Shipowners, shipping companies, shipping agents, and freight forwarders all play important roles in the shipping industry, with both connections and distinctions between them

Business association: The shipowner is the owner of the ship, the shipping company is responsible for the operation and management of the ship, the shipping agent is the agent of the shipowner or shipping company, and the freight forwarder mainly serves the cargo owner. The four cooperate with each other in the transportation of goods, jointly completing the transportation of goods from the place of shipment to the place of receipt.

Interest related: Shipowners earn profits by leasing ships or transporting goods; The operating income of shipping companies comes from freight charges; Shipping agents make profits by charging agency fees; Freight forwarders collect service fees from shippers and pay related fees to shipping companies or agents, and the interests of all parties are interrelated.

difference

Ship owner: refers to the actual owner of a ship, who may be an individual, enterprise, or financial institution, owning the property rights of the ship and having ownership and disposal rights over the ship Shipping company: is an enterprise engaged in ship transportation operations, which leases or owns ships to transport goods or passengers on certain routes, with earning freight as the main profit method.

Ship agent: refers to an agency that accepts the commission of the shipowner or shipping company to handle port entry and exit procedures, arrange pilotage, loading and unloading, warehousing and other business for ships at the port.

Freight forwarder: also known as a freight forwarder, is an agency that accepts the entrustment of the shipper to handle matters related to the transportation of goods, such as booking, customs declaration, inspection, warehousing, transportation arrangements, etc.

Ship owner: mainly responsible for the purchase, leasing, maintenance, and staffing of ships to ensure their normal operation.

Shipping companies: develop transportation plans, arrange ship routes, schedule ships, determine freight rates, sign transportation contracts with shippers or freight forwarders, etc.

Shipping agent: mainly carries out work related to various affairs of ships in ports, such as handling ship entry and exit procedures, arranging ship berthing, loading and unloading operations, and crew boarding and disembarking.

Freight forwarder: focuses on providing one-stop freight services for shippers, selecting suitable transportation methods, shipping companies, and routes according to their needs, and handling procedures such as booking, customs declaration, and inspection of goods.

Service target

Shipowners: mainly serve shipping companies, leasing ships to shipping companies for operation, or establishing their own shipping companies for transportation.

Shipping company: directly serving shippers or indirectly serving shippers through freight forwarders, undertaking the transportation tasks of goods.

Shipping agent: Serving the shipowner or shipping company, representing them in handling related affairs at the port.