· Category: Breakbulk & Project Cargo
Project Cargo: Why Vessel Search Should Start Before the Cargo Is Ready
Why project cargo vessel search should begin before the cargo is ready, and how early planning improves vessel choice and freight negotiations.
Project cargo is often planned around manufacturing schedules, site completion dates and delivery deadlines.
Vessel search sometimes starts only when the cargo is almost ready.
That can limit the available options.
Heavy and oversized cargo requires vessels with specific characteristics: suitable crane capacity, deck strength, hold dimensions, tween-deck clearance and sufficient space for the required stowage arrangement.
The number of suitable vessels may therefore be much smaller than for conventional cargo.
Starting the vessel search earlier gives cargo owners several advantages.
It allows time to compare different vessel types and loading methods. It also gives the broker more opportunity to identify tonnage already moving towards the loading area.
Early planning can also reveal potential problems before they become expensive.
These may include:
- insufficient crane outreach;
- port draft limitations;
- unsuitable berth facilities;
- excessive unit height;
- deck loading restrictions;
- limited heavy-lift availability;
- unrealistic loading dates.
None of this means that a vessel must be fixed months in advance.
The purpose of an early market check is to understand what tonnage is likely to be available, what technical restrictions exist and what freight level the cargo owner should expect.
As the shipment approaches readiness, the search can then become more focused.
Kiev Shipping assists cargo owners with vessel selection, freight indications and negotiations for oversized, heavy-lift and non-containerized cargoes.
For complex shipments, early vessel planning can be as important as the final freight negotiation.