At Winsail , we recognise that handling special cargo is different from traditional container shipping.
With more than 40 years of experience in transporting oversized and heavy shipments and an unparalleled global network, we have the capacity to deliver your special cargo to any part of the world. Our international team of special cargo experts have an in-depth knowledge and understanding of the challenges involved, and are there to help throughout the entire process.
Spend your time and efforts on your business and not on coordinating with multiple qualified sub-tier vendors and suppliers to accomplish your project cargo goals.
Oversized and overweight cargo is characterised by exceeding the proportions and capabilities of a single standard container. Whether you are shipping a 350-ton tugboat, a 46-metre crane arm or a 17-metre propeller, we have the expertise and equipment available to deliver.
We provide tailored and efficient solutions for shipping your In Gauge, Out of Gauge and Break Bulk cargo.
The dimensions of the cargo are smaller than or equal to those of the flat rack or open top container (i.e. it requires special equipment but does not displace additional slots on the vessel).
Examples of In Gauge shipments: machinery or large trees that can be lowered into an open top container.
If you are shipping In Gauge cargo, you can book your shipment in just a few minutes on Maersk.com.
The dimensions of the cargo exceed the flat rack or open top container by length, width or height, but can still be unitised in containers.
Examples of Out of Gauge shipments: propellers, flanges or trucks.
Vastly exceeds the size and/or weight of a standard container and is therefore handled as non-unitised cargo and normally placed on a bed of flat racks with a large number of lashing points.
Examples of common Break Bulk shipments: yachts, masts, industrial machines or train carriages.
Understanding Out of Gauge Cargo
Out of Gauge (OOG) Cargo requires special and delicate handing. In order to handle your OOG cargo safely, it is essential to give a full and accurate declaration of your cargo. It is crucial to not only declare the dimensions and particulars of your cargo accurately, but also to ensure that it is packed correctly to avoid delays and additional costs.
1.Define if cargo is IG or OOG: If cargo dimensions exceed dimensions mentioned in the table above, it must be declared as Out of Gauge cargo.
2.End wall position: Can be either up or down and must be declared accordingly.
3.Weight: Correct gross weight of the cargo must be provided.
4.Lashing equipment protrusions: Lashing equipment protruding outside the container should be taken into consideration when declaring dimensions.
5.Cargo shifting: Changes to dimension due to poor lashing during transit. Your goods need to be secured correctly, considering vessel movements during ocean transport.
6.Extra materials: Crates, lashing materials and dunnage used while lashing the container can change the total cargo dimensions.
The objective of out of gauge declarations is, first and foremost, to ensure the safety of the crew handling the cargo. It is also practised to minimise operational challenges due to dimension mismatches, which can result in delays.
Let’s take a closer look:
Knowing the actual dimensions of your cargo and checking to see if it’s lashed correctly can prevent accidents from occurring.
Any terminal can refuse to load cargo as a safety precaution if the cargo dimensions do not match the declaration.
Dimension discrepancies during gate-in or transit result in operational challenges with terminals in terms of capability and restriction. This might lead to disruption in cargo planning and even cargo shut-out.
The space allocation for cargo is planned in slots with the received dimensions. If the dimensions change, these might trigger the slots to change.