Break bulk cargo is small individual containers of items like coffee or rice stacked on pallets, causing mass breakage problems. Theft is also a concern, leading to the development of secure shipping containers. Many older ships are still in use but expected to fade as modern vessels using containers become more prevalent.
Break bulk refers to a type of cargo in small individual containers stored in a group on a cargo ship. These can be items such as sacks of coffee or rice, or small boxes stacked together in a ship’s hold or on deck. Break-bulk cargo ships have been sailing for hundreds of years. Even with modern storage facilities and equipment such as hydraulic hoists and forklifts, mass breakage problems continue. This is due to the nature of the cargo. It is usually stored on pallets, which must first be stacked or loaded by hand. As cargo moves from port to port and to different storage facilities, this process repeats itself many times.
Easy access to bulk cargo leads to theft of valuables such as electronic devices, machine parts and computers. Items like liquor, cigarettes, and jewelry are also vulnerable. Normally, the only people who have easy access to this type of cargo are those who work on ships or in storage facilities and act in the role of cargo steward. The incidence of goods missing from bulk cargo can cause legal conflicts between shippers, carriers, buyers and insurers.
In an effort to prevent losses in this type of shipment, the US military has begun looking into building secure shipping containers that prevent theft of goods. This led to the development of the large intermodal shipping containers used today in shipping and rail transport. Many break-bulk shipments are now being switched back and forth from break-bulk cargo to container cargo to reduce the amount of handling.
Many older ships around the world were specifically designed to carry bulk carriers. A large percentage of these types of merchant vessels still sail today. They are expected to one day fade from use, unable to compete with vessels of more modern design using containers capable of safely carrying any type of cargo. Some merchant carriers in poorer countries lack the resources to repair their ships or acquire more sophisticated cargo equipment. However, these older vessels are believed to necessarily remain in use for the foreseeable future.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
