FAQ

Full Container Load (FCL) shipping means your cargo occupies an entire container exclusively, without sharing space with other shipments. FCL is ideal for businesses with large or regular shipment volumes, as it offers greater security, faster transit times, and often lower per-unit costs. Find out more here.

Less Than Container Load (LCL) shipping means your cargo shares container space with other shipments, so you only pay for the space you use. LCL is a cost-effective option for smaller shipments where a full container is not required. Find out more here.

Yes, ISL offers air freight services. Air freight is typically the better option when your cargo is time sensitive, lighter in weight, or particularly fragile. While generally more expensive than sea freight, the speed and reduced handling involved can make it the most practical choice in many situations. Find out more here.

Project Cargo refers to the transportation of large, heavy, high-value, or complex shipments that require specialised handling, equipment, and planning such as machinery, construction materials, or industrial components. Yes, ISL can manage oversized and specialist shipments end-to end, including route planning, permits, specialised equipment, and carrier coordination to ensure safe and efficient delivery. Find out more here.

Cargo in a Box is a consolidation service for smaller shipments. You order your goods and have them delivered to our Miami warehouse, where we pack everything into one of three standardised box sizes. Once your box is full, it ships directly to you, with customs clearance and delivery handled end to end. One box, one price, no loose ends. Find out more here.

Yes, ISL offers fully managed End-to-End logistics solutions, handling your shipment from origin to final delivery. This includes supplier coordination and cargo pickup, freight booking (air or ocean), consolidation or full container handling (LCL/FCL), customs clearance and documentation, cargo insurance, and final delivery. You receive a single point of contact and complete visibility throughout the process. Find out more here.

End-to-End Solutions means ISL customizes a service to collect your cargo wherever it is and delivers it directly to its destination.

Yes. Every business has unique logistics requirements, and ISL is well-positioned to tailor a solution to suit yours. Please reach out to our team to discuss your specific needs and we will advise accordingly. info@isltrinidad.com

Intermodal transportation is the movement of cargo using multiple modes of transport such as sea, road, and rail, within a single shipment unit, typically a container. ISL offers intermodal solutions as part of our broader freight forwarding and End-to-End service offerings.

Yes. ISL can manage your supply chain from the point of origin through to final delivery. Please contact our team to discuss the scope of your requirements and how we can best support your operations. info@isltrinidad.com

A standard freight service typically covers the movement of cargo: Door to Port or Port to Port. A fully managed solution goes further, with ISL taking responsibility for local logistics & customs clearance.

Yes. ISL can coordinate both import and export shipments within a single logistics arrangement. Please contact our team to discuss your requirements. info@isltrinidad.com

Yes. ISL is able to accommodate multiple shipment types under a single working arrangement. Contact our team to discuss how we can structure this for you. info@isltrinidad.com

ISL’s Cargo Insurance provides financial protection for your goods while in transit, covering the risk of loss or damage from origin to final destination.

Yes. ISL can handle hazardous materials and cargo with special handling requirements. To allow us to advise you accurately, please share the relevant MSDS, IMO documentation, or any applicable specification sheet for your cargo when making your enquiry.

Yes. ISL’s commercial team is available to review your shipping activity and identify cost savings opportunities. Please reach out to your Commercial Executive to begin that conversation.

Delays can be caused by a range of circumstances including vessel cancellations, port congestion, strikes, adverse weather, or geopolitical events. ISL will communicate the cause of any delay to you as soon as it is identified and work to resolve the situation promptly. Please contact your representative with your shipment reference for a specific update.

Please notify ISL immediately upon discovery of any damage or shortage. File a claim with our team and we will initiate the claims process on your behalf. Please retain all packaging and documentation, and photograph any visible damage prior to moving the goods.

Container unstuffing status can be checked through here. Please contact your account representative if you require immediate confirmation.

A Bonded Warehouse is a secure facility for storing imported goods, where customs duties, taxes, and tariffs can be deferred until the goods are released. This allows businesses to manage cash flow more effectively by delaying duty payments until they are ready to distribute or sell their goods.

ISL provides 5 working days of free storage in the bonded warehouse. After this period, a storage charge of USD $4.50 per CBM (or part thereof) per day will apply.

