What is heavy lift cargo on a ship?

Heavy lift cargo generally refers to any single piece that exceeds 80–100 MT (metric tonnes) — beyond the lifting capacity of standard port cranes. The specific threshold varies by port.

Categories:

• OOG (Out of Gauge): Exceeds container dimensions (20GP: 5.9m L × 2.35m W × 2.39m H) but within standard crane lift capacity
• Heavy lift: Single piece > 80 MT requiring specialized crane or ship gear
• RORO (Roll-On/Roll-Off): Wheeled cargo driven onto the vessel (ideal for machinery on wheels)
• Project cargo: Large one-off items such as turbines, reactors, ship sections, modular buildings

Vessel types used:

• Flat rack containers: Up to ~45 MT for OOG items that exceed standard container dimensions
• Open top containers: For cargo that needs to be craned in from above
• Heavy lift vessels (HL): Semi-submersible vessels for items up to 30,000+ MT
• RORO vessels: Purpose-built for wheeled cargo
• Multi-purpose vessels: Combination breakbulk/container carriers

What to provide your forwarder:

• Exact dimensions (L × W × H in mm)
• Weight per piece
• Centre of gravity
• Any special handling requirements (fragile points, lifting points)
• Whether cargo is on wheels (RORO eligibility)

Use the <a href="https://calculatecbm.com/oog-cargo-calculator">OOG cargo calculator</a> to check flat rack feasibility for your piece dimensions.