Container shipping Rotterdam to Dar es Salaam

You want to ship a container from Rotterdam to Dar es Salaam (TZDAR)? Sea freight is very useful: e.g. you can transport high volumes for a reasonable price, it’s transparant and you can track the cargo in real time. Shipping a container with sea freight such as breakbulk or equipment can be facilitated by shippinglines like Maersk. They offer a lot of container-types. An important point of attention is (FCL) full containers and (LCL) Less Container Load. Via our portal you will find helpful information for international transport Dar es Salaam (TZ DAR). We share knowledge and extensive information about the various sea container types. For this we offer a practical step-by-step plan. Send us your details and receive a quote with an attractive price and fast transit time.

Ocean shipping is a smart, staunch and relatively cheap way to ship high volume products.
When we compare it to air transport, it is cheaper and there are less restrictions.
Sea freight is an often chosen option for international relocations and shipping liquids or semi-finished goods.
The Port of Dar es Salaam is a frequently chosen port in Tanzania.
Frequently used containers types are: standaard 20 ft, 40 ft and 40 HC and Dry Van, Insulated, Flat Rack, Open-Top, Ventilated, Tank containers.

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Shipping to Dar es Salaam (TZDAR) from Rotterdam (NLRTM)

Ocean freight shipping is a cost-effective solution for shipping goods across the seas internationally. Your personal stuff is packed in shipping containers. The freight forwarder (the middleman) will reserve a container for you. A truck transports the cargo to the shipping vessel at the departing port Dar es Salaam (TZ DAR), and will be shipped over the sea to the consignee at the POD. They offer solutions like port-to-door, door-to-door, port-to-port, door-to-port. In the schedule below you will find practical information about the port of delivery.

Port of departure	Port of Rotterdam (NLRTM)
Country of departure	Netherlands
Port of destination	Port of Dar es Salaam
Country of destination	Tanzania
Port Code	TZDAR
Transportation time	+/- 31 days
Shipping costs	$$$
Local address	Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA), P. O. Box 1130, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
E-mail address	pmdsm@ports.go.tz
Website	ports.go.tz
Phone	25522-2113642

Freight Forwarder Rotterdam – port of Dar es Salaam

Enter freight details
Enter the origin of shipment and the POD. Also indicate whether you prefer Full Container Load (FCL) or (LCL) Less Container Load. Also select the desired size (20-ft, 40-ft of a high cube).
Pack you load
Obviously, ensure the freight is properly packaged. To prevent accidents, it is best to pack the freight on pallets. Your load also need to be labelled in the right way.
Export documents
When exporting cargo to Dar es Salaam (TZDAR), you should think about several export documents (on behalf of national customs): commercial invoice, packing list, certificates of origin, bill of lading, packing declaration. A Bill of Lading is a document provided by a carrier to a shipper to acknowledge that they have received the goods and confirm that the items are well packed for shipment.
Agree on the conditions (Incoterms)
Incoterms are suitable terms in the transport-market to agree on the most important contractual terms and obligations for global trade. The Incoterm determines who will pay for things like shipment, insurance, documentation and customs clearance. Frequently used incoterms are Cost, Insurance Freight (CIF), Free On Board (FOB), Delivery Duty Paid (DDP).
Online Container & Freight Tracking System
Use sea freight tracking to check where your shipping is right now. They will send you a mail when the load is departed from Port of Loading (POL), has been transferred to the POD (port of destination) and when the cargo has reached its final destination.

Sea freight from Dar es Salaam (TZDAR) to Rotterdam (NLRTM): select your container

You received an order and want to ship a container from port of Dar es Salaam – (TZ DAR) to port of Rotterdam – (NL RTM)? Make sure you ask an appropriate container. You can choose from large and small sizes (20-ft, 40-ft) and different ways to fill a container (LCL shipment or FCL shipping). Major shipping lines that sail here include APL, CMA CGM, Maersk, MOL, MSC. Major towns near the seaport are Dar es Salaam, Magomeni, Vikindu, Kisarawe, Mkuranga, Kibaha, Mahonda, Sokoni, Bagamoyo, Mlandizi, Maneromango, Zanzibar, Koani, Bungu, Mvomero, Gamba, Chalinze, Kibiti, Mkokotoni, Kijini. In the next section you will find extensive information and advice about the most popular types in the maritime industry. Also click further for information about Air Freight.

What you need to know about the 20ft container

20-foot containers (some people call it dry van) is the most popular container size. They are easy to stack on the vessel, so the transport costs are quite low. Widely used for transporting personal items and movings. Good to know: A TEU is a standard container with a length of 20 feet.

This box is a very suitable choice for transporting cargo by sea.
A 20-foot container is described in terms of size as: 6,06 x 2,44 x 2,59.
It can hold between 9 and 11 pallets.
The maximum load is about +/- 27.200 kilogram.

Explanation about a 40 FT container

In addition to the small one, there is also a larger 40 foot container. They can carry between 23 and 24 Europallets in one tier. This makes it a very popular choice for shipping large cargo by sea. In conclusion, you can also opt for a taller ‘high cube’ choice. It has an exterior height of 9’6” (1 foot taller than normal). Very suitable for high products.

Perfect for larger shipments.
The dimensions are standard: 12,2 x 2,44 x 2,59 meter.
It can carry between 23 and 24 Europallets in one tier.
The max. weight is limited to +/- 28.200 kg.

