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Robin Transportation Systems Inc.

Ocean Freight Services from Toronto

Ocean Freight

FCL and LCL Shipping Worldwide

Full container load and less than container load. Licensed customs broker partner. DG capable. Quotes within 1-2 hours.

Get an Ocean Freight QuoteCall +1-905-612-0755
30+ YearsCustoms SupportDG Capable (IMDG)15-Min Response

Key Features

✓FCL container shipping
✓LCL consolidated freight
✓Global port coverage
✓Heavy and large cargo

Ocean Freight Services

FCL and LCL ocean freight from Toronto. The right mode depends on volume, weight, and urgency.

Full Container Load (FCL)

15+ CBM

or 15,000+ kg

  • Exclusive, sealed container: no co-loading
  • Fastest ocean transit (direct loading)
  • Lowest risk: single seal, single handler
  • Ideal for regular volumes and fragile goods
  • Door-to-door coordination available

Less Than Container Load (LCL)

<12 CBM

or under 10,000 kg

  • Pay per CBM: only the space you use
  • No minimum container commitment
  • Consolidation at origin CFS
  • Ideal for samples, spare parts, small shipments
  • Add 3-7 days for consolidation handling

12-18 CBM? Get quotes for both.

Origin/destination charges often tip the balance. We'll compare for you.

Container vessel loading operations at a marine terminal with gantry cranes and stacked containers
Warehouse crew unloading cartons from a shipping container for LCL consolidation and onward delivery

Container Specifications

Internal dimensions and payload capacity. No competitor publishes this data.

20' Standard

Dimensions5.9 x 2.33 x 2.35 mCapacity33.2 m3Payload21,800 kgPallets10

40' Standard

Dimensions12.02 x 2.35 x 2.39 mCapacity67 m3Payload26,730 kgPallets22

40' High Cube

Dimensions12.02 x 2.35 x 2.70 mCapacity76.4 m3Payload25,500 kgPallets22-25

20' Reefer

Dimensions5.44 x 2.29 x 2.27 mCapacity28 m3Payload21,000 kgPallets9

40' Reefer

Dimensions11.56 x 2.29 x 2.25 mCapacity60 m3Payload26,000 kgPallets20

20' Open Top

Dimensions5.9 x 2.33 x 2.35 mCapacity32.7 m3Payload21,700 kgPalletsN/A

40' Flat Rack

Dimensions12.08 x 2.40 x 2.10 mCapacityOpenPayload40,000 kgPalletsN/A
Container truck exiting terminal gate for first-mile drayage from port to inland hubReach stacker lifting an intermodal container for rail and truck handoff operationsContainer chassis positioned at inland depot for transload and distribution staging

Need a reefer container?

Temperature-controlled ocean freight for perishables, pharmaceuticals, and chemicals. We manage reefer bookings, pre-trip inspections, and temperature monitoring.

Cold Chain Services →

Open top or flat rack?

For oversized, out-of-gauge, and breakbulk cargo. Flat racks handle up to 40,000 kg. We coordinate permits, lashing, and multi-leg transport.

Project Cargo Services →

Shipping Routes

Port-to-port transit times via Canada's three major gateways. RTSI coordinates drayage from any port or rail terminal.

Transit Times

Standard service, port-to-port. Door-to-door adds 5-15 days for pickup, customs, drayage, and delivery.

RouteTransit
Montreal to Northern Europe8-12 days
Montreal to UK8-10 days
Montreal to Mediterranean14-20 days
Montreal to South America25-35 days
Halifax to Northern Europe7-10 days
Halifax to UK6-9 days
Vancouver to Shanghai / Ningbo12-18 days
Vancouver to Tokyo / Yokohama10-14 days
Vancouver to Busan12-16 days
Vancouver to Southeast Asia18-25 days
Need it faster? Air Freight Services →
Globe at night showing ocean shipping routes from Montreal, Halifax, and Vancouver to Europe, Asia, and South America

Canadian Ports

Port of Montreal

1.51M

TEUs (2025)

  • Closest major container port to Toronto
  • 5 international terminals
  • CN + CPKC direct rail to GTA
  • Neopanamax vessels up to 6,700 TEU

Port of Vancouver

3.47M

TEUs (2024 record)

  • Canada's largest port
  • Asia-Pacific primary gateway
  • 4 container terminals
  • 45%+ of Canada-Asia trade

Port of Halifax

509K

TEUs (2024)

  • Deep water: berths 10,000+ TEU vessels
  • First/last call on transatlantic routes
  • Fastest North Atlantic transit times
  • 42 mega-vessel calls in 2024
Container Drayage Services →Warehousing & Cross-Dock →

Customs, Incoterms & Costs

Coordinating ocean import documents, broker communication, trade terms, and port timing to avoid costly delays.

Customs Clearance

Ocean freight, broker communication, and drayage timing coordinated through one workflow.

ACI / eManifest

Marine carriers must submit cargo data 24-96 hours before loading or arrival. RTSI coordinates carrier data and broker communication so reporting requirements are planned before arrival.

CARM Portal

Mandatory since October 2024. Release Prior to Payment (RPP) requires financial security posting. RTSI helps coordinate CARM setup guidance and broker delegation.

Why It Matters

Importers without RPP cannot use PARS, RMD, or Single Window for release. Delays at customs can create demurrage charges at port. RTSI coordinates ocean documents, carrier data, broker communication, CARM setup guidance, and drayage timing so release planning starts before arrival.

