Shipping your valuable cargo from the UK to Jamaica doesn’t have to be a painful or expensive task. Whether you’re sending gifts to family or friends, or moving your belongings to a second home abroad, shipping your items to the major ports of Kingston and Montego Bay is really easy and inexpensive; you just have to have the knowledge, which I am more than happy to share with you. According to December 2010 figures, there are over 150,000 Jamaican-born citizens living in the UK. There are also over 800,000 British citizens of Jamaican origin currently residing in the UK. With this in mind, many Jamaicans in the UK will at some point in their life need to send items ‘to the backyard’. When doing this, there are 5 main factors that people take into consideration.

» 1. Know how to choose a reliable shipping company

When you decide to ship your items, it is always best to choose a company that has been recommended to you. There is nothing better than word of mouth or a personal recommendation from someone who has been happy with a shipping company that they have already used to ship cargo to Jamaica. You should always use a shipping company based in the UK that has been shipping cargo to Jamaica for at least 5 years, as this shows that the company is obviously adept at getting their clients’ cargo there efficiently.

» 2. Know how to pack and measure your items before shipping

If you have many items to ship, I recommend that you use barrels, boxes, or a container to ship your products based on their size and quantity. Most good shipping companies will provide (for free) or sell bubble wrap, tape, and ziplocks to protect their customers’ valuables while they are being shipped. This ensures minimal or no damage to your valuables while they are being shipped. Before shipping your cargo, you will usually need to know the size of your cargo (or barrel/box size), which is measured in cubic metres. You can calculate this by multiplying the length of your products times the width times the height. For example, 2 meters long x 1 meter wide x 1 meter high = 2 cubic meters.

» 3. Know how regularly the shipping company sends cargo to Jamaica

The best shipping companies usually keep a weekly sailing schedule, sailing from the UK to Jamaica and will even have sailing dates over Christmas and New Years. It is recommended to choose a company that sails weekly to the ports of Montego Bay as well as Kingston, giving you and the recipient on the other end more options.

4. Know how to insure your valuables against loss and/or damage

When shipping cargo anywhere in the world, whether it’s from the UK to Jamaica or France to Bora Bora, you should always choose a carrier that offers cargo insurance or recommends a preferred carrier. This shows the nature of a shipping company that values ​​its customers’ cargo.

5. Know how trustworthy the agent is at the other end, once the cargo arrives in Jamaica

The agent who receives the ocean freight once it arrives in Jamaica is almost as important as the shipping company itself, as they will handle your goods at the other end and ensure that the goods are received safely by the recipient. You can be sure that the agent at the other end is reputable if the chosen shipping company has at least 3-5 years dealing with that agent in Jamaica. Good shipping companies will have spent years building good relationships with the best and most reliable agents in Kingston and Montego Bay. When in doubt, ask your shipping company how long they have been using the overseas agent.