- Container ships are increasingly being used to transport breakbulk cargo, such as oversized and heavy industrial equipment.
- MSC’s direct weekly service between Gothenburg and major Asian ports supports this growing demand.
- The Port of Gothenburg, in partnership with APM Terminals and MSC Sweden, offers flexible solutions for handling cargo up to 100 tons.
- MSC and the Port of Gothenburg will be present at Breakbulk Europe 2025 to showcase their services.
While traditionally designed to carry standardized containers, container ships are now demonstrating their versatility by accommodating breakbulk cargo—items that exceed conventional container dimensions. This capability is particularly visible on the largest container vessels operating direct weekly services between the Port of Gothenburg and ports across Asia, according to Port of Gothenburg.
Surging Interest in Breakbulk via Container Ships
“We’re seeing growing interest in this option. It’s encouraging to witness our customer base expanding and recognizing the potential of our liner network. With weekly schedules and very competitive transit times, our service shows that loading and unloading a wide range of cargo on container vessels is not only feasible, it’s already happening,” says Marco Cicola, who oversees the breakbulk segment at MSC Sweden.
Handling Large and Heavy Freight
Depending on the vessel, container ships can manage breakbulk cargo up to 40 meters long and 12 meters wide. The largest vessels on the Gothenburg–Asia route span nearly 60 meters in width and frequently transport oversized freight. At the APM Terminals-operated container terminal, land-based cranes can handle individual items weighing as much as 100 tons, enabling regular shipments of goods like transformers, construction machinery, and key steel industry components.
Flexible Port Solutions Enable Broad Cargo Options
The Port of Gothenburg supports various breakbulk handling methods. While roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) remains common through dedicated terminals, container vessels are increasingly being used as a viable alternative.
“Shipping breakbulk cargo on container vessels is becoming more frequent. For project cargo customers, this expands the opportunities, particularly with MSC’s direct connections to Asia. Each project cargo shipment is unique. Every case is assessed individually and transport solutions are tailored based on the port’s global network to deliver the cargo efficiently and securely,” notes Richard Mellgren, Senior Business Development Manager at the Port of Gothenburg.
Supporting Sustainability Through Multimodal Transport
“As environmental considerations become ever more crucial, MSC Sweden is proud to support the decarbonization of our customers’ supply chains with inland solutions, connecting imports and exports seamlessly by multimodal transport,” adds Marco Cicola.
Fact Sheet: Breakbulk Shipping via MSC and the Port of Gothenburg
- Departures: Weekly direct service to/from Asia, plus two weekly feeder sailings to Antwerp and Bremerhaven
- Asian Ports Served: Port Klang, Singapore, Shekou, Busan, Ningbo, Shanghai, Xiamen, Yantian
- Cargo Dimensions: Up to 30 x 12 meters
- Cargo Weight: Up to 100 tons
Join MSC and the Port of Gothenburg at Breakbulk Europe 2025 from May 13–15 at Rotterdam Ahoy. Visit booths 2A20-B21 and 2A21 (MSC), and 2G55 (Port of Gothenburg) to explore customized project cargo solutions.
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Source: Port of Gothenburg
