Maritime Glossary
Breakbulk
Also known as: break-bulk, general cargo
Cargo individually packaged or unitised (bags, bales, drums, crates) and loaded piece by piece, rather than in containers or as bulk.
Status: ActiveVerified: Source confidence: high (94%)
Full Definition
Breakbulk cargo cannot be efficiently transported in standard containers and is handled as individual units. Examples include steel coils, project cargo (heavy machinery, wind turbine blades), timber, and bagged commodities. It requires specialised handling equipment, careful stowage planning, and additional lashing or dunnage. The term derives from the practice of 'breaking bulk' — opening the hold and beginning discharge.
Domain Tags
cargooperations