Cargo & Shipping

If you are interested in shipping materials that want bulk cargo and shipping, chances are your items will be best transported by sea with a bulk carrier. Sea transport for bulk cargo is the most economical type of international transport. Items that are usually shipped as bulk cargo include sand, grain, coal, ore, fertilizer, metal concentrates, forest products, food items and gravel.

Bulkcargo and shipping has a long history with the first bulk carrier introduced in the nineteenth century. As informed by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the first bulk carrier was introduced in 1852 and called the John Bowes. Over time break bulk cargo shipping has advanced and 21st century carriers are created to be increasingly efficient and safe.

There is a lot involved in shipping break bulk cargo by sea. The crew on board a sea freight ship is trained in ship navigation, equipment upkeep, and all of that is involved in loading and unloading the bulk cargo. Bulk cargo may also include potentially hazardous materials which require staff to understand safe handling processes and rules.

When it comes to the different kinds of ships that transport bulk cargo, carriers are often illustrious by size. For example, these comprise the Panamax ships and the Capsize vessels. Panamax ships caught their name since they are containers created in order to fit in the locks at the Panama Canal. Major Facelifts and updates at the Panama Canal will enable passage for even bigger vessels. Larger vessels need deeper water at the ports. This accommodation is not always obtainable depending on port location.

Bulk carriers classically use special equipment to load and unload the cargo. Large cranes and conveyor belts help make the procedure more efficient and safer. Breakbulk cargo is sometimes identified as major or minor bulk. Most of the cargo is careful major bulk which includes things like grain, coal and ore. Items comprising the minor bulk category include agricultural materials, cement, and minerals.

Breakbulk cargo may be shipped in a variation of different ways. Sometimes an intermediate bulk container or IBC is used to ship certain items with liquids. These kinds of containers are sometimes made out of steel and other times are created from plastic. A skid box, bulkbox or a pallet box is also used for bulk shipping. If you are interested in transporting liquids, cylinder shaped shipping containers sometimes called drums are often used. Certain kinds of materials require insulated containers to maintained product stability.