Breakbulk and Project Cargo from China

Where a unit is too tall, too wide or too heavy for a container, and too large for a RoRo ramp, it moves as breakbulk: lifted by crane or rolled onto a general cargo vessel and lashed to the deck or stowed in the hold.

Out-of-gaugeMining trucks · excavators · cranesLashing plan required

Stowage

Stowage Operations

A mining dump truck being lifted by crane during a breakbulk operation — Out-of-gauge cargo goes by crane. The lift plan and the lashing are agreed with the vessel before the unit moves.

Dump trucks stowed in tiers inside a vessel hold — Stowed tier by tier on timber sleepers, deck by deck.

Excavators lashed with lashing straps inside a vessel hold — Every unit is lashed to the vessel structure before the passage.

Mixed breakbulk stow with vehicles above and steel below — Cargo is planned tier by tier: heavy steel low, units above.

Cargo

Typical Breakbulk Cargo

Mining dump trucks and articulated haulers
Excavators, bulldozers, wheel loaders, graders
Mobile cranes and drilling rigs
Oversize or articulated buses
Boats, yachts and heavy industrial skids
Steel structures and plant modules

What we need from you to quote

Length, width, height in transport position
Gross weight and, for machines, the axle loads
Centre of gravity and lifting points if known
Photographs from all four sides
Whether the unit rolls under its own power
Origin address and destination port

Method

Loading and Securing Methods

Method	Used when	Requirement
Crane lift on/off (Lo-Lo)	Unit is too tall or heavy for a ramp	Crane capacity at both load and discharge port
Roll-on by ramp	Self-propelled machinery on a suitable ramp	Ramp angle and deck strength must suit the axle load
Skidding or SPMT	Very heavy modules at specialised terminals	Terminal engineering approval, booked in advance
On flat rack then lifted	Unit fits a rack and the ship can lift it	Flat rack lashing plan, rack positioning fee

Lashing and securing on breakbulk is done by the terminal stevedores to the vessel standard and is charged separately from freight. It is not optional and it is not negotiable — a poorly lashed unit does not sail.

Basis

Freight Calculation: Revenue Ton Basis

Breakbulk freight is quoted on a revenue ton basis: the greater of the weight in tonnes and the measurement in cubic metres. Heavy machinery bills on weight; large but light cargo bills on volume.

Component	What it covers	Billed by
Ocean freight	Carriage on the vessel	Revenue ton or lump sum
Lashing and securing	Timber, wire, welding to deck, stevedore labour	Per unit or per revenue ton
Terminal handling	Receiving, storage before loading, crane hire	Per unit or per ton
Documentation	Bill of lading, manifest, certificates	Per shipment
Port and agency fees	Agency, port dues, tug and pilot where applicable	Per shipment

The figure that matters is the total door-to-ship cost, not the freight rate alone. We quote all components separately so you can see what you are paying for.

Risk

Pre-Shipment Survey and Condition Record

Pre-loading survey with photographs from all sides
Existing damage recorded and countersigned by the terminal
Lashing inspected before the hatch is closed or the ship sails
Discharge survey available on request at destination

Send dimensions, weight and photographs for a Breakbulk Quotation

Breakbulk is quoted per shipment. There is no rate card that survives contact with a real machine.

Request a Quote

Questions we get asked often

What counts as out-of-gauge?

Any unit that exceeds the internal dimensions of the container it would otherwise travel in, or that exceeds the vessel deck or ramp limits. In practice: most mining trucks, large excavators and anything over about 2.7 m high.

Can a mining dump truck travel in a container?

Rarely. They exceed container height and often width. Some can travel dismantled on flat racks — cab, body and chassis separated — but reassembly at destination is a real cost that must be weighed against breakbulk.

Why is lashing quoted separately?

Because it is done by the terminal, priced by the work involved, and varies with the unit. Carriers will not accept a vessel sailing with unsecured heavy cargo.

Do you handle the export declaration for project cargo?

Yes, for shipments we book. Classification of used machinery and vehicles has its own requirements; we handle it and tell you what documentation the commodity needs.

How far ahead should I book?

Earlier than a container booking. Breakbulk space and crane slots are limited and the terminal needs the lashing plan in advance. Ask us as soon as the sale is agreed.