Breakbulk ocean shipping is a common method used to successfully transport cargo or goods that cannot fit in standard-size shipping containers or cargo bins. Instead, cargo is transported in bags, boxes, crates, drums, barrels, other handling equipment, or is simply rolled, lifted, or pushed onto a ship or barge.

Examples of common breakbulk goods include reels and rolls, steel girders, structural steel, heavy or oversized goods, manufacturing equipment, construction equipment and vehicles. Though the containerization method is one of the more popular shipping methods, breakbulk is noticing an influx of interested shippers with oversized items.

Here are the top four benefits of breakbulk shipping:

The ability to move oversized and overweight items that won’t fit in a container or cargo.

Reduction in time spent on deconstruction and reconstruction so that items are ready for dispatch.

Goods can enter smaller ports that typically would be unable to accommodate larger container ships or tankers.

Goods don’t have to be combined in a container; therefore, items can be shipped separately.