Breakbulk Shipping: When a Part Cargo Can Be Better Than a Full Charter

For many breakbulk shipments, chartering an entire vessel is not always the most economical solution.

Cargo owners moving steel products, machinery, bagged cargo, timber, paper reels or industrial equipment may have parcels that are too large for containers but too small to justify a full vessel charter.

In such cases, a part-cargo solution can be commercially attractive.

A suitable multipurpose or general cargo vessel may already have other cargo booked on a compatible route. If the remaining space, deck capacity and port rotation allow it, another parcel can sometimes be added.

This can reduce the freight burden compared with fixing a vessel exclusively for one shipment.

However, part cargo requires more than simply finding spare space.

The broker must consider:

• cargo dimensions and weights;
• stowage requirements;
• whether the cargo is stackable;
• loading and discharging sequence;
• port rotation;
• laycan compatibility;
• vessel gear;
• deck and hold availability;
• lashing and securing requirements.

A vessel may have enough deadweight but still be unsuitable because the remaining space does not match the cargo geometry.

Timing is also important. A part cargo opportunity may disappear quickly if another parcel is fixed first or the vessel changes its rotation.

For cargo owners, the best approach is to provide complete cargo information early and allow the broker to compare both full-charter and part-cargo possibilities.

Kiev Shipping works with general cargo, multipurpose and breakbulk tonnage in international markets and can check whether a shipment is better suited to a full charter or a part-cargo solution.

For non-containerized cargo, the cheapest transport option is often determined by how well the cargo fits the vessel already moving in the required direction.

Learn more about ourbreakbulk cargo chartering services.