BNK Logistics plans sea freight from Turkey through the ports of Antalya and Mersin, handling FCL and LCL container shipments together with the trucking legs before and after the port. Line selection, container type, inland transport and documents are managed in one plan.
What we do on a sea shipment
- Cargo and destination review: product, packaging, volume, weight, destination port or door address.
- FCL or LCL: decided by volume, product sensitivity and delivery expectation.
- Port and line choice: Antalya or Mersin, direct service or transhipment.
- Pre- and on-carriage: empty container to your loading address, full container to the port; port to warehouse at destination.
- Deadlines and documents: VGM, export declaration, B/L instructions and cut-off dates.
FCL or LCL?
| Criterion | FCL (full container) | LCL (shared container) |
|---|---|---|
| Container use | Dedicated to one shipper | Consolidated with other shippers' cargo |
| Suitable volume | Cargo filling a large part of a container | A few pallets or small lots |
| Handling | Sealed at loading, opened at destination | Handled at consolidation and deconsolidation warehouses |
| Transit | Follows the vessel schedule, more predictable | Can be longer due to consolidation |
| Pricing basis | Per container | Per cubic metre or weight |
For fragile or high-value goods, FCL can be the better choice even at small volumes, to reduce extra handling.
Container types
| Type | Approx. internal volume | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| 20' Dry | About 33 m³ | Heavy, dense cargo: natural stone, metal, ceramics |
| 40' Dry | About 67 m³ | General cargo, palletised consumer goods, furniture |
| 40' High Cube | About 76 m³ | Around 30 cm taller than a standard 40'; light, bulky cargo |
| Reefer (20'/40') | Less than a dry box due to the cooling unit | Fresh produce, frozen food, temperature-sensitive goods |
| Open Top / Flat Rack | Depends on cargo | Tall or wide items, machinery, stone blocks |
Usable volume is lower than the nominal figure once packaging and stowage are taken into account, and heavy cargo is also limited by road weight rules on the inland legs.
Antalya or Mersin port?
Antalya port is the closest gateway for exporters in the region, with short inland transport; it suits natural stone, bulk and regional container services. Mersin offers more container lines and sailings, which often means direct services to the Far East and Northern Europe, but requires roughly a day of trucking from Antalya. We compare both on sailing frequency, total door-to-door time, empty container pick-up location and inland cost.
Step by step: container export
- Booking: line, vessel and equipment confirmed; document and container cut-offs noted.
- Stuffing: the empty container arrives at your site; cargo is loaded to plan, secured and sealed, and photographed.
- VGM: under SOLAS, the verified gross mass of the packed container must be submitted to the carrier before loading on the vessel, either by weighing the packed container or by adding up the contents and the container tare.
- Customs: the export declaration is filed and cleared.
- Gate-in and loading: the container reaches the terminal before cut-off and is loaded on the planned vessel.
- Bill of Lading: issued per shipper instructions; original B/L, telex release or seaway bill depending on the payment terms with the buyer.
Documents checklist
- Commercial invoice and packing list
- Export declaration
- B/L instructions: shipper, consignee, notify party, description, packages and weight
- VGM declaration
- Certificate of origin or movement certificate
- Phytosanitary, veterinary, fumigation or analysis certificates where required
- IMDG declaration and safety data sheet for dangerous goods
Requirements are confirmed against current regulations and destination-country rules before shipment.
Freight and additional costs
A sea freight quote includes ocean freight, terminal handling charges, documentation, inland transport and destination charges. Demurrage applies when a container stays at the terminal beyond its free time; detention applies when it is kept outside the terminal beyond the free period before being returned. We agree free days in writing at the quotation stage and quote on the line schedules valid for your shipment date.
Why BNK Logistics
- Sea legs planned together with road freight and rail freight connections.
- Open comparison of Antalya and Mersin on time and total cost.
- A tracking link with loading, departure, transhipment and estimated arrival dates plus shared documents.
- All shipment documents and loading photos kept in one folder.
- Communication in English, Turkish, Russian and Chinese; face-to-face meetings at our Antalya office.
For an overview of all modes, see our international freight page.
Request a quote
Send us the origin and destination addresses or ports, cargo type, packaging, number of pieces or pallets, dimensions, total weight, target shipping date and any temperature or special equipment needs. You receive a tracking code when you submit the form, and our team follows up to agree FCL/LCL and port choice.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between FCL and LCL?
With FCL the whole container is yours and is sealed at your loading site. With LCL your cargo shares a container with other shippers and is charged by volume or weight. LCL usually suits small lots, FCL cargo that fills most of a container.
How much fits in a 20' or 40' container?
Internal volume is about 33 m³ for a 20' dry, 67 m³ for a 40' dry and 76 m³ for a 40' High Cube. Usable volume is lower after packaging and stowage, and with heavy cargo the weight limit may be reached first.
What is VGM and who submits it?
VGM is the verified gross mass of the packed container. Under SOLAS it must be provided to the carrier before vessel loading, and the responsibility lies with the shipper named on the B/L. A container without VGM will not be loaded.
What are demurrage and detention?
Demurrage is charged when a container remains at the terminal beyond its free time. Detention is charged when the container is kept outside the terminal beyond the free period before returning empty. Getting free days in writing avoids surprises.
Can I export containers from Antalya port?
Yes, Antalya port handles containers and is served by regional lines. Where there is no direct service, cargo connects via transhipment or moves through Mersin instead. We choose based on schedules and total transit time.
Do I need an original B/L or is a telex release enough?
It depends on the payment terms with your buyer. Letter of credit transactions usually require original bills; where payment is settled or the relationship is established, a telex release or seaway bill is often more practical.
