Shipping lines play an integral link between inland and seaborne trade routes. A new generation container vessel can carry up to 14 000 six metre containers at any one time. These containers move through the terminals and onwards to the destinations (often inland).

This creates opportunities for the management of shore operations, known as Ships Agencies. The agency operation of loading and husbandry as well as the entire box (container) management process from the vessel through the terminals, onto trucks or rail as quickly and as efficiently as possible is know as shipping practice.

The career path a one year Certificate in International Trade, a second year in Freight Handling, followed by a third year in Shipping Practice or Customs Clearing and Forwarding.