Key figures (citable)
| Item | Indicative |
|---|---|
| Cargo type | Tanks and pressure vessels |
| Common discharge ports | Balikpapan, Palembang, Banjarmasin, Batam |
| 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
Tanks, pressure vessels and reactors are typically large and hollow: big in diameter, not necessarily heavy, yet they occupy a great deal of hold space. Their logic is the opposite of heavy cargo — volume usually breaches the limit long before weight does. Judge each unit on diameter and length rather than inferring from weight.
How this shipment actually moves
Diameter governs: once it exceeds the hatch or the flat-rack inner width, the unit goes on deck or as a single breakbulk lift, and bridge and access-road limits along the route must be checked. Whether it travels horizontal or vertical follows the maker's instructions, and the saddles and lashing points follow from that. Written confirmation of internal cleaning and inert-gas purging is required, or the carrier may decline it as dangerous goods or as containing residues.
How to measure it (beyond the four figures that set the mode)
| What to measure | How and why |
|---|---|
| Maximum diameter including insulation | Outside diameter over insulation and cladding — decides hatch or flat-rack fit |
| Shell length | Overall length including heads and nozzles |
| Horizontal or vertical | Maker's specified transport attitude, which sets saddles and lashing |
| Internal condition statement | Cleaned, purged, any residue — required in writing |
| Heaviest unit and piece count | Empty weight or weight after hydrostatic test — state which |
Common discharge ports and capacity tiers
| Port | Tier and capacity |
|---|---|
| Balikpapan | A · Commercial mainline · Container liner service, carries general cargo · Several sailings weekly — wait negligible |
| Palembang | A · Commercial mainline · Container liner service, carries general cargo · Several sailings weekly — wait negligible |
| Banjarmasin | A · Commercial mainline · Container liner service, carries general cargo · Several sailings weekly — wait negligible |
| Batam | A · Commercial mainline · Container liner service, carries general cargo · Several sailings weekly — wait negligible |
Where this cargo most often goes wrong
- Giving weight but not diameter: the weight is fine but the diameter will not pass the hatch, and deck carriage only emerges on loading day.
- No written statement of internal condition: carriers may reject a vessel with residues on the spot and demurrage lands on the shipper.
- Ignoring access-road limits: an oversize shell may not fit the plant road after discharge, so the final land leg needs a route survey in advance.
Questions to settle before quoting (the ones from the parent page that matter most here)
- 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?
- Is it time-critical? Slow and fast services are priced apart, often by more than half
Frequently asked, standard answers
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.
What if the destination has no shore crane?
Use the ship’s gear or hire a crane locally. Who supplies the equipment and bears waiting time must be fixed in the quote, otherwise charges appear after the cargo lands.
Do you accept small breakbulk lots?
Yes. You do not need to fill a container; we accept general cargo lots and fit them to the current sailing. Minimum sizes differ by carrier — confirm before booking.
A tank that is wide but not heavy — how is it billed?
By volume. Billing is per kilogram or cubic metre, W/M whichever is greater, and for this kind of cargo volume usually dominates, so hold footprint drives the cost of the shipment.
What should be watched on deck carriage?
Deck cargo takes waves and salt spray directly, so lashing and moisture protection must be upgraded, and you must confirm the carrier accepts deck cargo and how the premium is calculated.
Do pressure vessels need extra documents?
Yes. Design pressure, capacity, service medium and the cleaning and purging statement travel with the cargo; missing any one of them the carrier may decline the unit or require further inspection.
Official sources
Channels below can be checked independently. Rates, supervision and working times follow each authority's latest notice.
Next step
Giving weight but not diameter: the weight is fine but the diameter will not pass the hatch, and deck carriage only emerges on loading day. 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