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Global FCL & LCL ocean freight from Turkey's major ports. Competitive rates to Europe, Asia, and the Americas with full customs documentation.
Sea freight (ocean freight) is the transportation of goods via cargo ships across international waterways. Accounting for over 80% of global trade volume, sea freight is the backbone of international commerce. It is the most cost-effective method for transporting large quantities of goods over long distances, making it indispensable for industries ranging from automotive and manufacturing to agriculture and consumer goods. Turkey, strategically positioned at the crossroads of Europe and Asia with coastlines on the Mediterranean, Black Sea, and Aegean, is a natural maritime hub. Brosan Logistics leverages Turkey's geographic advantage to provide efficient sea freight solutions connecting Turkish businesses to global markets.
FCL (Full Container Load) means booking an entire shipping container exclusively for your cargo. This is the preferred option for shipments large enough to fill or nearly fill a container. Brosan Logistics offers FCL services in multiple container types: 20ft Standard (33 CBM, up to 28 tons) — ideal for heavy goods like machinery and steel. 40ft Standard (67 CBM, up to 26 tons) — the most common choice for general cargo. 40ft High Cube (76 CBM, up to 26 tons) — extra height for voluminous goods like furniture and automotive parts. 20ft/40ft Reefer — temperature-controlled containers for perishables, pharmaceuticals, and chemicals. Open Top and Flat Rack — for oversized and out-of-gauge cargo. FCL provides maximum security since your goods are sealed in a dedicated container from origin to destination with no handling in between.
LCL (Less-than-Container Load) consolidates multiple shippers' cargo into a single container, making sea freight accessible for smaller shipments from as little as 1 CBM. This is ideal for businesses that don't have enough volume to fill a full container but still want the cost advantages of ocean transport. Brosan Logistics operates regular LCL consolidation services from Istanbul (Ambarli), Mersin, and Izmir with weekly departures to major global destinations. LCL pricing is calculated per CBM or per ton (whichever is greater), making it significantly more economical than air freight for non-urgent shipments.
Brosan Logistics operates from Turkey's three busiest commercial ports: Istanbul/Ambarli Port — Turkey's largest container port, handling over 3 million TEU annually. Direct connections to Mediterranean, Northern European, and transatlantic destinations. Mersin International Port (MIP) — The eastern Mediterranean's growing hub, strategic for Middle East, North Africa, and Suez Canal routes. Izmir/Aliaga Port — Western Turkey's gateway for Aegean and Mediterranean trade, with efficient rail connections to Anatolian manufacturing centers. Our multi-port strategy ensures the shortest transit times and most competitive rates for every trade lane.
Brosan's sea freight network covers all major trade lanes from Turkey: Mediterranean — Italy, Spain, Greece, Egypt (3-7 days). Northern Europe — Germany, Netherlands, UK, Scandinavia (10-15 days via direct service or Mediterranean transshipment). Far East — China, South Korea, Japan, Southeast Asia (25-35 days via Suez Canal). Indian Subcontinent — India, Bangladesh, Pakistan (12-18 days). Americas — USA East Coast (18-22 days), USA West Coast (30-35 days), South America (25-35 days). Africa — West Africa (15-20 days), East Africa (10-15 days). We work with major shipping lines including MSC, Maersk, CMA CGM, Hapag-Lloyd, ONE, and Evergreen to secure the best rates and schedules.
Proper documentation is critical for smooth sea freight operations. Key documents include: Bill of Lading (B/L) — the most important document in sea freight, serving as receipt, contract of carriage, and document of title. Brosan issues both Original B/L, Telex Release, and Sea Waybill options. Commercial Invoice — detailed description of goods, value, currency, and trade terms. Packing List — exact breakdown of quantities, weights, and dimensions per package. Certificate of Origin — verifies country of manufacture for customs and trade agreement purposes. A.TR / EUR.1 — for preferential tariff treatment. Insurance Certificate — if CIF or CIP terms apply. Dangerous Goods Declaration — for IMDG-classified cargo. Our documentation team prepares all paperwork digitally before vessel departure, ensuring zero delays at loading and discharge ports.
