Freight transport by sea has been a dominant mode throughout recorded history. While aviation has surpassed sea travel for passengers, water transport remains highly effective and cost-efficient for regular, schedulable cargoes, particularly for trans-oceanic shipping of consumer products, and especially for heavy loads or bulk cargos such as coal, ores, or grains.
The economic landscape during the industrial revolution was fundamentally shaped by the availability of cheap water transport, whether by canal, navigable river, or shipping on natural waterways, which supported cost-effective bulk movement. The introduction of containerization in the 1970s revolutionized maritime transport, significantly reducing the expense and increasing the speed of international trade, particularly for consumer goods and commodities. When goods travel across multiple modes—road, rail, and sea—this is referred to as intermodal or co-modal transport.
At Versand Logistics, we offer comprehensive and authorized maritime and intermodal services:
### Authorization and Compliance
Versand Logistics is registered with the Directorate General of Shipping, Government of India, as an authorized Multimodal Transport Operator (MTO), also commonly referred to as a Non-Vessel Owning Common Carrier (NVOCC). This authorization allows us to legally issue our own House Bill of Lading, which is fully covered by liability insurance, providing our clients with robust security.
Furthermore, for shipments destined for the United States, we hold the mandatory registration with the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) of the United States. This distinction places Versand Logistics among the few companies authorized to issue our own House Bill of Lading (HBL) for consignments moving to US coasts.
### Operational Coverage and Capacity
To ensure wide geographic coverage and seamless service, Versand Logistics maintains a presence across all major coastal regions and inland hubs:
West Coast: Branch offices in Mundra and Mumbai.
South Coast: Office in Chennai.
East Coast: Office in Kolkata.
Dry Ports/Inland Container Depots (ICDs): Covered by our offices in Delhi, Noida, Ludhiana, Bangalore, and Hyderabad.
This network covers nearly 85% of India’s containerized cargo handling capacity and 68% of the country’s bulk cargo handling capacity, assuring comprehensive service coverage.
### Security and Quality Certification
Beyond MTO and FMC authorizations, Versand Logistics is certified as an Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) by the Government of India (Ministry of Finance), under the World Customs Organization’s AEO program. We hold this certification for both our Freight Forwarding and Customs Brokerage operations, granted after a thorough audit of our processes and provisions for cargo security.
We are committed to providing world-class services that are customized to suit the specific needs of our clients. Our tailor-made solutions set us apart from standard operations.
### Industry Leadership
Versand Logistics is an active member of the Association of Multimodal Operators of India (AMTOI). Our involvement aims to promote a harmonious maritime community, build consensus among all segments of the industry, make necessary representations to various authorities, and advance multimodal transport in India.