Sea Freight : InCoTerms

A concentrated, practice-led day to master how Incoterms apply to sea freight: container shipping, port interfaces, key actors and documents, and the split of costs, risks and tasks along the chain. We anchor the course in real maritime flows—relevant when over 90% of world merchandise moves by sea.

After the training the participant shall be able to:

• know the sea-freight actors (shipper, consignee, forwarder, carrier, customs) and their responsibilities, plus core documents used in ocean shipments

• understand how Incoterms allocate transport, insurance, customs formalities and the transfer of risk

• recognize maritime-only terms (FOB/CFR/CIF) vs. all-modes terms (EXW/DAP/CIP, etc.)

• set the right rule for a particular sea-freight contract (container vs. break-bulk, delivery point, export/import formalities)

• use and apply the selected rule to build clear offers and shipping instructions (pricing blocks, insurance where applicable)

• compare options via worked examples (FOB/CFR/CIF and DAP/DDP) and read their impact on the landed-cost structure

• Presentation of sea-freight fundamentals: why ocean shipping underpins global trade; containerisation & intermodal flows; port cut-offs and interfaces

• Explanation of what the rules do and do not do: risk and cost split, insurance duties, export/import formalities; what Incoterms don’t cover (ownership/payment law)

• Basic roles & responsibilities in ocean operations: shipper/consignee, forwarder, carrier, and customs authorities

• Costs and risks: ocean freight, handling, insurance, and who pays what under different terms; reading simple costings

• How to choose the right Incoterm for a sea shipment: maritime-only rules (FOB/CFR/CIF) vs all-modes rules; matching the delivery point (port/terminal/door)

• Set out central changes between Incoterms 2010 and 2020 (focus on practical implications in sea context)

• Traps to avoid & practical exercises:

• • Build a landed-cost under FOB Shanghai then compare with CIF Le Havre (who pays freight/insurance; when risk transfers)

• • Price an export using CPT/CIP/DAP data (container counts, main leg, insurance %) and discuss the Incoterm fit

• • Short case: compare DDP vs DAP impacts on seller/ buyer cash-out and responsibilities

Services: sales/purchase, export & import, finance, logistics, transport, legal affairs

Professionals familiar with or interested in international maritime trade

Participants will have access to a training certificate delivered by the House of Training.