ISL’s bonded warehouse accepts Freight of All Kinds (FAK). Please note that cold storage facilities are not currently available.

Yes. Duties and taxes are payable on goods stored in a bonded warehouse. They must be settled before cargo can be released.

Once your cargo has been unstuffed and is available, you will need to ensure that all applicable VAT and duties have been paid. Upon confirmation of payment, ISL will arrange for the release of your cargo.

A bonded warehouse is a customs-controlled facility where imported cargo is held under government supervision until duties and VAT are paid. Regular warehouse storage, by contrast, is used for general storage purposes and is not subject to customs control.

ISL currently operates a bonded warehouse in Trinidad and Tobago.

ISL’s bonded warehouse is located at Sadhoo Trace Extension, El Socorro, Trinidad.

Once your LCL container has been unstuffed at the warehouse, you will be notified by email. This notification will also confirm your rent-free period, after which storage charges will apply.

You can contact ISL’s Trinidad warehouse on +1 (868) 675-1818.

Please contact ISL’s Guyana office directly for warehouse enquiries. Contact details are available on our Find Us page.

Please contact ISL’s Suriname office directly for warehouse enquiries. Contact details are available on our Find Us page.

You can contact ISL’s Miami team on +1-786-615-3685, +1-786-615-4153, or +1-786-558-9777 ext. 406. Alternatively, email donna@intshipusa.com.

ISL’s Trinidad warehouse accepts collections between 8:00am and 3:00pm on working days.

Yes. A third party may collect cargo on your behalf, provided they present a signed authorisation letter from the consignee along with a copy of the consignee’s identification.

Storage charges will apply from the end of your rent-free period at the applicable daily rate. Please note that cargo that remains uncollected for 90 days or more may be considered abandoned.

Consolidation is a logistics process that combines multiple smaller shipments from one or several shippers into a single, larger shipment for export. ISL offers consolidation services from all of our warehouse locations for export.

You can request a quote here.

Container shipping costs vary depending on your specific shipment details including cargo type, origin, destination, and volume. You can request a quote here.

Freight pricing is based on several key factors including the shipment’s weight and dimensions, origin and destination, type of cargo, and chosen shipping method (air or sea). Our team will take all relevant factors into account when preparing your quotation.

Depending on the nature and routing of your shipment, additional charges such as port fees, terminal handling charges, fuel surcharges, or customs-related costs may apply. ISL will outline all applicable charges in your quotation so there are no surprises.

A fuel surcharge is an additional fee applied to help offset fluctuations in carrier fuel costs. It is adjusted periodically based on global fuel rates and may affect your total shipping cost.

FCL (Full Container Load) is charged at a fixed cost for the entire container, making it more cost-effective for large or regular shipments. LCL (Less than Container Load) is priced based on volume or weight, making it the more economical option for smaller shipments though the per-unit cost may be
higher than FCL.

Yes, air freight is generally significantly more expensive than sea freight due to the speed and
limited capacity of aircraft. However, it is worth considering when speed is critical, goods are high-value or time-sensitive, the cost of a delay would exceed the shipping premium, or shipments are small or lightweight.

Port fees and terminal handling charges (THC) are charges levied by port operators and terminals to cover the cost of handling cargo at the port. These are typically passed on to the shipper or consignee and will be reflected in your shipping quotation where applicable.

ISL’s quotations offer a fixed rate for the validity period stated on the quote. Beyond this period, rates may be subject to change based on carrier pricing and market conditions.

Duties and taxes can significantly increase the total landed cost of you shipment. Import duty is typically calculated based on the type of goods and their CIF value (cost, insurance, and freight). Accurate declaration of cargo value and correct tariff classification can help avoid delays and unexpected additional costs.

Yes. You can reduce shipping costs by consolidating shipments, selecting the most appropriate shipping method for your cargo, optimising packaging to minimise chargeable weight or volume, and planning shipments in advance to avoid rush fees. ISL’s commercial team is available to advise on cost-saving opportunities for your specific situation.

