Ask a question in the category: Maritime transport and services

This section covers issues related to maritime transport. If you need help — post your question here and review the existing answers on the site. Your problem may already have a solution.

Rules and common mistakes when writing questions

• One of the most common errors in this section (though it can appear in others too) is duplicating questions. Do not post your question multiple times to attract attention. This will be treated as spam and will deter potential partners from working with you. Once posted, your question stays at the top of the list until someone creates a new one.
• You will get more answers by offering bonuses in exchange for help. If you don't know who to consult and have come to this section to get advice from site users, you need to interest them so that answers come as quickly as possible. Offer discounts on your services or say you are willing to pay for professional consultation. Remember, however, that experts are best found in job openings and in the directory. Many companies provide information about themselves and describe what services they offer.
• Be polite and professional. Questions are public correspondence that can become not just forum communication but business communication with potential partners. Through it you can gain new, valuable contacts, so it is important to maintain a positive reputation.

How the right answers can bring you new clients

One of the questions in this category was: "What is the freight rate for soy shipping from Reni to Valencia?" One user immediately offered their services and, as an alternative, suggested calculating the cost of land delivery, while another asked a clarifying question: "Good day! Do I understand correctly that you need to calculate shipping?"

In this case, the first answer was much more successful because it shows immediately that the person knows the terminology and understands the question itself. Besides, they provide an alternative and offer their services, whereas the second option will likely be overlooked. How can you improve your answer to such a question?

Ask clarifying questions about:

• the volume of soy;
• the dates of interest;
• suggest route optimization using multiple types of transport, if possible; 
• provide a price range and invite the user for a personal conversation to discuss potential cooperation.

IMPORTANT: questions of this kind are usually asked to find a carrier, but there is a chance that the shipper has already received an offer and wants to know if the quoted price matches the market. A good way to win such a client is to offer them a lower price, and since we don't know the details — a price range will be the optimal option. Further details can be agreed upon later.

When posting answers, try to provide as much useful information as possible:

• answer directly to the question;
• ask clarifying questions if something is unclear;
• understand your partner's problem;
• answer the way you would want to be answered if you needed consultation.

Subcategories in the "Maritime Transport and Services" section

In addition to the main category where you are now, there are also additional ones. They are created for better classification of questions and convenient navigation. You can select the subcategory "Maritime Shipping", "Other Maritime Logistics", and so on to post your question there or search for existing answers, as well as help other users understand situations that are unclear to them.

Ask a question in the Maritime Shipping and Services category