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Difference between bulk and break bulk

Posted by Hariesh Manaadiar

Bulk and Break bulk are two terms that are being used incorrectly and
interchangeably during the course of day to day business..

These terms cannot be used interchangeably because there are distinctive

differences between Bulk and Break Bulk in terms of cargo, nature, size, capacity,
handling, trade, customers, ports, terminals, equipment,
infrastructure…………………………………..

I have designed below infographic to visually demonstrate the differences between

the definition of Bulk and Break Bulk, differences in their operations, how the
handling differs in both and differences in ships for both of these two cargo types..
Do you have any other points that you would like to share

regarding the difference between Bulk and Break Bulk..??

Please comment if you do have..

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13 August, 2015  69 Replies

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Muaz on 25 April, 2019 at 13:03

Hi,which vessel type is suitable to transport live animals

 Reply

Hariesh Manaadiar on 25 April, 2019 at 15:47

Hi, there are specialised live stock carriers for live animals..

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Oran David on 11 March, 2019 at 15:36

Great article, Explains the difference very clearly. Thank you for sharing this!

 Reply

kalhor on 1 February, 2019 at 16:20

kindly please explain to me charter party contract and fixture note. thanks

 Reply

Grace on 26 October, 2018 at 12:26

Very well clarified, thank you

 Reply

Arvind on 6 August, 2018 at 10:53

You made it so simple Hariesh. You are a wonderful teacher. Well done!

 Reply
 Hariesh Manaadiar on 6 August, 2018 at 20:58

Thank you Arvind..

AifoU on 28 February, 2018 at 11:01

Where can one find international regulations governing the carriage

requirements of break bulk cargo?

 Reply

Hariesh Manaadiar on 28 February, 2018 at 21:22

Hi Aifou, although not specific just to Break Bulk, you may find this link
useful.. http://www.imo.org/en/OurWork/Safety/Cargoes
/CargoesInBulk/Pages/default.aspx

Jarle on 21 February, 2018 at 13:40

Good afternoon
I’am writing a book about ” cargo handling on ship ” it is for the maritime
Scholl in norway . Wondering if I can use the Picture (sketch) of a break bulk
cargo ship in the book?

 Reply

Hariesh Manaadiar on 21 February, 2018 at 16:06

Hi Jarle, that is no problem, pls do add a link back to my blog.. Thanks

and good luck with your book..

siva on 27 December, 2017 at 06:04

Excellent explanation…Appreciated…Very informative. Thanks

 Reply

Wilma A. Bautista on 7 August, 2017 at 03:32

Dear Sir,

Thank you so much and glad this article explained very well about breakbulk
and bulk cargo.
 I have an inquiry about transporting of sand. And this is called bulk cargo.
Can you help me who is right person or company to inquire about this cargo.
I look forward to your kind assistance.

Thank you.

 Reply

ROSHAN on 2 August, 2017 at 13:01

hey whata explain…. just amazing. thanks a lot

 Reply

Hariesh Manaadiar on 3 August, 2017 at 07:49

Thanks Roshan.. Glad you liked it..

Christopher Pitch on 10 May, 2017 at 10:07

Hi Hariesh – concerning the bulker sizes, I’ve always considered Handies to

be up to 35,000 dwt with handymaxes up to abt 50,000 dwt and supramaxes
above that. I know that handymaxes were out of favour for a long time due to
the bigger is better for fuel efficiency theory howevr they do seem to be
making a comeback

 Reply

Hariesh Manaadiar on 10 May, 2017 at 13:41

Hi Christopher, there is always scope for the different size vsls at

different ports.. In my opinion, Handys will never go out of favour as
there are still a lot of small ports around the world where these vsls are
needed and also many short sea trades..

Nghede Kati on 6 May, 2017 at 12:29

Somebody…..Anybody help,please.What can I do so that I can be able to

read the info in this article.It is just blurred.I need this data badly.

 Reply

Hariesh Manaadiar on 7 May, 2017 at 20:52

 Hi Nghede, sorry about that, not sure what happened or why it is
blurred.. I have rectified the issue, please check..

Nghede Kati on 6 May, 2017 at 12:22

The article is blurred,I can’t read anything.It looks like just the info I need for
my assignment.I have created an account & signed in,but still can’t read
anything.

 Reply

Pratik on 22 November, 2016 at 07:03

lucid explaination

 Reply

Edgardo Solla on 27 October, 2016 at 15:15

Very clear for me ! many thanks !

 Reply

LInda Gordon on 15 September, 2016 at 23:35

Thank you, very imformative.

 Reply

Maeva OBONE on 27 July, 2016 at 02:03

thank you for finally making me understand the difference between these two
terms, the way you designed it is clear like water for me…thanks a lot keep it
up and GOD bless you

 Reply

Hariesh Manaadiar on 27 July, 2016 at 07:47

Glad that it helped Maeva.. Pls do share this blog with your peers..

