There are three methods for shipping international household goods: sea freight, air freight or the combination of the two. For sea freight shipments, we load your possessions into lift vans or a steamship container. A lift van is a large wooden crate made specifically to move household goods overseas. These are used if you'll need storage at your destination or if your shipment will not fill a steamship container. A steamship container is a large rigid steel container that can be loaded on and off an ocean going vessel with ease. These large containers come in either 20 foot or 40 foot lengths and can hold up to 1,100 cubic feet or 2,200 cubic feet respectively. An air freight container is much smaller than the typical sea containers and is generally used for small, time sensitive shipments. A variety of sizes are available and they are normally constructed of industrial cardboard. Again your move coordinator will be able to explain the most appropriate container for your specific shipment.