Sea Ridge Trade Governance designs NVOCC operating structures for freight operators and importers — so you can move cargo internationally within an FMC-compliant framework, without applying for your own license.
Moving ocean freight without FMC authorization isn't just illegal — it's a civil penalty exposure of up to $11,000 per shipment. But applying for your own NVOCC authority takes 60–90 days, requires surety bond, and demands ongoing compliance infrastructure most operators don't have.
There's a legal alternative. The FMC allows qualified operators to work as agents under an existing licensed NVOCC's authority. Sea Ridge builds that structure — and manages the compliance around it.
"The fastest path to compliant international freight operations isn't applying for your own license. It's operating under authority that already exists."
Every engagement starts with understanding your lanes, your cargo, and your timeline — then we design the structure that fits. No generic templates. No guesswork.
Most operators are fully operational within 30 days. The process is straightforward when you have the right structure built around you from the start.
If you're moving containers between Latin America, the Caribbean, or any international origin and the US — this structure was designed for you. Whether you're starting from zero or expanding an existing operation.
International ocean freight touches multiple US regulatory frameworks simultaneously. Our governance structures are designed to address each of them — though clients remain responsible for their own compliance obligations.
Every operator in the Sea Ridge network gets access to Sea Ridge OS — our logistics command platform. Every shipment, every document, every compliance checkpoint in one place.
Tell us about your lanes, your cargo, and where you are in the process. We'll respond with a clear picture of the structure that fits — and what it takes to get you operational.