International · Sea

International sea freight

Drivet Transport International organises sea-freight shipments for imports and exports. From collection and pre-carriage to the port of origin through to destination-port handling and final delivery, we coordinate the different stages according to volume, destination, lead time and documentary constraints.

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Container vessel and international sea-freight operations at a port terminal

FCL & LCL · Containerised sea freight

FCL or LCL: Drivet Transport International handles both shipping models

In containerised sea freight, choosing between FCL (Full Container Load) and LCL (Less than Container Load) is not only a question of volume. It also affects cost, handling, consolidation, transit time and shipment flexibility. Drivet Transport International reviews these factors to identify the most coherent sea-freight solution for each shipment.

Full container load

FCL: one container reserved for your shipment

With FCL, the container is reserved for the goods of one shipper for the shipment concerned. It does not have to be completely full: the main benefit is dedicated space without sharing the container with other shippers’ goods.

This model is particularly relevant for larger or regular volumes, cargo that should avoid intermediate handling, industrial equipment, or shipments where simpler loading and unloading is preferred. Depending on the requirement, Drivet Transport International reviews the container type, inland pre-carriage, port of loading, ocean carrier and final delivery. shipping container.

Sea-freight groupage

LCL: sharing a container for smaller volumes

With LCL, several shippers share the space in one container. This groupage solution makes it possible to send a few pallets, crates or cubic metres without booking a full container. The price is based on the volume and characteristics of the goods under the carrier’s rules.

LCL involves consolidation before departure and deconsolidation at destination. It can therefore mean more handling and a slightly longer transit time than FCL. We consider fragility, stackability, volume, weight, dates, origin, destination and formalities before confirming that groupage is appropriate.

Our role is not to favour FCL or LCL by default. We compare cargo volume in CBM, number of pallets or packages, weight, dimensions, sensitivity, shipping frequency, requested dates and inland pre- and post-carriage costs to build a reliable and understandable sea-freight solution aligned with the customer’s actual flow.

Decarbonising sea freight

Sea freight and sustainable marine fuels: reducing carbon impact where the option is available

Sea freight remains essential to international trade, but its decarbonisation has become a major issue. In Europe, the FuelEU Maritime regulation, fully applicable since 2025, requires a progressive reduction in the greenhouse-gas intensity of energy used on board the ships concerned.

Drivet Transport International takes this transition seriously. Where the route, carrier and availability allow, we can review lower-carbon marine fuel options, including sustainable biofuels, renewable or synthetic fuels, renewable methanol and other alternatives progressively introduced by ocean carriers.

Availability depends on the port, service, vessel and carrier offer. Depending on the programme, the reduction may result from the physical use of alternative fuels or from a certified mass-balance or book-and-claim allocation. We therefore check the conditions of each offer before presenting it.

The environmental approach goes beyond fuel: port choice, optimised pre- and post-carriage, coherent container filling, fewer unnecessary road kilometres and rail combinations can all contribute to a lower-impact international supply chain.

Option reviewed by route

Lower-carbon marine fuels

Sustainable biofuels, synthetic or renewable fuels and renewable methanol are among the solutions being developed by the maritime sector. Availability and environmental performance must be verified case by case.

End-to-end organisation

Decarbonising pre- and post-carriage too

International sea freight often includes several legs. Drivet Transport International can compare road, rail, ports and last-mile organisation to seek a coherent solution across the whole journey.

Carbon footprint · Indicative example

Le Havre → United States: a practical comparison between conventional marine fuel and a sustainable option

To make the environmental issue easier to understand, Drivet Transport International can use practical carbon-footprint examples. In an indicative scenario for one 40-foot container from Le Havre to the United States, the gap between a conventional solution and a more sustainable marine option can be significant.

Carbon-footprint comparison for a 40-foot sea container using conventional fuel

Conventional sea freight

Conventional fuel: a higher carbon footprint

Indicative example

≈ 810 kg CO₂e

40-foot container · Le Havre → United States · Sea leg

In this example, a sea-freight solution using conventional fuel represents an estimated carbon footprint of around 810 kg CO₂e for the ocean crossing.

This baseline helps companies understand the impact of an FCL or LCL shipment while taking account of the port of loading, vessel, container type and overall shipment organisation.

Carbon-footprint comparison for a 40-foot sea container using sustainable marine fuel

More sustainable sea freight

Sustainable fuel: a significant reduction in emissions

Indicative example

≈ 140 kg CO₂e

40-foot container · Le Havre → United States · Sea leg

On the same route, a solution incorporating a sustainable marine-fuel option can reduce the estimated footprint to around 140 kg CO₂e, an indicative reduction of about 670 kg CO₂e compared with a conventional solution.

Drivet Transport International closely follows carriers’ low-carbon programmes so that more responsible sea-freight solutions can be proposed where available, whether through physical alternative fuels or a certified mass-balance or book-and-claim mechanism.

Indicative comparison for one 40-foot container

Conventional

≈ 810 kg CO₂e

Sustainable

≈ 140 kg CO₂e

Estimated reduction

≈ 670 kg CO₂e avoided

These figures are indicative and illustrate an international sea-freight example between Le Havre and the United States. The actual footprint depends on the service, vessel, routing, container type, load factor and energy solution used.

Drivet Transport International

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between FCL and LCL sea freight?+

FCL uses a full container for one shipment, while LCL consolidates several shipments in one container. The best option depends on volume, weight, destination, lead time and overall cost.

Can you organise door-to-door sea freight?+

Yes. Depending on the shipment, Drivet Transport International can coordinate collection, pre-carriage to the origin port, ocean freight, customs formalities with the appropriate specialists and final on-carriage to the delivery address.

What goods can be shipped by sea?+

Sea freight can be suitable for pallets, cases, industrial parts, machinery, equipment and many other packaged goods. Feasibility depends on packaging, dimensions, weight, destination and any product-specific rules.

Is sea freight suitable for high-volume shipments?+

Yes. It is particularly relevant to international flows involving large volumes and full containers where transit time allows an ocean solution. Smaller shipments may be reviewed as LCL groupage.

Can customs formalities be coordinated with sea freight?+

Yes. Drivet Transport International can coordinate the customs side of the shipment with the customs representatives and specialist partners involved. Classification, origin, value and the relevant customs procedure need to be confirmed.

Can dangerous goods be shipped by sea?+

Some dangerous goods may be accepted by sea subject to strict conditions. Packaged dangerous goods are covered in particular by the IMDG Code, so classification, packaging, documentation and carrier acceptance must be reviewed before booking.

What documents are needed for international sea freight?+

Requirements depend on the country, goods and customs procedure. Commercial invoices, packing lists, origin information, customs value and tariff classification are commonly required, together with any product- or destination-specific documentation.

Do you organise imports and exports to and from France?+

Yes. We can review sea-freight imports and exports involving France and a wide range of international destinations, coordinating the transport stages according to the ports, countries, cargo and feasibility of the shipment.

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