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When is a FCL container a good choice?

f you have enough goods to fill one full container load, then renting a full container is the most interesting. Freight forwarders then refer to it as FCL (Full Container Load). You don’t need to share it with other merchandise. The benefits are great: Usually a faster transit time, chance of damage is reduced to a minimum and and it is cheaper per unit. Important to mention: the transport over land is more complex (truck) and there is only limited availability. Do you want to send items from another port? Check also Antwerp to Dar es Salaam (TZDAR) and Hamburg to Dar es Salaam (TZDAR).

The concept of FCL is that your goods are stored in a fully owned container.
Very suitable for goods with a large dimension.
When you send more than 10 standard pallets.
Available at: e.g. Hapag-Lloyd, ONE, CMA CGM, COSCO, MSC.

LCL: Less than container

If your cargo does not fill an entire 20-foot or 40-foot container, it might be cheaper to book a partial shipment (shared container). Transport specialists call this Less Than Container Load (LCL). With LCL transport, you share space with others. You consciously opt for various benefits such as: for smaller loads, it is way cheaper than a full container, you spend less on inventory warehousing space and more flexible during intense shipping season. Notable: if 50% of the container consists of your goods, then FCL is probably a more favorable choice. The total costs are calculated based on number of pieces, weight, volume, packaging.

The idea of LCL is that you transport your cargo via a partial container.
For low-volume shipments of between 3,5 m3 and 14 m3.
Freight costs are typically based on cargo volume.
There is always sufficient availability (every season).
Available at: e.g. ZIM, Wan Hai, HMM, Yang Ming, POL.

Alternative container types

There exist a lot of box-types for the international transport of your cargo by sea. Each type of cargo requires a different approach. A Dry van is the most common type of freight transportation. There are specially developed transport options for liquid bulk, wheat, barley and cocoa or unique high value cargo. Below you will find all common types in 1 overview. Be sure to check out the transport options to Richards Bay (ZARCB), port of Gwangyang (KRKAN), Callao (PECLL) harbor and terminal Prince Rupert Port (CAPRR).

Bulk Containers: used for transportation of dry bulk cargo like wheat and other grain crops.
Flat Rack Containers: a flat rack only has walls or support post on the ends.
Hard-Top Containers: equipped with a removable steel roof.
High-Cube Containers: similar in structure to standard containers, but taller.
Insulated Containers: for shipping of products that need to be maintained at specific temperatures.

Open-Top Containers: ideal for bulky cargo such as machinery.
Palletwide Containers: perfect for transporting cargo on europellets.
Refrigerated Containers: reefers are used for goods that need to be temperature controlled.
Tank Containers: if you want to transport a large quantity of liquid as bulk cargo.
Ventilated Containers: the best option for for organic products.

Kind of freight: what are you going to transport?

Shipping stuff by sea from Rotterdam (NLRTM) to Dar es Salaam (TZDAR) has a lot of pluses: low tariffs, best for Bulky Goods and minimal restrictions. Frequently chosen ocean cargo exported via sea lines are: liquid bulk, neo bulk, break bulk, dry bulk, roll on/roll off. Below we give an explanation.

Car shipping: transport your vehicle to the other side of the world.
House Moving: affordable and reliable way for international relocations.
Removals (Household Goods): Ships your household effects / furniture quickly and affordable.
Liquid Bulk: e.g. kerosene, gasoline, diesel, chemicals, biofuels, petroleum.
Dry Bulk: coal, iron ore, grain but also stuff like sugar, cement, salt, plates.
Roll on Roll off (RORO): a vessel transporting wheeled cargo (cars/trucks,trailers,etc).
Breakbulk: For the transport of cargo that don’t fit in standard-size shipping containers or cargo bins.
Retail & other: load like art and antiques, electronic goods, medical/pharmacy, toys, sports equipment or machines, furniture, fashion, shoes, food.

All about international transport (FAQ)

How long does it take for a container ship to go from Rotterdam to Dar es Salaam?

Shipping a container from Rotterdam (NL) to Dar es Salaam takes on average 31 days. The total distance is about 7400 nautical miles. This is roughly equivalent to 13705 km. In case of sea freight, you will receive updates about the ETD and ETA. ETD means the Expected or Estimated Time of Departure. ETA is the date and time at which the vessel is expected to arrive at the dock. The shipping time is determined on the basis of vessel speed, wind force and direction and delay at the port.

How expensive is shipping a container to Dar es Salaam (TZDAR)?

Shipping rates from Rotterdam (Netherlands) to Dar es Salaam (Tanzania) are slightly above average. The total cost is determined by various features such as container size, transit time and incoterms. Fill out our form for a customised quote and extra info.

Which customs documents do I need for a shipment?

When you are sending goods to Dar es Salaam, there are documents you need for customs clearance. You need to present the following documents: Import/export Licenses, Packing List, Commercial Invoice, Insurance Certificate, Certificate of Origin, Letter of Credit. If you are not sure whether you will be charged extra or not, you can contact the customs of Tanzania or view the website of the port/government (ports.go.tz).

What incoterm is the most appropriate?

The Incoterms define the time and place from which the seller’s responsibility ends and the buyer’s begins. Common used agreement models for international container shipping are CIF and FOB. CIF (Cost, Insurance and Freight) means the exporting party is responsible for covering the costs, insurance, and freight of the buyer’s shipment while in transit to the port of origin. Free on Board (FOB) means the seller must arrange everything regarding the goods until they are loaded onto a shipping vessel. Other Incoterms 2000 you can choose from are: Carriage Paid To (CPT), Ex Works (EXW), Free Carrier (FCA), Delivered Duty Paid (DDP) + Delivered at Place Unloaded (DPU), Delivered At Place (DAP), Carriage and Insurance Paid To (CIP).