Bookings can be made online via My OOCL Center, by EDI, Freightsmart or by e-mail. E-mail bookings will incur an increase DOC fee at GBP150.
For Carrier Haulage we ask for 48 working hours notice (Day 1 booking for a Day 3 collection). Please submit requests for Day 3 collections by 15:00 on Day 1. Examples:
- For collection on Wednesday, please book by 15:00 Monday
- For collection on Tuesday, please book by 15:00 Friday
Whilst we will endeavour to cover bookings made after 15:00, these cannot be guaranteed.
If you can be flexible and accept loading times on Day 3 between 13:00 and 17:00, it will make it easier for us to quickly confirm your booking and provide on-time vehicle arrivals.
Where higher grade equipment is required for Exports (e.g. Food or Malt Grade, Bulk Clay or Flexi tanks), we ask for an additional day’s notice to the above, to ensure suitable containers are prepared in good time, i.e. book on Day 1 for a Day 4 collection.
For all booking methods, please provide the following information as applicable:
- Quotation Reference Number, Service Contract Number, Customised Service Offering (CSO) Number or Rate Folder Number as provided by OOCL Sales at the conclusion of rate negotiations
- Container size & type, commodity description, cargo weight and final destination
- VGM requirements, including who will provide the VGM (shipper or terminal) and relevant account codes.
- For Carrier Haulage: the full loading address including postcode, date and time, and driver's load reference. We kindly ask our customers to, where possible, avoid the 06.00-10.00 morning peak period for collections; instead, please consider afternoon loading times. These make it easier for us to provide on-time vehicle arrivals and help reduce our joint carbon footprint by eliminating “empty miles”.
- UCR Number for export customs clearance purposes. If it is required of OOCL to assist with completion of the export customs formalities on your behalf we will need your VAT number, the commodity code(s), gross and net cargo weights, CIF value, and any other appropriate paperwork e.g. export licences, health certificates and CAP forms. A fee is levied for this service, details of which can be found on our Local Surcharges page.
- Full details of any Dangerous Goods as required by ADR and IMDG regulations. See the Dangerous Goods section below for more information.
- Temperature controlled cargo, out-of-gauge cargo, special equipment, heavy and high density commodities, recycled commodities, personal effects, household goods, antiques and bric-a-brac, cars and other vehicles, flexitanks and shippers own containers may require additional information to be provided and indemnities to be returned prior to booking acceptance. See the relevant section below for more details.
- For bookings to Pakistan, and Port Kelang in Malaysia, the customs Harmonised Code (HS Code), which is a mandatory requirement of customs at destination.
Failure to provide information in a timely manner may delay your shipment.
Upon receipt of your booking you will receive an Acknowledgement by email, this will include the vessel name, ETS, ETA, Export Cargo Shipping Instruction (ECSI or SI) cutoff and booking number. Note that OOCL does not require submission of a Standard Shipping Note (SSN).
Please see our export Demurrage & Detention page for details of export free time and charges, and our Local Contacts page for relevant email addresses and telephone numbers.
Please submit requests for any booking amendments before 11:00 hrs the working day prior to Carrier Haulage collection or Merchant Haulage empty pick-up. Whilst we will endeavor to handle amendments received after this time, this may not be possible.
Customers are reminded of the absolute need to comply in full with all Dangerous Goods legislation. OOCL operates a zero tolerance policy for breaches of regulatory requirements, and for safety reasons we carry out random inspections of cargo to ensure compliance. Shippers of Dangerous Goods are strongly recommended to read our recent notice on IMDG Amendment 34.
A Dangerous Goods Note (DGN) completed & signed in line with SITPRO guidelines should be supplied to our driver at the load point. We also to ask customers to upload a copy of the DGN to the relevant Shipment Folder in My OOCL Center. All Dangerous Goods bookings are subject to special acceptance; classes 1, 7 and 9 require 5 working days notice for processing.
Effective October 1, 2010 the US DOT will implement a new requirement regarding the emergency response information provided on a hazardous material document (DGN or DG Certificate) under rule HM-206F. This new rule requires that the emergency contact party be clearly displayed in conjunction with the emergency response phone number. The contact party can be an individual or company who has direct knowledge of the hazardous materials being shipped and can provide technical assistance should an incident with the shipment arise.
Quotations for Dangerous Goods on our Asia-Europe Trade are subject to additional charges as follows:
For shipments transshipping in Singapore:
Cargo that is classified as PSA Group 2D is not recommended for storage in PSA premises and containers need to be trucked to a licensed warehouse pending transshipment.
| Transhipment handling additional at Singapore | 20GP | 40GP | 40HQ |
| PSA 3 | None |
| PSA 2B/2F/2S | SGD 120 | SGD 240 | SGD 270 |
| PSA 2A | SGD 220 | SGD 340 | SGD 370 |
PSA 1/1C/1S/1D/2/2C except UN1057
| SGD 800 | SGD 1,100 | SGD 1,190 |
| PSA 2C | SGD1,200 | SGD 1,500 | SGD 1,590 |
Freight must be prepaid unless otherwise agreed at the time of rate negotiation.
All pharmaceutical cargo in reefers is subject to special acceptance prior to loading; please provide the cargo value and the number of packages that will appear on the B/L at the time of booking.
