What is the limit for shipping goods by sea?

Overview of Limits for Sea Freight Cargo
As one of the most important modes of transportation in international trade, sea freight has a high reputation for its carrying capacity and economy worldwide. However, in order to ensure the safety and efficiency of transportation, the limit of sea freight has become an important factor that cannot be ignored. These limits not only relate to the physical properties of the goods, but also involve the constraints of laws, regulations, and international conventions.
Weight and volume limits for goods
Firstly, from the perspective of physical properties, the weight and volume of sea freight are important factors limiting transportation. Different types of ships and shipping routes have different requirements for the weight and volume of goods. Generally speaking, container ships have clear limitations on the weight and volume of goods, depending on the size of the container and the carrying capacity of the vessel. For example, the load limit for a standard 20 foot container is typically between 20-25 tons, while the load limit for a 40 foot container may reach 30 tons or more.
In addition, the volume of the goods is also limited by the size of the container. If the goods are too large to fit into standard containers, special containers or other transportation methods need to be considered. At the same time, the loading capacity of ships also limits the total volume of cargo, which requires precise measurement and calculation before loading the cargo.
Value limit of goods
In addition to physical properties, the value of goods is also an important factor limiting sea transportation. Although sea freight is generally considered a relatively safe mode of transportation, any mode of transportation carries risks. Therefore, many shipping companies limit the value of goods by setting a maximum compensation limit. This means that if the goods are damaged or lost during transportation, the compensation liability of the shipping company will not exceed this limit.
This limit is usually determined based on the type of goods, transportation distance, and insurance company regulations. For high-value goods, shippers can choose to purchase additional insurance to increase the compensation limit, but this will increase transportation costs.
Transportation regulations for specific goods
In addition to the general limits mentioned above, there are also some special regulations for specific goods in sea freight. For example, dangerous goods, flammable and explosive materials, toxic substances, etc. all need to comply with strict transportation regulations and limits. These regulations aim to ensure the safety of the transportation process and prevent accidents from occurring.
For dangerous goods, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and governments of various countries have established detailed transportation regulations and limits. These regulations include requirements for the classification, packaging, labeling, loading, and unloading of goods. At the same time, ships also need to have corresponding safety equipment and personnel training to ensure that they can respond to possible emergency situations.