Most shipping specialists are aware of the more common methods of cargo movement, including air freight forwarding and container shipping. However, what options do you have for oversized cargo? The answer to the question is break bulk shipping. The term comes from the much older phrase “breaking bulk” which means that you extract a part of the cargo and literally ‘break it apart from the rest’. Break bulk is defined as good or general cargo that does not use or fit in standard shipping containers.
Even though they sound rather similar, it is important to note that bulk shipping and break bulk are two different things. There are distinctive differences between break bulk shipping and bulk shipping. That is why these two terms cannot be used interchangeably. To inform you about the difference and the difference in how they operate we are going to tell you a bit more about the three major differences.
What is the difference between break bulk shipping and bulk shipping?
Difference in transport
Whereas bulk shipping refers to trades where you use dry cargo such as phosphate, coal, grain, and iron ore in loose form, that is not what break bulk offers. This means that the cargo in bulk shipping is not packed and directly loaded into the hole of the ship. Meanwhile, break bulk is transported in a unitized form such as drummed, bundled, crated, strapped, bagged, or palletised.
Size
Whereas you are going to need at least one large container with bulk shipping, people often choose break bulk shipping if they do not have enough items to opt for a large container, simply because it would not be economically feasible. If you are not moving enough cargo to fill an entire container (say you are moving consumer goods for a single store for example) you want to opt for break bulk shipping because you are not left to fill an entire container that is going to cost you too much.
On deck or not
If you are not sure whether a ship is functioning as a bulker or a break bulker, you should pay attention to whether the cargo is on deck. A bulker does not carry its cargo on its deck. That is because the unprotected cargo could suffer damage if left unprotected. This is not the case with a break bulk shipping option.
Advantage of engaging a break bulk service
All-in-one shipping
Oftentimes those larger shipments as previously are going to consist of numerous components. The smaller freight pieces that you can store in a container are not the only components that you will need to ship, you also need to move the heavy and oversized components. Ideally you want to make sure that all different parts of the shipment are going to go on the same vessel. This means that you do not need to split the freight for shipping. There are even shipping projects where this is mandatory. It might even be specified in a contract how you need to ship your cargo (or how you cannot ship your cargo for that matter. A break bulk carrier is going to be able to move all those pieces, both large and small, at once.
You can go anywhere
Where there have been tremendous advances throughout the world of shipping, break bulk shipping still has a tremendous benefit in areas where port development is not as modern as it could be. Because it requires minimal shore facilities, break bulk shipping works just about anywhere. You only need a wharf toe tie the ship into, a few workers to help with unloading, and a warehouse to store the cargo. Therefore, break-bulk cargo thrives in some areas of the world. Even the most minimally-developed port can accept goods that have been shipped in break bulk. Easily offload them onto smaller vessels for transport and you are good to go. This means that it can go to places where no other bulk transports, tankers, or ships can go.
Break bulk cargo handling procedure
The primary concept of break bulk is that goods are loaded individually, and not in bulk or intermodal containers. That is why cargo is often stored at warehouses before the ship arrives – even though it is possible for it to be delivered straight from a train or truck onto the ship. Either the dockside cranes or the ship’s gears are going to lift the cargo on board.
The actual loading and unloading will require a great deal of labour. That is because each item is individually lifted on board.
Break bulk warehouse
A break bulk warehouse is going to serve as the sole location where you can receive bulk shipments. This is where you can easily break them into smaller shipments if necessary. That means that you could easily opt for local delivery for different customers and offer smaller shipments instead of requiring them to go long distance.
M&P International Freights as your break bulk agent
If you need a professional freight forwarder who can help you make these changes, a company who has experience in break bulk and an extensive network of agencies and partners around the world, M&P International Freights will be able to assist you with it. As one of the leading freight forwarders in the world, you can be sure that M&P International Freights will help you take the right step forward when it comes to your freight and cargo.