The term Break Bulk refers to a type of maritime transport of goods where goods are not transported in standard containers, but as loose cargo, usually in bulk or individually packaged units.

This method involves individual handling of each item, which makes it more suitable for large, bulky, or irregularly shaped goods. Flexibility in handling different types of cargo and the ability to adapt to specific needs are key features of Break Bulk transport.

When a company wishes to ship a product with these characteristics, it must choose the best type of ship for it and customize it by considering the volume and conditions of the cargo. There are freighters that can cope with Break Bulk commercial shipments, such as Ro-Ro vessels, or general cargo ships. For these freight forwarding operations, it is necessary to draw up a charter policy, which is defined as the contract that specifies the conditions of transport; and to indicate the laytime, which records the time needed to load and unload the goods.

In all Break Bulk maritime transport, it is necessary to take into account aspects such as delays caused by climatic factors, port congestion or logistical problems, as these are not standard goods. It is also necessary to consider other characteristics that include transport, storage, detentions, customs clearance and other details that may entail additional economic costs and operational complexities.

Although the list can be very broad, there are a number of products that are regularly shipped in this type of maritime transport:

• Heavy machinery: industrial equipment and large machinery that does not fit into standard containers.
• Construction materials: steel beams, columns, and other bulky components used in construction projects for a building or other infrastructure such as a bridge.
• Energy equipment and components: generators, turbines and other parts related to the clean and sustainable energy industry.
• Large, manufactured parts: large-scale products such as aircraft parts, vehicles, and factory components.
• Bulky raw materials: large materials such as long wooden logs, iron, or plastic pipes, as well as bulky metal parts.
• Special products: items that require careful handling such as large sculptural pieces that cannot be divided up.
• Oversized vehicles: trucks, agricultural machinery and other vehicles that are not suitable for container transport.

Contracting an effective Break Bulk service

At Logisber we have a team of professionals specializing in Break Bulk located at our head office in Bilbao. From there, we offer specialized solutions for the maritime transport of goods that require individualized handling, guaranteeing efficiency and personalized attention to the specific loading needs of each client.

If you need to make a large volume maritime transport shipment and you need a Break Bulk service, contact Logisber now, and we will tell you the steps to follow so that your freight forwarding operation is a complete success.