Individual pieces of freight loaded separately onto a vessel instead of being poured in bulk or packed into standard intermodal containers. This includes pallets, bales, drums, and oversized machinery. While mostly replaced by containerization, specialized breakbulk vessels still handle this freight for ports lacking container infrastructure or for items too large to fit in standard boxes.
Heard on the job
We've three thousand tons of general cargo scheduled for hold number two, mostly palletized steel parts and bagged cement.
Insider tip
Shippers often use the term breakbulk interchangeably with general cargo, though breakbulk specifically refers to the loading method.
Also heard as
- breakbulk cargo