On a daily basis thousands of tons of bulk cargo are shipped all over the world. Without the carriers that transport goods such as cement, grain, ore, steel, and coal, it would be impossible to fill our cars with fuel, pour milk onto cereal, or add salt to our food every day. We at Shipixy, have bulk carrier ships that are constructed to manage these loads in ways that are safe, solid, and productive. They comprise approximately 21 per cent of the trading vessels of the world, and some of the largest ships, particularly those that handle mineral ores, may contain a deadweight of as much as 400,000 metric tons.
The size and capacity of these bulky ships makes them a common sight in big cities along the coast. When you have ever been on a port you must have noticed big bulk carriers coming in and out all night and day, carrying thousands of tons of cargo across the nations.
Bulk shipments are large amounts of goods which are loaded straight into the hold of a vessel without any packaging. In contrast to standard shipments that are packed in boxes or containers, bulk products are not packed. Goods are not measured in units but in mass or volume. As an example, cement, grain, coal, steel, oil, and milk are exported in bulk.
Bulk goods are classified into two categories, which include solid bulk (dry bulk) and liquid bulk.
Dry bulk or solid bulk consists of items such as:
They are loaded by conveyor belts, cranes, hoppers or silos and loaded into bulk carrier vessels with large and numerous ports.
Liquid bulk refers to the free-flowing materials that comprise of:
They are filled with pumps and pipelines in special tanks on ships. Tankers have two hulls, which make them safe, and can carry more than 400,000 tons of liquid.
Bulk transportation is the direct movement of large quantities of products between supplier and destination. These vessels work both by day and night so that world trade is possible.
Most goods are packed into huge cargo holds, which are constructed in order to avoid damage during long travel. Special machinery makes the heavy materials easy to handle.
The ships are loaded and then move across oceans with loads of thousands of tons of cargo. They take routes that are safe and planned.
At the port, the goods are unloaded with the help of cranes and transporters. Goods shipped there are sent to the local supply chains, where they are prepared to be used by businesses and consumers.
The time is based on the distance, port handling, and vessel schedules. Large package shipments often take more time than small package shipments because they require loading, storage, customs, and unloading at several stages.
Shipping costs are generally determined in dollars per ton of cargo, although some ship owners charge by day (per diem) rates based on the type of vessel. In container shipping, prices are commonly calculated on Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEU). For example:
Dry bulk vessels are used to transport such products as grains, flour, coal, lumber, peanuts, fertilizer, and minerals. They do not transport liquids such as fuel or oil, which will need tankers.
Wet bulk are the liquid types of shipments e.g. petroleum, gasoline, vegetable oils, fruit juice or liquefied natural gas. They are exported without packaging in tanks or fuel storage containers.
Bulk liquid transportation involves the utilization of large quantities of liquids by tank, truck, or tanker ships. Liquid cargo is transferred straight into tanks rather than using drum or barrel transportation.
Bulk cargo may be transported by tanker trucks, railway cars, semi-trailers or ships. Cargo is poured or loaded by cranes and liquids are pumped into tanks.
The cost of bulk delivery may be reduced by selecting an appropriate carrier, using UPS or FedEx to ship heavier items and USPS to ship lighter ones. Shipment grouping, shipping on Tuesdays or Fridays, and requesting bulk discounts also can help reduce costs.
