THE OVL WAY

Ready to move goods? We’re ready to help.

If your cargo matters, your container matters.

Watch our quality assurance video.

Headquartered in Helsinki, Finland, OVL is a trusted container supplier and transport solutions provider for customers and logistics companies operating in Scandinavia, Central and Eastern Europe and China. We continually expand our geographic reach not only to the major cities you’d expect but also to tricky, harder-to-reach destinations – proof that OVL goes farther for its customers.

Ship with confidence

With over 10,000 units leased and traded annually, we specialize in saving our customers time and money on shipment and logistics costs. OVL container depots are located in Europe, America and China. And we continually update our leasing fleet which largely consists of 40’ HC dry containers that are less than two years old.

Each OVL container undergoes a thorough, internationally established CSC (Convention for Safe Containers) survey, inside and out, either in the port or on site wherever your container is to ensure that it is approved and ready for transport.

Dedicated customer service

The shipping and transport industry never sleeps. We thrive on its fast-paced energy and the unique logistical challenges that come with it. We love being there for our customers and we have over a decade of experience to prove it.

Our team has the industry knowledge, container procurement experience, and tactical ability to quickly resolve any obstacles that might arise. We pride ourselves on providing unrivaled response times, outstanding customer service, and a variety of container solutions that help our customers move goods across continents quickly and efficiently.

Discover new markets

OVL offers the most competitive leasing options on the One Belt, One Road (OBOR) connecting Europe and Asia, which allows our customers to access new markets in more remote locations. And our One-Way, One-Fee service will save you time, money and minimise logistics risks. Best of all, it eliminates having to pay to transport empty containers. In fact, we’ve made it our mission to see that no container travels empty because of the positive implications it has for the industry and the planet.

Intermodal containers

Containers keep industry moving. The modern shipping container offers one of the quickest and most cost-effective ways to transport merchandise internationally. Intermodal freight containers offer safe, dry storage and the ability to transport a wide variety of goods by ship, rail and truck without having to unload and reload the cargo. If you’re looking for a fast, secure, and cost-efficient means of international transport, we’ve got a container that will suit your unique needs.

ISO Standards

Established and accepted internationally, ISO (International Organisation for Standardisation) container standards save time and valuable resources by ensuring the consistent, safe handling and transport of containers throughout the world. The ISO standard also specifies container terminology used by the industry, as well as load capacity, tolerances, letters and numbers, overlapping stacking, and methods of strength and strength tests related to a container’s design.

The most common ISO standard lengths for containers are: 20’ ft (6.1 m), 30’ ft (9 m), 40’ ft (12.2 m), 45’ ft (13.7 m), 48’ ft (14.6 m) and 53‘ ft (16.2 m). The ISO standard width is 8’ ft (2.4 m). Height is not specified in the ISO standard but the most common heights are 8’ 6” (2.6 m) and 9’ 6” (2.9 m).

Container inspections

We conduct thorough CSC (Convention for Safe Containers) container surveys in the port or wherever your container is located. Performed by an IICL (Institute of International Container Lessors) Certified Inspector, a valid CSC inspection guarantees that your container is approved for freight transport. CSC certified units are fitted with a CSC Safety-Approval Plate on the date they are manufactured. The CSC-Plate contains vital information about the container, including its registration number, age, dimensions, weights, strength and maximum stacking capability. Additional inspections must occur regularly if the container is used to transport cargo.

Import clearances

Containers are a means of transport free of import duties under the temporary importation procedure when used for the commercial transport of goods. If a container temporarily lands as a means of transport but remains permanently in the community, for example because of sales, it must be released for free circulation. Customs must be admitted to the customs declaration of import immediately. In the event that a container is sold, it is required in the terms of the sale that the seller and the buyer agree on which party is responsible for the customs clearance. When containers are leased for purposes other than the means of transport, the container of the lessor is obligatory. Containers are duty-free on the basis of the customs tariff, but they are subject to the VAT (Value-Added Tax)

Source: Southerns Customs Circuit Customer Instructions 1/08 O.V. Lahtinen will declare containers which permanently stay in Finland.