Yes. ISL can offer specialised rates for clients with regular or high-volume shipping needs. To explore this, please provide our commercial team with details of your typical monthly shipment volumes and usual cargo details.

Yes. ISL has extensive experience supporting the Oil & Gas sector with specialist freight and logistics solutions. If you would like to speak with an adviser, please contact our team directly. info@isltrinidad.com

Yes. ISL partners with a wide range of wholesale and distribution businesses, providing tailored freight forwarding solutions to support their supply chain needs. Please contact our team to discuss how we can support your operations. info@isltrinidad.com

Yes. ISL has extensive experience handling industrial supplies and equipment, including specialist and oversized cargo. Please contact our team to discuss your requirements. info@isltrinidad.com

Yes. ISL works with businesses of all sizes, including small and medium enterprises (SMEs). We offer flexible solutions designed to support the specific needs and budgets of growing businesses. Please visit our SME page for more information. info@isltrinidad.com

Yes. ISL provides export logistics services for businesses shipping goods out of the Caribbean and the Americas. Please refer to our Export service page or contact our team for details on how we can support your export requirements. info@isltrinidad.com

ISL (International Shipping Limited) is a full-service freight forwarding and logistics company operating across the Americas and the Caribbean. We have offices in Trinidad, Guyana, Suriname, and the USA (Miami), and provide logistics solutions to and from destinations worldwide.

ISL services destinations worldwide, with a particular focus on routes to and from the Caribbean and the USA. Please visit our Countries Serviced pages for a full list of the destinations we serve

The latest news and updates from ISL can be found on our News page. You can also follow us on our social media channels to stay up to date.

Beyond Business is ISL’s story, who we are, where we came from, and what we stand for beyond the world of freight forwarding. Visit our Beyond Business page to learn more about the people and values behind ISL.

You can reach ISL by emailing info@isltrinidad.com or by visiting our Find Us page for full contact details across all of our offices.

You can email info@isltrinidad.com to request to speak to a sales representative, someone will get back to you shortly

For general enquiries, please email info@isltrinidad.com and a member of our team will respond as soon as possible.

ISL has offices in Port of Spain and El Socorro (Trinidad), Miami (USA), Georgetown (Guyana), and Paramaribo (Suriname). Full address details are available on our Find Us page

ISL’s offices are open Monday to Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm.

If you haven’t found what you’re looking for, please email info@isltrinidad.com and a member of our team will be happy to assist you.

As an existing client, please contact your appointed ISL representative directly. They will be best placed to assist you with any queries relating to your account or active shipments.

You can reach the ISL Miami team on +1-786-615-3685, +1-786-615-4153, or +1-786-558-9777 ext. 406. Alternatively, email donna@intshipusa.com

You can reach the ISL Guyana team on 592-643-2025, 592-623-5661, or 592-503-0880 ext. 601. Alternatively, email guyopsupervisor@isguyana.com.

You can reach the ISL Suriname team on (597) 473512. Alternatively, contact June Bromet directly at june@hbrometshipping.sr.

We value your feedback. You can share your experience by completing our client feedback survey here.

Getting started with ISL is straightforward. You will be asked to provide your contact information including your name, company name, phone number, email address, and physical address. Our team will then set up your account and guide you through the next steps

An ISL unique number is an internal reference number assigned to your account, shipment, or quotation. It allows ISL’s team to quickly locate and manage your records.

Your ISL unique number can be found in the subject line of your arrival notice, on your invoice, or within your brokerage shipment documentation.

There is no risk involved in switching to ISL. Our team can liaise directly with your current provider to facilitate a smooth handover of all relevant shipment and account information, ensuring continuity of service throughout the transition.

Invoice queries and billing disputes should be directed to ISL’s Commercial Support Supervisor at cssupervisor@isltrinidad.com.

To file a complaint, please email your appointed ISL representative with the details of your concern. Our team will acknowledge your complaint and work to resolve it as quickly as possible.

Yes. ISL is part of a global logistics network with offices and partners across multiple regions. We can arrange shipments to and from destinations worldwide.

Incoterms, short for International Commercial Terms, are 11 globally recognised trade terms. They define who is responsible for costs, risks and logistics at every stage of a shipment. Find out more here.