Types of cargo shipped via sea freight

The types of cargo shipped via sea freight today have evolved from hundreds of years of trade. Sea freight has been the predominant global trade mode since ancient times. It has remained the principal mode for long-haul cargo transport because it is the most economical when it comes to cost per volume. There are four major types of sea freight cargo:

• Containerised goods
• Dry and liquid bulk
• Breakbulk and oversized
• Roll on roll off and project

Types of cargo shipped via sea freight

Containerised cargo transformed the shipping world

Containerised cargo is cargo being shipped in a standardised container. This standardisation allows for transportation of these containers by ship, rail and truck. Shipping containers are made of metal and most enclose the cargo, protecting the contents from weather and theft.

The majority of containerised cargo shipped are packaged dry goods that can be handled by workers or machines that load and unload into these containers. Specialised containers can be used to ship foods by keeping the contents refrigerated.

Read up on how shipping containerisation truly revolutionised the world and its economy.

Containerised or general cargo examples

Dry and liquid bulk as a type of cargo

Bulk cargo is a term for commodities that are shipped loosely and unpackaged. The cargo is easily secured on a ship and not shipped in containers or packages.

Liquid bulk cargoes are a critical part of the global economy

Liquid bulk cargo includes commodities shipped in closed tanks and pumped or poured into a cargo ship. They are critical for the energy, chemicals, food and beverage industries.

Bulk liquids that are not dangerous to transport by tankers include agri-food commodities such as:

• Milk and wine
• Edible oils
• Fruit juices

Several classes of bulk liquids are dangerous and capable of causing enormous damage if spilled to the environment, or catch fire to burn or explode. The associated warehouse facilities and depots for these commodities are made to comply with extensive legislative requirements to maximise environmental and industrial safety, and prevent fire and disaster.

Large tankers carry commodities to refineries for processing. These include:

• Crude oil
• Petroleum and diesel
• Liquefied natural gas

Specialised chemical tankers transport industrial commodities such as:

• Solvents
• Acids
• Liquid fertilisers

Ships that carry dangerous bulk liquids are constantly and carefully monitored and inspected to ensure they remain safe.

Dry bulk cargo is the largest volume of cargo shipped globally

Dry bulk cargo generally consists of raw or processed materials to be used in major industrial production or manufacturing processes. They include commodities such as:

• Cement, coal and ores
• Chemical powders
• Salt and sugar

Raw materials include commodities like hematite and anthracite. Processed materials include such items as fertilisers, refined ore and building supplies.

Some dry bulk cargoes are hazardous. Ores such as zinc-nickel concentrate can liquefy, causing unexpected instability in a cargo ship. This can result in it being damaged or sunk. Some compounds can self-combust and cause fire or explosions, damaging the ship or the port.

Liquid and dry bulk cargo examples

Break bulk and oversized are specialised forms of cargo

Break bulk cargo, also called general cargo, are goods not being shipped using standardised containers or bulk tanks. The term break-bulk comes from the way the cargo is unloaded from the ship piecemeal. They are goods stowed on the cargo ship individually, and contained in:

• Bags and bales
• Crates and palettes
• Drums and casks

A major disadvantage with break bulk cargo is that it requires more resources and space when being loaded and unloaded. More time is required for loading cranes and longshoremen to move the goods. Transport vehicles need to wait longer and warehouses require more space.

Oversized or over-dimensional cargo are large items that cannot be shipped using standardised containers and include items such as:

• Construction equipment
• Farm or industrial machinery
• Boats and yachts

They are often broken down into smaller parts and housed in customs frames to ensure they are not damaged during transport.

Break bulk and oversized cargo examples

Roll on/roll off and project types of cargo

Roll-on/roll-off cargoes are wheeled vehicles that are driven on and off a specialised cargo ship using their own wheels or carried on a platform truck. They include vehicles such as:

• Cars and motorcycles
• Trucks and trailers
• Buses and railroad cars

Project cargo is generally a large industrial plant needing to be transported overseas. It is often broken into several major parts and reassembled at the destination. This type of cargo includes:

• Boilers and heavy pipes
• Power plants and wind turbines
• Heavy industrial machinery

Project cargo is generally extremely valuable and vulnerable to large financial claims. Delay or damage while being transported may delay the entire project. This can result in complex and large claims for loss of earnings or delay in use.

Roll on/roll and project cargo examples

Do you need help using sea freight for your type of cargo?

If you are looking for a freight forwarder to help you with your types of cargo that need to be shipped using sea freight, contact Freight Forwarder Quote Online Australia. Our Australian sea freight service is competitive and we have extensive experience putting together the most cost-effective solution for your situation. Try our online instant sea freight quote tool and get free and unlimited quotes.

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