Quotations are based on the exact cargo weights and dimensions declared at the time of rate enquiry and stated on the quotation. Any changes in weights or dimensions at the time of booking may result in extra charges being levied. Rates are quoted on the basis of equipment availability in the POL, and are liable to change if special equipment is unavailable locally and has to be repositioned from elsewhere to cover your booking; this may require a lead time of up to 14 days. We will not proceed without agreeing extra costs with you first.
In certain cases, customs clearance must be completed at destination prior to cargo arrival to prevent additional handling costs being incurred; our Sales team will advise specific details at the time of rate negotiation.
Click HERE to download our Project Cargo and Yacht Brochure
For bookings of scrap metal and waste paper (rubber and plastic is not accepted) we have several extra provisions to our normal booking requirements. The following information MUST be provided:
- Shipper’s name and address
- Consignee’s name, address, telephone number and contact name
- UCR
Without this information we will be unable to process your booking.
OOCL Customer Service will make checks to ensure that both the Shipper and the Consignee have the respective licenses and Letters of Indemnity in place, and that the Consignee will accept the cargo. OOCL LOIs can be downloaded from the table at the bottom of this page.
Shippers and Consignees are re-verified every 3 months, therefore if you ship cargo regularly and the Shipper(s) and Consignee(s) have been pre-approved by OOCL there will be no delay in the booking process. If, however, you are shipping cargo to a new Consignee, or one that OOCL has not previously approved, then you may experience a delay.
Furthermore, we require 3 working days notice to arrange export collection under Carrier Haulage (e.g. bookings should be placed before 12:00 midday on Monday for collection the following Thursday). Next-day collections will not be accepted.
Please be flexible and allow for containers to be handled in the afternoon. However, if there are a large number of collections from the same depot on the same day, an even spread of morning and afternoon times will be accepted.
20ft containers plated to 30,000kg gross weight are available upon special request.
Large pieces of loose or unbundled metal scrap (or metal scrap sculptures) are prohibited. Metal scrap must be shredded, baled, or packed with pieces not to exceed 4 to 8 inches in length. Please note that due to Health and Safety regulations, OOCL cannot accommodate the transport of Scrap Metal with the container doors facing the cab end.
All recycled commodities shipments must have freight prepaid.
To view free time at destination for Recycled Commodities, click HERE
LOIs for exporters of Recycled Commodities are listed in the table below, please click the links to download the documents.
Commodities such as stone products, metal coils and steel products (pipes, sheets, plates etc) require robust blocking and bracing to prevent injury and container damage, particularly where a rail journey is involved. Customers with such shipments to North America are asked to review the stuffing guidelines in the BNSF rail website. Please note this guide is provided just for reference purposes and does not relate to any cargo acceptance decision by OOCL.
We ask you to photograph the stuffed cargo inside the container to demonstrate that blocking and bracing has been correctly attended to. Alternatively, a survey can be supplied for the first booking, assuming loading is standardised, which we will keep on file to cover future shipments.
We are unable to provide Carrier Haulage outside the UK and Ireland for these commodities; export bookings are accepted to destination CY only. In addition, Personal Effects and Household Goods shipments to destinations in the USA cannot be routed X-Border via Montreal. A packing list should be provided at booking stage for checking prior to release of the booking acknowledgement.
Cars must be declared as Dangerous Goods, as required by Amendment 35 of the IMDG, unless the following requirements are met:
- Batteries fully disconnected and isolated
- Fuel tanks completely drained
In addition, the following requirements must be met for the shipment of any automobile:
- Tyres should be flattened and vehicles placed in gear with the handbrake engaged
- Vehicles should be centered in containers to ensure proper load/weight distribution
- A minimum 6-12 inches clearance should be left at the doorway and nose of container. Doors are not constructed to act as a bracing devices
- Poly sheets or cardboard should be placed underneath vehicles to contain any leaks and prevent contamination of container flooring
- Loose body parts must be secured to vehicle so they do not move in transit
- Two 2x4 or 2x6 inch laminated rough-cut timbers should be applied laterally and lengthwise against vehicle wheels to prevent movement
- Three 1/2 inch nails, offset every 12 inches. Lumber is used to box in vehicle and prevent shifting
For vehicle shipments arriving at CPR's US Inland Intermodal Terminals or destined to points via the US, the rail company will not accept privately titled vehicles unless accompanied by complete paperwork. Vehicles require a Pre-Clearance of Title by United States Customs Service, and the rail company must have possession of that proof before the container is loaded. Shipments without AES or Export Declarations will be refused at the gate.
Vehicle shipments to Malaysia can only be accept under CFS terms, and will be unstuffed immediately upon discharge. They must have an "Approval Permit" or "AP" as per Malaysian Customs Authority requirements. In addition, the shipment must have the following detailed cargo description under the BL body:
1) Vehicle Maker
2) Vehicle Model
3) Chassis Number
4) Engine Number
5) Used / New (U / N)
6) Engine CC
7) Year of Manufacture
8) Country of Origin (2 Char)
All this must be done in one sentence, each field separated with a space, for example:
TOYOTA ESTIMA ESF131FF513AS 1411AFPPC41 U 2400 2006 JP
Prior to acceptance of Flexitanks, please complete and return the letter of indemnity downloadable HERE. Quotations do not include fitting and disposal of Flexitanks unless otherwise stated.
An application will be sent for acceptance of the flexitank prior to the release of the booking acknowledgement.
Prior to acceptance of Shippers Own Containers, please complete and return our Declaration Form and Requisition Form. We are unable to provide Carrier Haulage for this equipment type.
Should you have any questions with the above, kindly contact our Customer Service team who will be happy to help.
