Shipping FAQ & Guide

ViaPort Logistics is a Tampa-based container shipping company. We provide full container delivery, ocean shipping, and pack-and-ship services for cargo headed to Africa, the Caribbean, and Central & South America. We give you one all-inclusive price that covers container delivery to your door, pickup when loaded, transport to port, ocean shipping, and documentation.

We ship to 20+ countries across three regions. Caribbean: Jamaica, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Trinidad & Tobago, Guyana, Bahamas, Barbados, and more. Central & South America: Colombia, Venezuela, Honduras, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Ecuador, Peru. West Africa: Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal, Cameroon, Ivory Coast. East Africa: Kenya, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Uganda. If your country isn’t listed, contact us — we can ship to any destination with a seaport. See our Destinations page for full details and transit times.

We’re based in Tampa, Florida and serve the Central Florida corridor. We deliver containers to locations in Tampa, Orlando, Lakeland, Winter Haven, Kissimmee, Clearwater, St. Petersburg, Sarasota, Bradenton, Jacksonville, and surrounding areas.

Anyone who needs to ship a full container overseas. That includes businesses exporting U.S. goods, freight forwarders who need reliable container transport and ocean shipping, overseas buyers purchasing full containers of American products, and individuals or families shipping a large volume of household goods, vehicles, or personal effects.

We’re WhatsApp-first. Message us anytime for quotes, updates, or questions. We also take phone calls and email. We respond within 2 hours during business hours and send automatic WhatsApp updates at every shipment milestone. We communicate in English, French/Creole, and Spanish.

When we give you a quote, one number covers everything: container delivery to your location, pickup of the loaded container, transport to the port (drayage), ocean shipping to the destination port, and standard export documentation. No separate line items for fuel surcharges, port fees, or paperwork. The price we quote is the price you pay.

Pricing depends on container size, destination, and the port we ship from. Caribbean destinations are generally less expensive and faster than African routes. The best way to get an accurate price is to request a free quote — tell us your container size, what you’re shipping, and where it’s going. We respond within 2 hours.

No. Our all-inclusive quote covers container delivery, ocean shipping, and documentation. We’ll clearly list any optional extras (like cargo insurance or chassis rental overages) before you agree. Demurrage and detention fees may apply if you hold the container beyond the free days allowed — we’ll explain the timeline upfront so you can plan accordingly.

We accept Zelle, Cash App, wire transfers, checks, and cash. Payment terms are typically due before the container ships. For recurring commercial customers, we can discuss net payment arrangements.

Step 1: You request a quote with your destination and container size. Step 2: We deliver an empty container to your door or warehouse. Step 3: You load the container (typically you have 3–5 free days). Step 4: We pick up the loaded container and transport it to the port. Step 5: Container goes on a vessel. You get WhatsApp updates at every milestone. One price covers the entire process.

This service is ideal for overseas buyers purchasing U.S. goods. You place orders with your U.S. suppliers and have them delivered to our warehouse — or we pick up from supplier locations. We receive the goods, pack them into a container, handle all export documentation, and ship door-to-port. You just tell us what you’re buying and where it’s going.

Ocean transit times vary by destination. Caribbean (Jamaica, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Trinidad) typically takes 5–18 days. Central & South America (Colombia, Venezuela, Honduras) takes 5–14 days. West Africa (Nigeria, Ghana) takes 25–45 days. East Africa (Kenya, Ethiopia) takes 35–55 days. Add 3–7 days for container delivery and loading before departure. Visit our Destinations page for country-specific estimates.

We ship from four Florida ports: PortMiami, Port Everglades (Fort Lauderdale), JAXPORT (Jacksonville), and Port Tampa Bay. We select the best port for your destination based on vessel schedules, transit time, and cost. Most African and Caribbean shipments go through PortMiami or JAXPORT.

We’ll notify you (and your receiver) when the container arrives. Your receiver clears the cargo through customs at the destination using a local customs broker. We can recommend agents in most destination countries. Port handling fees and import duties at the destination are the receiver’s responsibility.

Yes. We prepare all U.S. export documentation (bill of lading, packing list, commercial invoice) as part of your all-inclusive quote. For import clearance at the destination, the receiver will need a local customs broker — we can recommend trusted ones.

Every shipment gets a ViaPort reference number. Use our Track My Shipment page or message us on WhatsApp anytime. We send automatic WhatsApp updates at every milestone: container delivery, pickup, port arrival, vessel departure, and destination arrival.

We offer four standard sizes: 20′ Standard (~33 cubic meters, holds ~10 pallets), 40′ Standard (~67 cubic meters, holds ~20 pallets), 40′ High Cube (~76 cubic meters, extra foot of height), and 45′ High Cube (~86 cubic meters, the largest standard option). Not sure which size you need? Tell us what you’re shipping and we’ll recommend the right fit.

Typically 3–5 free days from the time the empty container is delivered to your location. If you need more time, let us know upfront — additional days may incur detention charges from the shipping line. We’ll explain the exact timeline and any costs before you commit.

For our Door-to-Port service, yes — you or your team loads the container at your location. For our Pack & Ship service, we handle all the loading at our warehouse. If you need loading help for a Door-to-Port shipment, let us know and we can arrange labor assistance for an additional fee.

Yes! Vehicles are one of the most common exports. A standard car fits in a 20′ container, and you can fill the remaining space around it with other goods. Larger vehicles or multiple vehicles may need a 40′. Vehicle export requires a clean title, and the destination country may have age and emissions restrictions. Contact us with your vehicle details for a quote.

Right now, we specialize in full container (FCL) shipments. If you don’t have enough cargo to fill a container, we recommend reaching out to us anyway — we may be able to connect you with other shippers headed to the same destination, or advise on the most cost-effective approach. We’re also expanding our services soon to include smaller shipment options.

Most household and commercial goods, including: vehicles (cars, trucks, equipment), electronics (TVs, laptops, phones), household goods (furniture, appliances, kitchenware), clothing and shoes, building materials, generators, auto parts, food products (non-perishable, packaged), machinery, and commercial merchandise. If you’re not sure about a specific item, just ask.

Prohibited items include: firearms and ammunition, explosives, illegal drugs, hazardous chemicals (without proper licensing), live animals, perishable food (unless in a reefer container), counterfeit goods, and items prohibited by U.S. export law or the destination country’s import regulations. Some countries have additional restrictions — we’ll advise you based on your destination.

We strongly recommend it, but it’s optional. Shipping line liability is limited (typically around $500 per container under standard terms), which won’t cover the full value of most shipments. We can arrange comprehensive cargo insurance for your shipment as an add-on. Ask us for a quote — the cost is usually a small percentage of your cargo’s declared value.