Peter Burns on 22 July, 2016 at 06:49

Excellent Graphics and explanations….I’m brushing up on terminologies etc

etc…haven’t been in the dry bulk cargo business for quite a few years but
hopefully that’s about to change
 Your site has helped tremendously….and so do the blogs/questions from
others in general. Overall a very useful site…well done &
Thank you again
Peter Burns

 Reply

Hariesh Manaadiar on 22 July, 2016 at 08:37

Thank you for your kind words Peter.. Please do also share the info
with your peers..

Louis Grobler on 2 June, 2016 at 14:24

Very nice summary to give a basic idea to some of my staff to understand the
difference. Good job! It is for basics, thus understandably there is a lot of ifs
and buts, but it is certainly an excellent starting point to get the basics right.

 Reply

David ROSE on 17 February, 2016 at 12:32

good day everyone,

could you please tell me in which right bulk section my following example
could be : a vehicle or any item carried on a bedflat ?(yacht shipped on
6x40flat for example).
is it unitized cargo or neo bulk cargo.
i think in my company i work, the term is not appropriate (we call it breakbulk
cargo)
and for information, can we call a Flat equipment, a Container.
if we look a cargo on a flat, it does not really contain the cargo, since this
cargo dimension may be outside the equipment
thank you

 Reply

Hariesh Manaadiar on 17 February, 2016 at 19:47

Hello David, a container comes in many size/types.. Platform or

Collapsible Flat Rack is one such type.. Cargoes that don’t fit in a
standard container maybe loaded on a Flat Rack.. That cargo is then
identified as an Out of Gauge cargo or Over Dimensional Cargo
depending on which side of the Equator you come from.. But it will still
be classified as a container shipment.. The freight for such cargoes
maybe charged per container + the additional Out of Gauge charges for
 lost slots..

However, there are cases where break bulk cargo maybe loaded on a
container vsl but on top of several flat rack containers and then lashed
on board.. Such cargo may be charged as lumpsum instead of per
container..

Trust this clarifies..

Tienie on 10 January, 2016 at 18:28

I am just so happy to find out this blog. Thank you very much, it is extremely
informative!!!

 Reply

Zuzana Haider on 25 August, 2015 at 21:18

This is really great explanation. Thank you!

 Reply

Hariesh Manaadiar on 25 August, 2015 at 22:19

You are welcome Zuzana.. Glad to be of help..

Capt R.Satishraja on 17 August, 2015 at 18:47

Hai I am a Master mariner and a teacher by passion. When I spill a hand full
of jewels from this treasure I feel more realistic and authentic. Your efforts
are commendable.

 Reply

Hariesh Manaadiar on 17 August, 2015 at 23:27

Thank you Capt..

Bud Cohan on 13 August, 2015 at 17:19

Great visuals but the article doesn’t cover the topic fully. There doesn’t
appear to be any “universal” agreement re: definitions of the terms — check
out the various dictionaries. There’s breakbulk, break bulk, and break-bulk as
well as bulk cargo, et ali. Their definitions are similar among the various
 glossaries/dictionaries but nevertheless contain slight differences.
Hinkleman’s global terms dictionary appears to be quite detailed but the only
one I could find on the internet was 10 years old.

 Reply

Hariesh Manaadiar on 13 August, 2015 at 17:42

Hello Bud, can you pls clarify what is not covered in the article..

The objective of the article was to explain the differences between bulk
and break bulk.. As you rightly mentioned, Break Bulk is written as
breakbulk, break bulk, and break-bulk across the internet and in text
books, but it all means the same and that meaning is what is explained
in the infographic..

As explained in the article, Break bulk ships are also called Multi
Purpose or General Cargo ships and in some cases people also refer to
Break Bulk cargo as General Cargo because there are too many types of
cargoes to list..

There are no universal agreements on how Break Bulk/Multi

Purpose/General Cargo ships are referred to.. IMO doesn’t make any
reference to the term Break Bulk itself but refers to General Cargo
ships..

Asmita Mestry on 13 August, 2015 at 14:22

Super information given in simpler form

 Reply
 Miguel Fernandes on 13 August, 2015 at 09:15

After so many years working in the shipping and logistics business, for the
first time I got a full picture about this….

 Reply

Hariesh Manaadiar on 13 August, 2015 at 11:59

Thank you Miguel, that is one of the objectives of this blog to refresh
and enhance the memory or knowledge of those already in the industry
for several years, but may not be dealing with certain segments all the
time..

Emil Mathew on 13 August, 2015 at 09:10

Ship Types based on DWT appeared to be confusing. This can be explained

clearly with a two dimensional graph instead presenting in a pie chart.
Otherwise your explanation on break bulk and bulk is informative…

 Reply

Hariesh Manaadiar on 13 August, 2015 at 11:58

Hello Emil, a pie chart represents data visually as a fractional part of a

whole and readers can see the data comparison at a glance.. As you can
see in the pie chart, the Bulker category dominates the world’s ship
types @ 43%.. That was the objective..

suresh nair on 13 August, 2015 at 08:28

Hi, Hariesh,
Class article. Very informative. for all those especially who are more into
containerized shipping.. There are many terms when a break bulk or bulk
cargoes are shipped.
We would appreciate some blog on these subjects like hook to hook etc.
Keep up the good work…all the best.

