transshipped

Transshipment is the process of moving goods from one transport mode or vehicle to another at an intermediate location, rather than delivering directly from origin to final destination. In shipping, the term often describes transferring cargo between ships at a port.

Maritime transshipment typically occurs at hub ports, where containers are transferred from feeder vessels to large container ships or vice versa. Such hubs form part of a hub-and-spoke network that aims to optimize vessel capacity, reduce sailing distances, and connect regional markets to global routes. Transshipped cargo may be stored briefly in terminals or consolidated with other shipments during the transfer.

Multimodal transshipment can involve air, rail, trucking, or pipeline transfers, enabling goods to move across different transport modes without fully reloading at their origin. When goods are described as "transshipped," they have been diverted through an intermediate location or mode before final delivery.

Advantages include improved network efficiency, route flexibility, and access to economies of scale. Disadvantages include potential delays, higher handling costs, increased risk of damage or loss, and the need for careful customs and regulatory compliance to avoid misclassification or fraud.

Transshipment is subject to international and national regulations governing cargo handling, maritime operations, and taxation. Port authorities and carriers use tracking and documentation to monitor transshipped shipments and ensure proper duties are assessed where applicable.