What is breakbulk and when does it apply?
Breakbulk (also: general cargo/breakbulk cargo) covers goods that, due to size/shape/weight, don’t fit a standard container and are handled and documented as individual units (e.g., crates, boxes, skids, machinery, steel). It’s a term from ocean freight, distinct from both containerized cargo and bulk cargo.
Typical breakbulk cargo
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Project cargo: turbines, transformers, wind components
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Steel: coils, plates, beams
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Forest & paper products, pulp
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Oversized vehicles and equipment (commonly routed via Rotterdam).
How it differs from bulk & container
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Bulk: homogeneous, unpacked; loaded/unloaded by pumping or conveyors.
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Breakbulk: heterogeneous, individually packed/secured; lift-on/lift-off piece by piece.
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Container: standardized units (TEU/FEU).
Why Rotterdam?
The Port of Rotterdam is one of Europe’s leading breakbulk hubs, with specialized terminals, cranes (incl. sheerlegs) and a dense ecosystem of service providers and shipping lines. Recent publications outline strong scenarios for breakbulk growth in Rotterdam.
Breakbulk ocean freight essentials
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Engineering & stowage: lifting plans, lashing & securing, dunnage.
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Terminal fit: heavy-lift capacity, storage, dwell control.
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Documentation & insurance: individual bill of lading, survey/condition reports.
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End-to-end logistics: pre/on-carriage (road, barge, rail) and permits for exceptional loads.
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Cost drivers: more labor-intensive than containers; driven by lifting hours, laytime, special gear.
Around the world,
with a personal approach
Whether you have a shipment going to Barcelona or airfreight destined for Beijing, we like to keep it personal. For you as a customer, that means contact with one employee who ensures your shipment is delivered to the right place at the right time – as agreed.
