Shipping Steel Products from Asia by Breakbulk Vessel

Steel coils, plates, pipes, beams and fabricated structures are frequently shipped from Asian ports as breakbulk cargo. Although these products may travel on the same vessel, they do not create the same stowage, handling or securing requirements.

A workable chartering enquiry must therefore describe the cargo by individual type, quantity, dimensions and weight rather than simply stating “steel products”.

Cargo details determine the vessel

Steel coils concentrate considerable weight over a relatively small area. Plates and long steel structures require sufficient unobstructed stowage space. Pipes may be bundled or shipped as individual units, while fabricated structures can have irregular shapes and lifting points.

Before approaching vessel owners, the cargo interest should provide:

• a complete packing list;
• dimensions and gross weight of each unit;
• total quantity and measurement;
• photographs or technical drawings;
• lifting points and lifting instructions;
• details of bundles, skids, saddles or cradles;
• stacking and overstow limitations.

This information helps determine whether the cargo can be loaded through the vessel’s hatch openings, safely positioned in the holds and handled within the available crane capacity and outreach.

Stowage and securing

Freight depends partly on how efficiently the cargo uses the vessel’s available space. Long units, irregular structures and non-stackable packages may occupy more hold capacity than their total volume initially suggests.

Steel cargo also requires an appropriate stowage and securing arrangement. The vessel and cargo interests must agree responsibility for dunnage, chocking, lashing materials and securing work. The requirements depend on the cargo form, vessel design and intended voyage.

Coils, plates and fabricated structures should not be treated as interchangeable cargoes. A vessel suitable for bundled pipes may not provide the best arrangement for heavy coils or long structures.

Port and crane restrictions

The loading and discharging ports must be checked before the vessel is fixed. Important information includes permissible draft, berth dimensions, shore-crane availability, maximum lifting capacity and any restrictions on using shipboard cranes.

Where shore equipment is unavailable, a geared multipurpose or general cargo vessel may be required. Crane capacity should be assessed at the working radius needed for the actual loading operation, not only by reference to the crane’s headline capacity.

Loading and discharge rates should reflect the cargo mix and handling method. Unrealistic rates can result in insufficient laytime and substantial demurrage exposure.

What to include in the enquiry

A steel cargo enquiry should state the exact loading and discharge ports, laycan, cargo readiness, loading and discharge terms, required vessel gear and the party responsible for securing materials and operations.

Complete cargo information allows unsuitable vessels to be excluded before negotiations begin and enables owners to calculate freight on a more dependable basis.

Kiev Shipping Ltd providesbreakbulk cargo chartering from Asian ports for steel products, machinery and other non-containerised cargoes moving from China, South Korea, Japan, India and other Asian markets.

Cargo owners cansend the packing list and shipment details for an initial vessel search and freight indication.