Send us the invoice, packing list, port or city of origin, and desired delivery date at the warehouse in Russia. For dangerous goods, please provide the MSDS.
Sea container shipping

In the Register of Customs Representatives of the FCS RF
Offices: Vladivostok, Novorossiysk, Moscow
Terminals in three sea basins
Year company founded
Which port to choose for your shipment
Transit times and costs depend on the arrival basin. The figures below are estimates for sea freight and onward delivery to Moscow; the final calculation is fixed in the commercial quotation.
- Море
- 5–12 days
- Дальше по РФ
- 12–18 days (rail to Moscow)
Cargo from China, Korea, Japan, and Southeast Asia when a relatively fast cycle is needed.
- Море
- 35–45 days
- Дальше по РФ
- truck / rail across the south
Turkey, India, Middle East, part of Deep Sea. In-house office and on-site freight forwarders.
- Море
- 40–55 days
- Дальше по РФ
- NWFD / Central Russia
Deep Sea from India and Southeast Asia when the northern gateway is more cost-effective. Big Port St. Petersburg and Bronka terminals.
If there is congestion or a rail queue at one port, we reroute the flow to another terminal in the same or adjacent basin to avoid accumulating downtime and demurrage. For a detailed comparison, see the article “Novorossiysk vs Vladivostok: When It Is More Profitable”. For forwarding and terminals specifically in Novorossiysk, see the service “Sea Freight via Novorossiysk”.
When a sea route is not suitable
Sea freight is not a universal solution. It makes sense to immediately consider another transport mode or port if at least one of the following conditions is met:
Your deadline is tighter than the southern or northern Deep Sea transit time (benchmark 35–55 days to port) — consider air freight or accelerated rail from China and Far Eastern ports.
A full container load (FCL) is not cost-effective — first evaluate less-than-container load (LCL) or consolidation; if LCL is also more expensive than expected, compare it with trucking and air freight.
Perishable goods or temperature control without a refrigerated container — this is a dedicated reefer container service, not a dry container option.
We accept IMO Classes 1, 6, 8, and 9 with valid MSDS and proper packaging. Other hazard classes are subject to shipping line approval, and some cargoes may be rejected.
You need turnkey export from the Russian Federation with a 0% VAT rate and export control — this is a separate scenario; this page covers import and port of entry selection.
If in doubt, specify cargo weight, volume, Incoterms, and requested delivery date at warehouse: we will directly advise whether sea freight is the right fit.
How to get started
- 01Inquiry and initial details
- 02Calculation in 30 minutes
We provide route and destination port estimates; a commercial quotation is issued after clarifying shipping line conditions and the departure date.
- 03Booking and monitoring
We book vessel space and monitor container positioning, documentation, terminal handling, and final delivery.
- 04Customs and additional services
We handle customs clearance through our in-house broker (TransGID is in the FCS register), with labeling and certification provided if necessary.
Destinations, cargo, and containers
We ship from Southeast Asia, Turkey, China, India, and the UAE. Equipment is tailored to your cargo profile — from heavy-duty 20DC to flexitanks and RO-RO.
Southeast Asia (SEA)
Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, Bangladesh; also South Korea and Japan via Far Eastern gateways. For “sea container shipping from Southeast Asia” inquiries, we usually compare Vladivostok/Nakhodka and Deep Sea via St. Petersburg or Novorossiysk — see basin cards above.
Turkey
Ferry and container lines Istanbul / Samsun – Novorossiysk; one of the fastest sea routes (from ~2 days on the short leg). Details on the southern port are available on the Novorossiysk service page.
China
The most frequent destination by shipment volume, but routes and factory nuances are best reviewed on the destination page: Freight forwarding from China.
India, UAE, Americas, Africa
Regular and project shipments; for the UAE — MOFA / ECNP certificates if required (see UAE service).
Cargo and Container Types
20DC for heavy cargo, 40HC for bulky cargo.
Consolidation; pay for volume. LCL groupage delivery.
Flat Rack, Open Top.
Hazard classes 1, 6, 8, 9 with valid MSDS and correct labeling; other classes are subject to shipping line confirmation.
Flexitank in 20′.
Wheeled vehicles.
Cost Breakdown
Shipping line rate; fluctuates approximately every two weeks (seasonality, demand, equipment availability).
Loading and unloading, documentation, storage beyond free time.
Customs clearance, cargo insurance, rail or truck delivery to warehouse, labeling.
What is fixed in the commercial proposal — and what may change prior to vessel departure — is discussed separately. FILO, LILO, and FIFO terms determine whose rate includes loading and discharge; check our quick cheat sheet in the article “FILO, FIFO, LIFO, LILO, and CY/CY Shipping Terms”.
Related Services
- Customs clearance — licensed customs broker (FCS of Russia Certificate No. 2057).
- Chestny ZNAK labeling, certification (DoC/CoC).
- Cargo insurance.
- Rail freight from Far East ports and China, multimodal transportation.
FAQ
What documents are required for sea freight?
Invoice, packing list, and shipping order with route details. Bill of Lading upon departure. Final accounting documents with VAT upon delivery.
What are demurrage and detention?
Demurrage is the charge for container storage at the port beyond free time. Detention is the fee for delayed return of an empty container after pickup. We negotiate extended free time with the shipping line to match your customs clearance and unloading workflow; specific terms are detailed in the commercial proposal by line and terminal.
Can dangerous goods be transported?
Classes 1, 6, 8, 9 — yes, provided there is an MSDS, proper labeling, and shipping line approval. Other classes — only upon verification; lines do not accept certain cargo types.
9
terminals across three sea basins
3
offices: Vladivostok, Novorossiysk, Moscow
14
years in the logistics and FEA market
30
minutes to provide route estimate