Choosing the right Incoterms rule is essential for sea freight. The most commonly used terms: FOB (Free on Board) — seller loads goods onto the vessel; risk and cost transfer at ship's rail. CIF (Cost, Insurance and Freight) — seller pays freight and insurance to destination port. CFR (Cost and Freight) — seller pays freight but no insurance. FAS (Free Alongside Ship) — seller delivers goods alongside the vessel. Important: The ICC recommends using FCA instead of FOB and CIP instead of CIF for container shipments, because the ship's rail is not a meaningful risk transfer point when goods are already in a sealed container. Brosan Logistics provides expert Incoterms guidance to optimize your sea freight terms.
Real-time container tracking is essential for modern supply chain management. Brosan Logistics provides comprehensive tracking capabilities: vessel position monitoring via AIS (Automatic Identification System), container milestone tracking (gate-in, loaded, transhipped, discharged, gate-out), ETA (Estimated Time of Arrival) updates, and automated exception alerts for delays or routing changes. Our digital platform integrates with major carrier tracking systems to provide a single dashboard view of all your shipments.
Brosan handles specialized sea freight requirements: Reefer containers — temperature-controlled shipping for food, pharmaceuticals, and chemicals with continuous monitoring from -25°C to +25°C. Dangerous Goods (DG) — IMDG Code-compliant handling for all 9 DG classes with proper documentation and stowage. Project cargo — flat racks, open tops, and breakbulk solutions for oversized machinery, industrial equipment, and heavy lifts. Our IMDG-certified team ensures full regulatory compliance for every special cargo shipment.
Sea freight pricing involves multiple components: Ocean freight rate — the base charge per container (FCL) or per CBM/ton (LCL). THC (Terminal Handling Charge) — port charges at origin and destination. BAF/LSF (Bunker/Low Sulphur Fuel Surcharge) — fuel cost adjustments. Documentation fees — B/L issuance and customs documentation. Insurance — optional cargo insurance based on declared value. Customs clearance — import/export brokerage fees. Demurrage and detention — charges for exceeding free time at port or with container. Brosan Logistics provides transparent, all-inclusive quotations with no hidden charges, helping you budget accurately for your sea freight operations.
Every sea freight shipment requires customs clearance at both origin and destination. Brosan Logistics provides integrated customs brokerage: export clearance with A.TR, EUR.1, and T1/T2 documentation, HS code classification and duty optimization, import clearance with duty and VAT calculations, CBAM compliance reporting for EU-bound shipments, and AEO/YYS priority processing for faster release. Our in-house customs team works alongside our sea freight operations to eliminate delays between vessel discharge and cargo release.
Brosan Logistics combines deep maritime expertise with end-to-end logistics integration: Multi-port coverage from Istanbul, Mersin, and Izmir. FCL and LCL services to 100+ global destinations. Partnerships with top 10 global shipping lines. In-house customs brokerage with AEO/YYS certification. Competitive rates through volume commitments. Real-time container tracking and ETA updates. Reefer, DG, and project cargo capabilities. Multilingual support in 9 languages. Whether you're shipping a single LCL pallet or managing regular FCL volumes, Brosan Logistics is your trusted sea freight partner. Contact us for a free quotation.
FCL (Full Container Load) books an entire container exclusively for your cargo — 20ft (33 CBM) or 40ft (67 CBM). LCL (Less-than-Container Load) shares container space with other shippers, ideal for volumes from 1 to 15 CBM. FCL offers faster transit and more security; LCL is more economical for smaller shipments.
Mediterranean: 3-7 days. Northern Europe: 10-15 days. Far East/China: 25-35 days. USA East Coast: 18-22 days. Indian Subcontinent: 12-18 days. Transit times vary by port and carrier.
Bill of Lading (B/L), Commercial Invoice, Packing List, Certificate of Origin, A.TR or EUR.1 (if applicable), and any product-specific certificates. Brosan prepares all documentation digitally.
FOB and CIF are most common. However, ICC recommends FCA over FOB and CIP over CIF for container shipments. Brosan provides Incoterms consulting.
Yes, Brosan handles all 9 IMDG DG classes with proper documentation, stowage plans, and regulatory compliance.
Yes, we offer comprehensive marine cargo insurance based on declared value, covering all risks during transit.
Istanbul/Ambarli, Mersin (MIP), and Izmir/Aliaga — Turkey's three largest commercial ports with connections to 100+ global destinations.
LCL pricing is per CBM or per ton (whichever is greater), plus THC, documentation fees, and applicable surcharges. Brosan provides transparent all-inclusive quotes.