Not every cargo fits neatly into a container. Break bulk refers to goods loaded and stowed individually—on pallets, in crates, or as single pieces—rather than in intermodal containers.

Heavy machinery, steel products, project cargo, and oversized equipment commonly move this way. Stevedores use cranes, forklifts, and specialized lifting gear to place each unit into the hold or onto the deck. Loading and discharge take longer than container operations and expose cargo to more handling risk.

Ports that specialize in break bulk maintain multipurpose terminals with heavy-lift capacity. Freight rates reflect the extra labor and the lower utilization of vessel space. For items that simply cannot be containerized, break bulk remains the practical solution.

• Cargo handled as individual units, not in containers
• Common for oversized or heavy project pieces
• Requires more manual handling and time
• Served by multipurpose port terminals