Container & Breakbulk
For Glorious, the size is not important. We can load, unload and transport what customer demands, any size, any type.
In international ocean freight shipping, there are two options for cargo transportation: containers or breakbulk. The difference between both options is simply that break bulk refers to individual or loose materials that are loaded, shipped and unloaded from the ship, and containers refers to a storage unit where all of the materials stay.
Break bulk was the most common form of cargo for most of history. Since the late 1960s, break bulk cargo has declined while containerized cargo has grown significantly. Moving containers on and off a ship is much more efficient than having to move individual goods. This efficiency allows ships to minimize time in ports and spend more time on the sea. Break bulk cargo is also more susceptible to loss, theft and damage.
A SHIPPING CONTAINER FOR EVERY PURPOSE
GENERAL PURPOSE CONTAINERS
A general purpose container is also known as a "dry container". These shipping containers are fully enclosed, protected from the elements and weather proof, with a rigid roof, side walls and floor. Dry containers are by far the most common type of container, and as such are used to load most types of normal cargo. In addition, general purpose containers can have adaptations such as liner bags or flexi-tanks for shipping certain types of liquid bulk cargo or dry bulk cargo.
FLAT RACK CONTAINERS
This simple storage container has collapsible sides that can be folded to make a flat rack. The end walls are stable enough to allow cargo securing, so they are ideal for shipping goods that are oversized, such as heavy machinery, vehicles on tracks, big reels and construction materials. Some 40' flat rack shipping containers are suitable to carry as much as 45 metric tons of cargo!
OPEN TOP CONTAINERS
An open top shipping container has a convertible top that can be completely removed. This is suitable for cargo that is over-height and cannot be easily loaded through the door, such as tall machinery or other heavy / bulky finished products whose handling and loading can only be performed with a crane or rolling bridge. Open top containers have lashing rings installed to the upper and lower side rails and corner posts to secure cargo, and are available in 20’ and 40’.
DOUBLE DOOR CONTAINERS
With doors on both ends of the shipping container, this container type is also known as a "tunnel container". Double door containers are extremely helpful for quickly loading and unloading goods, and they make an even wider room for goods such as steel and iron. Both sets of doors have the same locking assembling and weather tight seals to keep cargo protected from the elements.
HIGH CUBE CONTAINERS
High cube shipping containers are similar in structure to general purpose containers, but taller by about 1 foot. These containers come in sizes 40' and sometimes 45', and are used in cases where a slightly bigger volume capacity is required. Most high cube containers have a recess in the floor at the front end to center the container on so-called gooseneck chassis, which allows it to lie lower and be of taller construction.
OPEN SIDE CONTAINERS
Open side containers are very similar to regular, general purpose shipping containers, the only difference being that the doors can open completely on the side too. This feature provides much wider room and access, which makes loading and unloading materials easy. Open side shipping containers generally come in 20' and 40', and they provide adequate room for extra large items that can't fit through the regular doors.
ISO REEFER CONTAINERS
An ISO shipping container is used for the shipment of temperature sensitive, perishable cargo such as meats, fruits and vegetables. This container type relies on external power to keep the temperature regulated. Reefers generally come in 20’ and 40, and are commonly made from a weathering steel known as 'Cor-ten' steel.
INSULATED CONTAINERS
Like the ISO Reefer container, an insulated or thermal container has a regulated temperature control that allows them to withstand a higher temperature. They are equipped with an electrical compliance (mechanical compressor) to cool or heat the air within the container. Insulated containers are typically constructed of a vacuum flask, similar to a "thermos" bottle. As such, they are most suitable for long distance transportation of products such as foods, pharmaceuticals, organs, blood, biological materials and chemicals.
HALF-HEIGHT CONTAINERS
Half-height shipping containers are designed for transporting bulk cargo that is heavy and dense. These are good for transporting goods such as coal and stones, so they are perfect for use in the mining industry. Half height containers have a low center of gravity so they can better handle heavier loads than taller containers, making them versatile and they're robust enough to withstand the rough industrial environment. Half-height containers are also easy for loading and unloading.
TANK CONTAINERS
Tank containers, or tankers, are made of strong steel or other anti-corrosive materials for the transportation and long-life protection of liquid materials. A tank container must be at least 80% full to prevent dangerous surging of liquids in transit, but it must also not be over 95% full or there would not be sufficient room for thermal expansion.
SWAP BODY CONTAINERS
Swap bodies are exchangeable containers used for road and rail. They are commonly used in Europe. Swap bodies have a convertible top, which makes them suitable for shipping a range of goods. Because swap bodies do not have upper corner fittings and are not stackable, they are restricted to land-based transportation only.
WHAT IS BREAK BULK SHIPPING?
The term break bulk comes from the older phrase “breaking bulk” which is the extraction of a portion of the cargo on a ship, or the beginning of the unloading process from the ship’s holds. In modern context, break bulk is meant to encompass cargo that is transported in bags, boxes, crates, drums, or barrels – or items of extreme length or size. To be considered break bulk, these goods must be loaded individually, not in intermodal containers nor in bulk as with liquids or grains.
The biggest challenge when shipping break bulk cargo is that it requires more resources and coordination – longshoremen, loading and unloading cranes, warehouses, specialized ships, transport vehicles, etc. That’s why working with the Glorious Company as an experienced and capable break bulk logistics company can make all of the difference in the world. We’ve shipped every sort of break bulk cargo imaginable: locomotives, airplane components, tugboats, pipes, tanks, transformers windmills, and so much more! Some people call this type of cargo “the big, the bad, and the ugly” … but that’s exactly the type of logistics project we love to handle!
Examples of commonly shipped break bulk cargo commodities include:
- Bagged or sacked cargo
- Bailed goods
- Barrels, drums, and casks
- Corrugated and wooden boxes or containers
- Reels and rolls
- Equipment, vehicles and components
- Steel girders and structural steel
- Any long, heavy or over-sized goods