Customs Support Coordination →

Required Documents

  • 1Bill of Lading (MBL and/or HBL)
  • 2Commercial Invoice
  • 3Canada Customs Invoice (CCI), shipments over $2,500 CAD
  • 4Packing List
  • 5Certificate of Origin, if claiming CUSMA/preferential rates
  • 6Phytosanitary / CFIA certificates, if food, plant, animal products
  • 7DG Declaration, if applicable (IMDG code)
Ocean import documentation and customs compliance checklist reviewed before container release

Incoterms for Ocean Freight

Who pays for what. Understanding Incoterms helps you control costs and liability.

FOBOcean-specific

Free On Board

Seller: Inland transport, export clearance, loading

Buyer: Ocean freight, insurance, import clearance

CIFOcean-specific

Cost, Insurance & Freight

Seller: Export clearance, freight, insurance to port

Buyer: Import clearance, delivery from port

CFROcean-specific

Cost and Freight

Seller: Export clearance, ocean freight

Buyer: Insurance, import clearance, delivery

EXW

Ex Works

Seller: Make goods available at factory

Buyer: All transport, clearance, insurance

DAP

Delivered at Place

Seller: All transport to destination

Buyer: Import clearance, unloading

DDP

Delivered Duty Paid

Seller: Everything: transport, clearance, duties

Buyer: Unloading only

Most common for ocean imports to Canada: FOB (buyer controls shipping), CIF (seller arranges freight + insurance), DDP (seller handles everything).

Demurrage & Detention

Every day your container sits at port costs money. RTSI coordinates broker communication and drayage timing to reduce avoidable storage delays.

$100-250

Per day, per container

Demurrage

Charged for keeping a loaded container at the port/terminal beyond free time. Rates escalate the longer it sits.

3-5 days

Typical free time

Detention

Charged for keeping the carrier's empty container at your facility beyond free time. Typically 4-7 days grace period.

Faster

With RTSI

How RTSI Helps

Customs clearance is coordinated through licensed broker partners before vessel arrival. Drayage is lined up for release so containers move faster.

How Ocean Freight Shipping Works

Request a Quote1

Request a Quote

Call, email, or form. We respond within 15 minutes.

Booking & Docs2

Booking & Docs

Carrier selected, container booked, all documentation prepared.

Shipment Execution3

Shipment Execution

Cargo picked up, delivered to port, loaded, and tracked.

Customs Clearance4

Customs Clearance

RTSI coordinates CBSA documentation and CARM details with the licensed customs broker partner.

Drayage & Delivery5

Drayage & Delivery

Container picked up from port or rail terminal, delivered to your door.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about ocean freight from Toronto.

What is the difference between FCL and LCL ocean freight?
FCL (Full Container Load) gives you an exclusive, sealed container for your cargo alone, ideal when shipping over 15 CBM or 15,000 kg. LCL (Less than Container Load) consolidates your cargo with other shippers, so you pay only for the space you use. LCL suits smaller shipments under 12 CBM. Between 12-18 CBM is a gray zone, and we recommend getting quotes for both.
How long does ocean freight take from Canada to Europe?
Port-to-port from Montreal to Northern Europe (Rotterdam, Hamburg, Antwerp) takes 8-12 days. Montreal to UK is 8-10 days. Halifax cuts 1-2 days off transatlantic routes. Door-to-door transit adds 5-15 days for pickup, customs clearance, drayage, and final delivery.
How much does ocean freight cost from Toronto?
Ocean freight rates depend on container size, origin/destination, commodity, and market conditions. FCL is priced per container; LCL is priced per cubic metre (CBM). Ocean freight typically costs 4-5x less than air freight but takes weeks instead of days. Contact us for a detailed quote. We respond within 15 minutes.
What container sizes are available for ocean freight?
Standard options include 20' standard (33 m3, 21,800 kg payload), 40' standard (67 m3, 26,730 kg), and 40' high cube (76 m3, 25,500 kg). Specialized containers include reefers for temperature-controlled cargo, open tops for oversized loads, and flat racks for heavy machinery or project cargo.
What documents are required for ocean imports into Canada?
At minimum: Bill of Lading (MBL/HBL), commercial invoice, packing list, and Canada Customs Invoice for shipments over $2,500 CAD. Certificate of Origin if claiming CUSMA preferential rates. CFIA certificates for food, plant, or animal products. DG declaration for hazardous cargo. Our team prepares and reviews all documentation.
What are demurrage and detention charges?
Demurrage is charged when a loaded container stays at port beyond free time, usually 3-5 days. Detention is charged when an empty container stays at your facility beyond free time. RTSI reduces this risk by coordinating ocean freight, broker communication, release timing, and drayage in one workflow.
Can you ship dangerous goods by ocean freight?
Yes. RTSI coordinates IMDG-compliant dangerous goods by ocean across all 9 hazard classes. Ocean shipping under the IMDG Code is generally more permissive than air: larger quantities, heavier items, and more classes can move by sea. We manage classification, documentation, packaging requirements, and carrier booking.
What Incoterms are used for ocean freight shipping?
The most common ocean Incoterms are FOB (buyer controls shipping from port), CIF (seller arranges freight + insurance), and CFR (seller pays freight, buyer insures). FOB is most popular for imports because it gives the buyer control over carrier selection and costs. EXW, DAP, and DDP also apply to ocean but are not ocean-specific.
When should I use ocean freight instead of air freight?
Choose ocean when your cargo exceeds 500 kg or 1 CBM, transit time of 2-6 weeks is acceptable, and cost is a priority. Ocean freight costs 4-5x less than air. It's the standard choice for regular inventory replenishment, raw materials, heavy machinery, and non-perishable goods.
Does RTSI coordinate customs clearance for ocean shipments?
Yes. RTSI coordinates ocean freight documents and broker communication with licensed customs broker partners for imports and exports. Keeping shipping and clearance support in one workflow helps reduce release delays and demurrage risk. Call or email us.