Ocean Freight Moving in Los Angeles, California
International moving by sea from Los Angeles. Full container and shared container ocean freight to destinations worldwide.
- Direct access to Port of LA and Port of Long Beach
- Partnerships with agents in 40+ countries
- Complete customs documentation handling
- Both full container and shared container options
What Is Ocean Freight Moving?
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Why Choose Popeye Moving & Storage for Ocean Freight Moving
Why Choose Us
{"heading": "Why Choose Popeye Moving for Ocean Freight?", "body": "Our proximity to the Port of Los Angeles and Port of Long Beach — the busiest container ports in the Western Hemisphere — gives us direct access to shipping lines serving every major international destination. We have been coordinating international shipments since 1994 and maintain partnerships with customs brokers, freight forwarders, and destination agents in over 40 countries. We handle all documentation including customs forms, packing lists, and certificates of origin so you do not have to navigate international shipping bureaucracy on your own."}
Licensed & Insured - California License #PUC: CAL T 189749 | DOT: 1472924 | MC: 498816C
Common Ocean Freight Moving Scenarios
Family relocating from LA to London for a multi-year assignment
Full container ocean freight for a three-bedroom household. We coordinate UK customs requirements, destination delivery, and storage at either end if timing does not align.
Retirees shipping belongings from California to Portugal
Partial container shipments for smaller households moving to Europe. We handle EU customs documentation and coordinate with local delivery agents in Portugal.
Executive relocating from Los Angeles to Singapore
Full-service international move including vehicle shipping, custom crating for art and antiques, and coordination with Singapore customs for duty assessment.
Our Ocean Freight Moving Process
International move survey and quotation
We inventory your belongings, determine the optimal container size, research destination country customs requirements, and provide a comprehensive international moving quote.
Export packing and container loading
All items are packed to international shipping standards — export-quality crating for furniture, waterproof wrapping, and secure loading into the shipping container at our warehouse.
Customs documentation and shipping
We prepare all export documents, coordinate container pickup and port delivery, and book your shipment with the shipping line. You receive tracking information for the vessel.
Destination customs clearance and delivery
Our destination partner handles customs clearance at the arrival port, manages any duties or inspections, and delivers your belongings to your new home with unpacking services available.
What's Included
- International move survey and detailed quotation
- Export-quality packing and custom crating
- Container loading at our Los Angeles warehouse
- All US export documentation
- Ocean freight booking and vessel tracking
- Destination customs coordination
- Door-to-door delivery at destination
- Marine cargo insurance available
Costs & Timelines - What to Expect
Ocean freight pricing depends on container size, destination port, and services. Shared container (LCL) shipments start around $2,500 to $5,000 for smaller loads. A full 20ft container to Europe or Asia ranges from $6,000 to $12,000. A full 40ft container ranges from $10,000 to $20,000. Destination delivery, customs duties, and unpacking are additional costs that vary by country. We provide all-inclusive quotes that itemize every cost so there are no surprises.
Methods, Materials & Quality Standards
International ocean freight requires export-quality packing that exceeds domestic standards. All wooden crates are heat-treated to ISPM-15 standards required for international shipping. Furniture is wrapped in vapor barrier material to protect against moisture during ocean transit. Items are secured inside the container using cargo bars, strapping, and blocking to prevent any movement during loading, unloading, and ocean transit. Containers are sealed and remain sealed until customs inspection or delivery.
Ocean Freight Moving - Frequently Asked Questions
Transit times vary by destination. To Europe: 3-5 weeks. To Asia: 2-4 weeks. To Australia: 4-6 weeks. To South America: 3-6 weeks. These are port-to-port times — add 1-2 weeks for customs clearance and destination delivery.
A full container (FCL) is exclusively yours — typically a 20ft or 40ft container. A shared container (LCL) combines your shipment with others heading to the same destination, which costs less but may take longer. We recommend FCL for shipments over 500 cubic feet.
Yes. We prepare all export documentation on the US side and coordinate with customs brokers at the destination to handle import clearance. We advise you on restricted items and duty expectations for your destination country.
Yes. We coordinate vehicle shipping via roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) or containerized auto transport. Vehicles require separate customs documentation which we handle as part of your move package.
SERVICE AREAS
Ocean Freight Moving Near You
Popeye Moving & Storage provides ocean freight moving throughout Los Angeles and surrounding communities.
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