General Cargo Ship

A general cargo ship is a vessel specifically designed to transport various packaged, bagged, boxed, and drummed breakbulk cargo. It features multiple decks, several cargo holds, and handling equipment such as derricks or cranes. It is suitable for carrying machinery, steel products, timber, pulp, bagged grain, fertilizers, and other goods, and is especially suited for routes with unstable cargo sources and complex cargo types. When using a general cargo ship, note the following: cargo must be stowed by bill of lading and by hatch to prevent mixing of lots and cargo damage; loading and unloading efficiency is relatively low, and voyage times are longer; freight is usually charged by weight or volume, and the stowage factor must be clearly specified. Compared with container ships, general cargo ships do not require cargo standardization but have higher handling costs; compared with bulk carriers, they can carry packaged goods but are not suitable for transporting a single type of bulk commodity. In foreign trade, general cargo ships are often used for small-lot, multi-variety breakbulk cargo transport, or as a supplement when container capacity is insufficient.