Legal Definitions - transshipment

Definition: Transshipment is the process of transferring cargo from one ship to another or from one mode of transportation to another, such as from a ship to a truck or rail car.

Example: A cargo ship carrying goods from China to the United States stops at a port in Japan to unload some of its cargo. The cargo is then loaded onto another ship that will continue the journey to the United States. This is an example of transshipment.

Explanation: Transshipment is often necessary when cargo needs to be transported over long distances and multiple modes of transportation are required. In the example above, the cargo ship could not travel directly from China to the United States without stopping to refuel and restock supplies. By unloading some of its cargo at a port in Japan and transferring it to another ship, the cargo can continue its journey without delay.