Steel, Breakbulk and Project Cargo Shipping
Steel, breakbulk and project cargo need ships with the right holds, decks and cranes. This guide shows how such cargo is chartered.
Cargoes in this group
Steel coils, plates, pipes and bars, breakbulk goods, machinery, and project cargo made of heavy or oversized pieces.
Which ships carry them
General cargo and multipurpose ships carry steel and breakbulk, often with their own cranes. For very heavy or large pieces see heavy lift vessels. Some steel trades also use bulk carriers.
How the charter is arranged
Usually a voyage charter for the whole shipment, with the freight per tonne or as a lump sum.
What to put in your request
The cargo, weight and dimensions of the pieces, whether you need ship's gear, the loading and discharging ports, and the laycan.
Steel products and the ships
Steel travels as coils, plates, sections, billets, wire rod and pipes. Heavy and bulky pieces go on general cargo ships and on Supramax and Handysize bulk carriers. Steel is sensitive to rain and seawater, so loading stops in the rain and the hatches are kept closed, and the cargo is covered and dunnaged to protect it from rust and from damage by the ship's own steel.
Project cargo
Project cargo is a set of large or heavy pieces for one plant or site, such as boilers, tanks, turbines and structures. It is planned piece by piece, with weights, dimensions and lifting points. See heavy lift ships and deck cargo ships.
Search ships for your cargo
Shipfixing connects charterers and ship operators. We scan for suitable ships. Voyage requests for ships below 10,000 DWT need no signup and no membership.
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