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Waterborne Dry and Liquid Bulk Carriers

Find the right bulk shipping company to transport cargo worldwide

By Mark McGee
There are many types of waterborne dry and liquid bulk carriers ready to ship your bulk cargo worldwide. Break bulk ocean carriers specialize in shipping large amounts of material after it has been broken down into smaller, often pallet-sized, amounts. Container shipping is similar to break bulk but uses large metal containers. Tankers ship one specific type of liquid cargo, such as oil or manmade chemicals.

Many factors come into play when determining the rates for maritime bulk transport companies. Because of this, it's important to shop around for a good rate when shipping to a new destination. One bulk carrier company may be the best in one circumstance but not in another. Always consider the following when using ocean shipping companies:

1. Shop around to compare the rates and services of various waterborne dry and liquid bulk carriers.

2. Understand that one dry bulk carrier may not ship all kinds of goods.

3. Make sure your tanker company ships all your products.

 

Compare rates between different maritime bulk carriers

Check multiple companies to find the lowest cost or the fastest time for shipping. Some shipping companies still require you to contact them directly for rates, but others have set up web applications so you can check anytime.
Try: Start pricing use a web application to get a nice baseline for your shipping rate comparisons. Ocean Freight USA has a detailed application that lets you price out their shipment rates in fine detail. After registering with their site, FreightQuote will give you the rates from several different bulk carriers.

Pick the best dry bulk carriers for your needs

Many bulk carriers are flexible with what they ship, so whether you need a container vessel or break bulk, you can use one company. In case your shipper doesn't allow a specific type of shipment, it's good to have relationships with multiple companies.
Try: When shipping dry bulk goods, such as raw materials or bulk grains, Genco Shipping and Trading Company can handle many types of products. For standard ocean shipping, look at Freight Dynamics. They provide a wide range of dry shipment services.

Use a bulk liquid transport company with a large fleet for the most options

Tankers are highly specialized; shipping crude oil takes a completely different ship than naphtha. Finding a tanker company that handles multiple products will allow your company options should you need them in the future.
Try: B+H Ocean Carriers, Ltd. is a small carrier that handles several different types of liquid product. If you need a larger, more established company, then look at Maersk Tankers. They maintain a huge fleet and carry many different liquid goods all around the world.

 

  • When looking at a maritime bulk transport company, it is important to know exactly what they ship and how they do it. Always contact a potential company and make sure they fully answer all of your questions before shipping anything.

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