What Is A Break Bulk Shipping Service?

Have you got a contract of exporting your unique machinery or items to another part of your state or country? Are you worried because the items are oversized? Well, a normal freight company cannot help you in this aspect. So what is the solution? To find out read below.

In order to export huge items, you need to opt for break bulk shipping. Break bulk shipping services in UK are not served by every freight company. It is a job of an advanced firm with lots of experience and skills in the field of logistics management. You need to find a shipping agent who offers the service effectively.

Now, what is break bulk shipping? A cargo is termed as a break bulk when it does not fit in standard shipping bins or containers. Do not mistake it for bulk shipping, which is quite different from the former. Bulk shipping means transporting of goods in a huge number. On the contrary, the break bulk cargo is transported individually on a crate, pallet or a skid. It is a traditional form of shipping having a long history with the first carrier being introduced from the nineteenth century in the year of 1852. The days from the history show that oversized cargo used to be exported via ships. With passage of time, the process has evolved to usage of carriers which are much efficient and safe. They are now loaded and unloaded independently with special care and equipment. The items which come under the break bulk categories include manufacturing machines, construction equipment, oversized vehicles, turbine blades, ship propellers, boats, engines, generators and the like.

The crew for the shipment are trained with special ship navigation skills, provided with high-tech equipment and  educated in all the other processes that are needed for the loading and unloading of the heavy goods. The potential hazardous materials are also counted as bulk cargo which need special staffs to understand the safety and handling rules and regulations. When it comes to the shipping, the carriers are categorised into two types. One is the Panamax vessels and the other, Capesize vessels. These vessels have large cranes and conveyor belts which make the loading and unloading process much easy and safe. If the goods are opaques, then they are shipped in a steel container, or if they are liquid based, then they are transported in cylinder shaped containers which are called drums. The drums are insulated to maintain the stability of the product.

It is useful to seek for a transport agency which specialises in break bulk shipping services and can export all your oversized goods with ease.