Break Bulk Cargo Shipping provides engineered ocean transportation and terminal handling for heavy, oversized, and non-containerized industrial equipment. Designed for EPC (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction) contractors, global machinery manufacturers, and energy firms, our service manages the entire logistics chain for cargo that exceeds the dimensions or weight limits of standard 20ft/40ft dry containers (exceeding 2.6m width, 2.5m height, or 26 metric tons per unit).

Operations are executed utilizing Multi-Purpose Vessels (MPP) and Tween-deck vessels equipped with heavy-lift shipboard gear. All stowage, lashing, and cargo securing procedures comply with the IMO CSS Code (Code of Safe Practice for Cargo Stowage and Securing) and relevant BIMCO standard charter party agreements (e.g., Heavycon).

Key Service Features

Heavy-Lift Vessel Capacity: Access to chartered MPP and Tween-deck vessels featuring shipboard twin cranes with a combined Safe Working Load (SWL) up to 800 metric tons.

In-House Stowage Engineering: Master mariners and naval architects generate engineered stowage plans, weight distribution reports, and center-of-gravity (CoG) verifications prior to vessel nomination.

Terminal & Stevedoring Supervision: Certified cargo superintendents oversee all hook operations, lashing applications, and weather-deck/hold stowage at both origin and destination ports.

Regulatory & Port Clearance Management: Full coordination of export/import customs entries, port authority permits, and oversized inland transport interfaces.

Product-Specific Specifications

Vessel Crane Capacity: Single shipboard cranes rated from 50T to 400T SWL, combinable up to 800T SWL for tandem lifts.

Cargo Hold Configuration: Box-shaped, unobstructed holds with wide hatch cover openings to accommodate extra-long structural profiles.

Deck Load Bearings: Reinforced weather decks and tank top structures engineered for high concentrated point loads.

Target Cargo Categories:

Renewable Energy: Wind turbine blades (up to 90m+), nacelles, tubular towers, and offshore foundation monopiles.

Oil, Gas & Power: Heavy-duty electrical transformers, pressure vessels, distillation columns, and modular process skids.

Infrastructure & Heavy Industry: Tunnel Boring Machines (TBM), mining excavators, port cranes, and railway locomotives.

Shipping Process

Technical Feasibility & Pre-Shipment Survey: Evaluation of engineering drawings, unit dimensions, gross weight, and designated lifting points against route and vessel constraints.

Stowage Planning & MWS Approval: Generation of 2D/3D cargo stowage arrangements and lashing calculations submitted for approval by Marine Warranty Surveyors (MWS).

Inland Transport & Port Delivery: Coordination of multi-axle modular trailers (SPMTs) or specialized heavy haulage matching port gate schedules and tidal windows.

Stevedoring & Loading Execution: Controlled lifting and placement into the vessel hold or weather deck under direct supervision of certified cargo surveyors.

Marine Lashing & Securing: Application of certified wire ropes, chains, turnbuckles, and timber dunnage executed strictly in accordance with the vessel's Cargo Securing Manual (CSM).

Ocean Transit & Weather Routing: Real-time vessel position reporting and meteorological tracking to monitor sea states along the approved voyage track.

Discharge & Handover: Safe offloading at the destination terminal and direct transfer to receiving inland carriers.

Cargo Requirements & Preparation

To ensure safe lifting and transport compliance, cargo must fulfill specific technical standards:

Lifting & Trunnion Points: Equipment must feature engineered, load-tested lifting lugs, trunnions, or designated sling-placement points certified by a recognized classification society (e.g., DNV, Lloyd's Register).

Center of Gravity (CoG): Precise CoG coordinates and weight distribution documentation must be provided. Unbalanced units require engineered spreader bars or balancing ballast.

Surface Protection: Weather-sensitive machinery components must be sealed with corrosion-inhibiting barriers, desiccants, or heavy-duty protective wrapping suitable for marine environments.

Mandatory Documentation: Commercial Invoice, Packing List specifying exact dimensions and gross weight per unit, Material Safety Data Sheets (if applicable), and Certificate of Origin.

Shipping Routes & Transit Time

Primary Corridors

Asia (China, South Korea, Japan) to Europe (Antwerp, Rotterdam, Hamburg).
Asia to Middle East (Jebel Ali, Dammam) and North America (Houston, Savannah).
Intra-Asia and Oceania industrial project routes.

Transit Estimates

Dependent on direct vs. inducement routing. Standard liner break bulk transit from Asia to Northern Europe ranges from 30 to 45 days, subject to weather conditions and canal schedules.

Inducement Port Calls

Direct calls at non-standard industrial terminals can be scheduled based on minimum cargo volume thresholds and local draft clearances.

Shipping Costs & Required Information

Freight rates are calculated on a Weight/Measurement (W/M) basis, FAS/FO terms, or full Voyage Charter fixtures, incorporating heavy-lift surcharges, bunker adjustment factors (BAF), and specific terminal handling tariffs.

Required Information for Quotation Submission:

Technical drawing or datasheet with exact overall dimensions (Length x Width x Height in meters).
Exact gross weight per individual piece and total volume (CBM).
Center of Gravity (CoG) coordinates and lifting diagram.
Exact load and discharge port names (including designated terminal facilities if predetermined).
Required delivery window or project site installation milestones.
Special stowage constraints (e.g., mandatory under-deck storage requirements or specific MWS stipulations).

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What defines cargo as break bulk rather than containerized or OOG flat rack?

A: Cargo is classified as break bulk when physical dimensions or gross weight exceed standard container limits (typically > 26 tons per unit) or OOG flat rack clearance envelopes, requiring direct independent stowage in a vessel hold or weather deck.

Q: How is under-deck stowage secured for weather-sensitive equipment?

A: Under-deck storage can be explicitly mandated within the fixture note (Charter Party contract), provided cargo dimensions fall within the specific clear opening and height parameters of the vessel hold.

Q: Do you coordinate Marine Warranty Survey (MWS) inspections?

A: Yes. We coordinate directly with independent MWS surveyors appointed by project underwriters to review and approve lifting, stowage, and lashing plans prior to departure.

Q: How are port congestion delays and demurrage managed?

A: Charter contracts incorporate clearly defined laytime allowances, demurrage/dispatch rates, and Notice of Readiness (NOR) provisions to establish clear operational boundaries during port delays.

Request a Quote

Submit your project technical data sheet and cargo specifications to our project logistics desk. Our marine operations team evaluates engineering parameters and provides a formal quotation within 24-48 hours.
Direct RFQ Upload: [Link to Secure RFQ Form / File Upload Portal]

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