Key figures (citable)
| Item | Indicative |
|---|---|
| Cargo type | Steel structures and pipe piles |
| Common discharge ports | Makassar, Balikpapan, Pontianak, Samarinda |
| 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
Steelwork, pipe piles and beams move in the greatest volume to outer-island sites and are the easiest to misjudge because they look as though they will fit. Single-piece length decides between breakbulk and flat rack, and the bundled cross-section decides how much fits in a hold. Billing usually sits right on the volume-versus-weight boundary, which makes fixing W/M whichever is greater in the quotation especially important.
How this shipment actually moves
Decide first whether it moves as single pieces or as bundles: oversize single lengths are lifted as individual units, while anything that can be made into a square bundle within a flat rack should go into one. Bundles must be liftable, forkable and stackable with consistent dunnage spacing, or they come apart at discharge and the piece count slows everything down. For large quantities, split across sailings: when one shipment cannot take it all, phased arrivals beat waiting for space at the port.
How to measure it (beyond the four figures that set the mode)
| What to measure | How and why |
|---|---|
| Longest single length | The longest piece uncut — decides between breakbulk and flat rack |
| Bundled cross-section | Length, width and height of one bundle, counting dunnage and banding |
| Heaviest bundle | Weight of the heaviest bundle, which sets lifting gear and load on the space |
| Total pieces and total tonnage | Counted per piece or per bundle; billed by weight or volume, whichever is greater |
| Surface and end treatment | Oiling, end caps and tarpaulin, which affect how it can be stored |
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 |
| Samarinda | A · Commercial mainline · Container liner service, carries general cargo · Several sailings weekly — wait negligible |
Where this cargo most often goes wrong
- Quoting theoretical weight but not bundled volume: steelwork is often volume-dominant, and without W/M whichever is greater in the quotation it gets re-measured at destination.
- Inconsistent bundling: uneven dunnage spacing distorts the bundle under lift and the piece count fails after it breaks apart on arrival.
- Forcing one shipment when it does not fit: storage while waiting for space usually costs more than splitting into two sailings.
Questions to settle before quoting (the ones from the parent page that matter most here)
- What is the minimum shipment size? It differs per carrier — always ask for small lots
- Billed per kilogram or per cubic metre? Write "W/M, whichever greater" into the quote
- Damage and insurance liability — breakbulk carries more damage risk than FCL; state sum insured and excess
- 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
Frequently asked, standard answers
Can you reach remote minor ports?
Yes. Ports outside the commercial mainline call list are served by breakbulk vessels and subsidised domestic freight routes, with sparse sailings confirmed against the rotation in force.
Can you give an exact transit time?
We deliberately do not give a point estimate. Breakbulk voyage variance is far wider than on container ships — the same lane can differ several-fold between sailings. We quote a range against the current rotation and state the waiting level in the quote.
Can I ship from Jakarta to Papua?
Commercial services do not sail direct from Jakarta to Maluku or Papua; cargo transits via Surabaya. We list the transshipment leg and its time separately rather than hiding it inside a total.
If pipe piles are too long, is it cheaper to cut them short?
It depends on whether the ends can be joined: if they can, cutting to fit a container usually costs less than shipping full length as breakbulk; if they cannot, the pile moves as an oversize unit on breakbulk or flat rack, with the lift and lashing plan quoted together.
Is steelwork billed by weight or by volume?
By kilogram or by cubic metre, W/M whichever is greater, and conversion ratios differ by carrier. That line must be fixed in the quotation or the destination will re-measure.
What if the quantity will not fit in one shipment?
Split it. Phasing arrivals against the current rotation costs less than holding cargo at the load port waiting for space, and the site receives in batches instead of overwhelming its storage.
Official sources
Channels below can be checked independently. Rates, supervision and working times follow each authority's latest notice.
Next step
Quoting theoretical weight but not bundled volume: steelwork is often volume-dominant, and without W/M whichever is greater in the quotation it gets re-measured at destination. 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