What is the difference between shipping agents and freight agents?

1, Definition and Responsibilities
Shipping agency, as the name suggests, is mainly responsible for the agency work of ship related businesses. The responsibilities of shipping agents cover the leasing, buying and selling, operation, management, and other aspects of ships, providing comprehensive services to shipowners, crew members, cargo owners, and others. Shipping agents need to have rich knowledge in navigation, ship regulations, and professional knowledge in international trade to ensure the safety, compliance, and efficiency of ships during operation.
Freight forwarders are mainly responsible for the agency work of the transportation, customs declaration, warehousing, distribution and other links of goods. Freight forwarders need to assist shippers in completing the import and export procedures of goods, ensuring the safety, speed, and punctuality of the goods during transportation. Freight forwarders need to have rich logistics knowledge, trade regulations, and professional knowledge in cargo operations to meet the various needs of shippers for cargo transportation.
2, Service scope and target audience
The service scope of shipping agents mainly covers various aspects of ship operation and management, and the service targets mainly include ship owners, crew members, port management departments, etc. Shipping agents need to pay attention to the safe navigation, compliant operation, and labor rights of crew members of ships to ensure the smooth operation of ships.
The service scope of freight forwarders is more extensive, covering the entire transportation management of goods, and the service targets include shippers, producers, traders, etc. Freight forwarders need to assist shippers in completing various stages of import and export customs declaration, transportation arrangements, warehousing management, and distribution of goods, ensuring that the goods can arrive at the destination on time and safely.
3, Business characteristics and requirements
The business characteristics of shipping agents lie in their high level of professionalism and technical expertise. Shipping agents need to have profound knowledge in navigation, ship regulations, and international trade, and be able to deal with various complex situations that may arise during ship operation. At the same time, shipping agents also need to have strong communication and coordination skills to ensure the smooth operation of ships in various links such as ports and waterways.
The business characteristics of freight forwarders lie in their flexibility and diversity. Freight forwarders need to provide personalized logistics solutions based on the needs of different shippers. At the same time, freight forwarders also need to have abundant logistics resources and strong operational capabilities to ensure the safety, speed, and punctuality of goods during transportation.