• Container size and type (standard, high cube, flat rack, reefer)
• Weight and whether the cargo weighs out or cubes out first
• Loading port and destination port combination
• Free time required before demurrage and detention apply
• Seasonal capacity — Chinese New Year and pre-Christmas peaks push rates up
• Whether you need destination clearance and inland delivery included

Trade and commercial exporters

Businesses shipping regularly can hold a standing rate agreement covering an agreed lane and volume, with a fixed weekly or fortnightly cut-off so production schedules and container bookings line up. We can also warehouse stock at East Tilbury for consolidation against multiple purchase orders, reducing the number of part-loaded containers you pay to move.

Frequently asked questions

What is a VGM and why do I need one?

The Verified Gross Mass is a mandatory weight declaration for every packed container under the SOLAS convention. We calculate and submit it on your behalf using either a weighbridge ticket or the approved calculation method, and a container will not be loaded onto the vessel without it.

Can I load a container myself?

Yes — we can deliver an empty box to your site for self-loading on a live or drop trailer basis. We ask for photographs of the load and a packing list before the container returns to the port, since an incorrectly loaded or overweight box can be rejected at the terminal gate.

How much notice do you need to book space?

For a standard lane we can usually confirm space within 24–48 hours. During peak season or on constrained trades we recommend booking two to three weeks ahead of your required gate-in date.

Why choose ShipCars UK

We combine our own East Tilbury packing and consolidation warehouse with held rates across the major carriers, so you get one invoice, one point of contact and a container that is tracked from gate-in to discharge rather than handed off between agents.