Key figures (citable)
| Item | Indicative |
|---|---|
| Cargo type | Construction machinery (excavators and loaders) |
| Common discharge ports | Makassar, Balikpapan, Pontianak, Medan |
| Project-cargo threshold | Oversized units (length >12 m) or heavy units (>26 t), project equipment |
| Port coverage | Covers 37 destination ports |
| Last reviewed | 2026-09-28 |
What this cargo is on this lane
Excavators and loaders are the most common breakbulk unit moving to the outer islands: they drive on and drive off, but overall height is what usually rules out a container. The decision hinges on one question — can the tracks or tyres be retracted and can the boom be dismantled. If not, the unit moves as a single breakbulk lift on a liner or subsidised service.
How this shipment actually moves
Measure the machine in its shipping state: tracks retracted to the narrowest setting, boom lowered, no add-on canopy. That envelope — not the working envelope — is what decides the mode. Dismantling the boom and arm for separate lashing cuts the longest dimension, and often brings the unit back from breakbulk into a container or flat rack. On the discharge side, confirm the lifting gear first: ports with shore cranes can lift directly; without them the ship's gear or a hired mobile crane is required, and the quotation must state who supplies the equipment and who carries the waiting time.
How to measure it (beyond the four figures that set the mode)
| What to measure | How and why |
|---|---|
| Overall length (shipping state) | Longest horizontal run from blade to counterweight with the bucket grounded |
| Overall width (shipping state) | Track gauge at its narrowest setting, measured over the outer edge of the shoes |
| Overall height (shipping state) | Highest point with the boom lowered and no add-on canopy |
| Heaviest unit weight | Machine weight including tracks and counterweight; state whether fuel is included |
| Self-propelled or towed | Whether it drives on, off and around the hold, or needs to be dragged |
Common discharge ports and capacity tiers
| Port | Tier and capacity |
|---|---|
| Makassar | A · Commercial mainline · Container liner service, carries general cargo · Several sailings weekly — wait negligible |
| Balikpapan | A · Commercial mainline · Container liner service, carries general cargo · Several sailings weekly — wait negligible |
| Pontianak | A · Commercial mainline · Container liner service, carries general cargo · Several sailings weekly — wait negligible |
| Medan | A · Commercial mainline · Container liner service, carries general cargo · Several sailings weekly — wait negligible |
Where this cargo most often goes wrong
- Measuring in working configuration: boom raised and tracks spread will push a containerisable unit into breakbulk.
- Overlooking whether the counterweight detaches — removing it often changes the line that sets the heaviest unit.
- Asking only whether the lift is possible, not who supplies the crane: at minor ports hired cranes and waiting time can hurt more than freight.
Questions to settle before quoting (the ones from the parent page that matter most here)
- Unit dimensions and heaviest unit (L×W×H, kg per unit) — decides container vs breakbulk and lifting gear
- Piece count, total tonnes and total volume — decides whether you are billed on weight or measurement
- Can it be stacked? Is it crushable? Does it need weather protection — decides stowage
- Origin and destination, plus discharge conditions at destination (shore crane available?)
- Door-to-door or port-to-port — is collection and delivery included at each end?
Frequently asked, standard answers
How is breakbulk billed?
Per kilogram or per cubic metre, W/M whichever greater. Minimum shipment sizes and conversion ratios differ by carrier, so ask item by item. Rates are passed through at the carrier’s tariff in force.
Container or breakbulk for my cargo?
Look at the longest side and the heaviest unit: if it exceeds container internal dimensions or the weight limit it will not fit and must move as breakbulk. Run the tool on this page, then send us the result for confirmation.
Why can international breakbulk carriers not quote the Indonesian domestic leg?
Indonesian cabotage rules prohibit foreign-flagged vessels from carrying cargo between Indonesian ports, with criminal penalties. Outer-island breakbulk therefore has to move on Indonesian domestic capacity; asking international breakbulk owners will not produce a rate.
Can an excavator ship on a flat rack without dismantling the boom?
It depends on the shipping envelope: if height with the boom lowered and tracks retracted still exceeds the frame, it will not fit. Run the tool with the longest side and heaviest unit first, then send us the result for confirmation.
What paperwork matters for used machinery to the outer islands?
Nameplate, serial number and year of build must match the invoice and packing list; when several units share one shipment list each machine's weight and dimensions separately rather than one total, or the port-side check will not reconcile.
How is it discharged where there is no shore crane?
By ship's gear or a hired mobile crane. Who supplies the equipment and who bears demurrage and waiting must be fixed in the quotation, otherwise extra charges appear after arrival.
Official sources
Channels below can be checked independently. Rates, supervision and working times follow each authority's latest notice.
Next step
Measuring in working configuration: boom raised and tracks spread will push a containerisable unit into breakbulk. Send us unit dimensions and weight, piece count, origin and destination, whether door delivery is needed and how urgent it is. We return the mode call, the destination's capacity tier, whether transhipment applies, the waiting band and the questions to settle.
Request a breakbulk quote