Export container shipping generally contains several 

steps: booking, acceptance of shipping order, dispatch/

picking-up of empty containers, container stuffing, 

haulage of loaded container to port, customs declaration 

and inspection, loading, departure, and exchange for a bill 

of lading (B/L).

(1) Booking. The shipper is required to complete 

a “booking note” some time before the shipment in 

accordance with the terms of the trade agreement or letter 

of credit to book capacity through a freight forwarder or 

with a liner directly.

(2) Acceptance of shipping order. The liner or its agent 

decides whether to fulfill the shipping order based on its 

capacity, route, and other factors and the shipper’s needs.

(3) Dispatch/picking-up of empty containers. In FCL 

shipping, empty containers are usually picked up by 

the shipper or its agent at the container yard with an 

equipment interchange receipt (EIR), although some 

shippers also use their own containers. In LCL shipping, 

empty containers are picked up by a container freight 

station with EIR. The shipment needs become reasonably 

certain once the shipper picks up the empty containers.

(4) Stuffing. Under FCL, the shipper is responsible for 

loading goods into containers at its warehouse or factory. 

Under LCL, the shipper or its agent will deliver the goods 

that will not take up the entire space of a container to the 

container freight station for consolidation.

(5) Haulage of loaded container to port. The shipper, its 

agent, or the container freight station delivers the loaded 

containers to the container yard before its closing.

(6) Customs declaration and inspection. Before

loading and shipment, the shipper or its agent needs to 

present the dock receipt, export license, and commodity 

inspection certificate to the customs. The dock receipt will 

be stamped with the clearance seal once the shipment is 

cleared.

(7) Loading. The container terminal prepares a stowage 

plan according to the cargo to be loaded and then moves 

the containers to the marshaling yard for loading once the 

ship is berthed.

(8) Departure. The ship is loaded with the cargo and 

will leave the port by the liner’s sailing schedule to the 

destination port.

(9) Exchange for a bill of lading. The liner will make a 

B/L for the loaded cargo after the container ship leaves 

the port for two to three days. The shipper or its agent 

should exchange its original copy of the dock receipt for 

the original B/L issued by the liner or its agent, and then 

complete currency exchange at a bank.

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