 Reply

Hariesh Manaadiar on 13 August, 2015 at 11:54

Thank you for your encouragement Suresh.. More information on the

 terms used in Break Bulk and Bulk will follow in due course..

Saeed Mirza on 13 August, 2015 at 07:09

Great explanation, thanks.

Any cargo such as coal, grain, phosphate or as you mentioned “cargo not
packed” we used to call “in true bulk” to differentiate from the bulk cargo.
Will this term help?

 Reply

Hariesh Manaadiar on 13 August, 2015 at 11:53

Hello Saeed, yes true bulk is also another term that is used, but still not
very popular commercially..

SUNIL MENON on 13 August, 2015 at 05:34

That was a superb way to explain both the terms… thanks!

 Reply

Hariesh Manaadiar on 13 August, 2015 at 11:53

You are welcome Sunil, glad you found the explanation useful..

Alberto Coll on 13 August, 2015 at 02:47

Hi Hariesh, what a great post, thanks for your work.

Have you done some similar infographic or post to define each one of the
Bulkers and where their names come from?

 Reply

Hariesh Manaadiar on 13 August, 2015 at 11:44

Hello Alberto, thank you for your encouragement.. And thanks for the
idea of the infographic to describe the bulkers, will look into it..

John Reynolds on 13 August, 2015 at 02:13

Excellent article and well illustrated. Thank you !

 Reply

Hariesh Manaadiar on 13 August, 2015 at 11:43

Thank you John.. This is my first infographic on this blog and surely
there will be more..

L.R.Stewart on 13 August, 2015 at 01:04

Just for general interest only . Presentation was of a friendly introductory

nature . Please also refer to IMO´s definition of a ” bulk carrier” .

The so called ” Geared Dry Bulker” can at times carry a full and complete ”
homogeneous ” cargo under deck & on deck such as sawn timber or
strapped/bundled logs (paper pulp trade) and must observe all the prevailing
rules of the trade and good seamanship concerning lashing/securing
/stability .

Although the practice was never fostered and has disappeared – since say
the “70 ties ” – grain ( bagged & bulk” parcels ) and coal in bulk have been
carried on weather deck of a ship !.

 Reply

Hariesh Manaadiar on 13 August, 2015 at 11:40

Hello LR, thanks for the information..

Alex on 13 August, 2015 at 00:53

The breakbulk cargo is the one which includes several types of cargo
altogether. Breakbulk cargo is is found in many areas of Africa and Asia. The
cargo which is made up of only one type packed uniformely is named neo-
bulk cargo. You described neo-bulk cargo as being breakbulk cargo. Actually,
breakbulk cargo tends to lose importance in modern shipping.

 Reply

Hariesh Manaadiar on 13 August, 2015 at 11:34

Hello Alex, thanks for bringing it up.. I have edited the infographic to
include non unitised general cargo under Break Bulk.. Break bulk cargo
is still very much relevant in today’s shipping world and such cargoes
will always be shipped..
 Alex on 15 August, 2015 at 21:58

You missesd the central point. Container cargo is a category of general

cargo. The cargo classification is as follows:
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ship/images/sealift-
ships.jpg

Hariesh Manaadiar on 16 August, 2015 at 08:51

Hello Alex, while cargo inside a container maybe described as General

Cargo and General Cargo ships can also load containers, I do not agree
with the classification as shown in this image that containerized cargo,
ships or trade can be classified under general cargo.. And as you can
see, this image also incorrectly classifies RO-RO under containerized
cargo..

Alex on 31 August, 2015 at 02:34

I agree with you as for Ro-ro cargo, but please take a look on the
following figure:

http://www.shippipedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09
/Cargo1.png

Karen Read on 13 August, 2015 at 00:42

This was a great article. Thank you for making it so clear and for all the great
education you provide.

 Reply

Hariesh Manaadiar on 13 August, 2015 at 11:32

You are most welcome Karen and happy that you find the information
useful.. Pls do circulate among your peers..

Rajamanickam on 13 August, 2015 at 00:42

Thanks for your great post!!

 Reply

jemimah mkaluma. on 13 August, 2015 at 07:19

This was a great article.Thanks for making it clear by defining the

differences of the two.

Hariesh Manaadiar on 13 August, 2015 at 11:54

Glad to be of help Jemimah..

Gamage danasiri on 13 August, 2015 at 08:25

its Good I will thing for my Future, Thanks

Yousuf Zahid Hussain on 13 August, 2015 at 09:33

Superb article…. you are doing great work by educating people

Hariesh Manaadiar on 13 August, 2015 at 12:00

Thank you for your kind words Yousuf, pls do circulate the information
among your peers..

Hariesh Manaadiar on 13 August, 2015 at 11:32

Glad you liked it Rajamanickam..

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