What is the difference between sea freight carriers and freight forwarders?

A maritime carrier refers to a company or individual responsible for the carriage of goods by sea. They usually own and operate ships, providing transportation services for goods from one port to another. The responsibility of a sea freight carrier includes ensuring the safety of the goods during transportation, delivering the goods on time in accordance with the contract requirements, and providing necessary transportation documents. They bear direct legal responsibility and are responsible for the loss or damage of goods, and need to purchase corresponding insurance to cope with potential risks.
Maritime carriers also need to comply with international maritime rules and regulations, such as the Hague Rules and the Revised Hamburg Rules. These regulations stipulate the obligations and responsibilities of maritime carriers during the transportation process, ensuring the relative safety of goods and interests.
Freight forwarder: Freight forwarder is a professional organization that provides intermediary services to customers during the transportation of goods. They do not directly own or operate transportation vehicles, but instead establish partnerships with different carriers, shipping companies, shipowners, and other related service providers to find the best transportation solutions for customers. The responsibilities of a freight forwarder include coordinating transportation details, handling document work, arranging transportation insurance, and providing cargo tracking and reporting services.
Unlike sea freight carriers, the main responsibility of freight forwarders is to provide customers with comprehensive logistics solutions to ensure that goods can reach their destination in the most economical, efficient, and reliable way. They are usually responsible for coordinating the entire transportation chain of goods, from loading to unloading, as well as various details during the transportation process.
Main differences
The difference in taking responsibility: One of the most significant differences lies in taking responsibility. The sea freight carrier bears direct legal responsibility, responsible for the safety of the goods and delivering them in accordance with the conditions stipulated in the contract. Freight forwarders usually do not directly bear legal responsibility, and their responsibility is more reflected in providing customers with the best logistics solutions, rather than directly transporting goods.
The contractual relationship involved: The relationship between the maritime carrier and the cargo owner is mainly established through the transportation contract, while the freight forwarder usually establishes a relationship with the customer through the service contract. A sea freight carrier is a party directly related to the physical transportation process of goods, while a freight forwarder is more like an intermediary for logistics services, providing comprehensive logistics services by establishing cooperative relationships with all parties.
Scope of responsibility: The scope of responsibility of maritime carriers is narrower, mainly focused on ensuring the safe transportation of goods at sea. The scope of responsibility of freight forwarders is broader, covering the entire logistics process, including various links such as land transportation, sea transportation, air transportation, etc.
How to choose a suitable service provider: When choosing a suitable service provider, shippers need to decide whether to choose a sea carrier or a freight forwarder based on their specific needs and the characteristics of the logistics chain. If the shipper places more emphasis on direct logistics transportation processes, especially sea transportation, it may be more appropriate to establish a cooperative relationship with reliable sea freight carriers. If the shipper places more emphasis on the coordination and integration of the global logistics chain, then choosing an experienced freight forwarder may be more wise