When shipping cargo weighing more than the allowed weight limit, a special equipment is required. For example Flat Racks. These are basically containers without either sides or roofs. While they have the same base as 20′ Containers or 40′ Containers, they fit into container bays in container vessels. Using Flat Racks is advantageous for cargo with overwidth and overheight, for example. The use of specialized equipment and vessels have become useful when moving oversize goods. There is an established schedule for container vessels that are based on quite fixed routes and schedules. Its high sailing frequency means that non-standard cargo can be shipped comparatively easily.
What Kind of Cargo is Considered Oversized?
According to the mode of transportation, oversized cargo has a different definition. Oversized goods in trucking are defined as any loads that exceed 8.5 feet wide and 13.5-14 feet long; however, in ocean freight, the term refers to any load that cannot be packed into a 40’ or 45’ container.
Acceptable Cargo Dimensions
On the other hand, the weight of the cargo does not have any technical definition to determine whether or not it is “heavy.” Nevertheless, there are limits to the amount of weight that a piece of equipment can handle when transporting cargo by land or sea. Weight limits can also be set by countries and states. A large shipment of goods requires detailed planning, proper execution, and the method of transport will be determined by the size of the freight, machinery, or heavy equipment being moved. So what is oversize freight? So it’s any cargo that doesn’t fit inside a 40 foot container. Some machinery and equipment simply do not fit within the standard container specifications because they are too wide, too tall or too long.
The dimensions of your cargo must be known as well as those of the standard shipping containers. Standard shipping container dimensions. The 20 ft standard shipping container and the 40 ft standard shipping container are two of the most widely used containers in the world to transport ocean freight goods.
Features of Transportation of Oversized Cargo
In order to transport oversized cargo via ocean freight, different shipping methods are available: for instance, shipping the cargo units on Flat Racks or break bulk in a container vessel, using Ro/Ro shipping and shipping via break bulk vessel. Choosing an appropriate ocean freight shipping method involves considering the nature of goods to be shipped, the possibilities to pack them securely, and the methods to handle the goods. Shipping rates and transit times are also affected by these factors.
