The essentials at a glance. Figures marked as indicative depend on the carrier, season and cargo, and are confirmed in your quote.
| Cargo types | Machinery, generators, steel structures, pipes, vehicles and trailers, within carrier and port limits |
|---|---|
| Equipment | Flat rack and open top (20ft / 40ft), breakbulk space on conventional vessels, RoRo, low-bed trailers |
| Data we need | Dimensions, weight, centre of gravity, lifting points, drawings and photos for each piece |
| Iraq option | Jebel Ali → Umm Qasr RoRo, announced by DP World in 2023 at about 36 hours at sea; confirm current schedule |
| Road permits | Oversize permits and escorts arranged through specialised hauliers in each country |
| Planning lead time | Several weeks before cargo-ready date is advisable; special equipment is limited |
| Insurance | Strongly recommended on full value; carrier and haulier liability is limited |
|---|
| Facts as of | 1 November 2026 |
|---|
As of 1 Nov 2026
These are the same stages you will see in your case file in the customer portal.
We review drawings, dimensions, weights and site access, and screen the parties and goods.
We propose methods, equipment and the inland route, with a survey if needed.
You approve an itemised quote covering equipment, handling, permits and inland haulage.
Commercial documents, certificates and oversize road permits are prepared.
Cargo is loaded and secured as agreed, with photos posted to your case file.
We record discharge, condition and the low-bed move to site.
Clearance is completed, delivery is signed with condition notes and the file is closed.
Your quote itemises every charge, so you can see exactly what is covered before you approve it.
Any cargo that does not fit, or cannot be loaded safely, in a standard 20ft or 40ft dry container counts as out-of-gauge, project or breakbulk cargo.
Typical examples on our lanes are construction and power equipment, generators and transformers, production lines, steel structures and pipes, and vehicles or trailers. Many projects mix standard containers with a few out-of-gauge pieces, and we plan them as one case so every piece arrives in the right order.
The right method depends on the dimensions, weight and whether the cargo can roll on board.
| Method | Best for | Limits to check |
|---|---|---|
| Flat rack (20FR / 40FR) | Wide or heavy items: machinery, steel, boats | Payload, lashing points, overwidth and overheight premiums |
| Open top (20OT / 40OT) | Tall cargo loaded by crane from above | Height above the container, tarpaulin and securing |
| Breakbulk on a conventional vessel | Very large or heavy pieces beyond container limits | Fewer sailings, port crane capacity, stevedoring costs |
| RoRo | Self-propelled or trailer-mounted cargo | Must be rollable or on roll trailers; sailing frequency |
| Low-bed trailer | Inland legs for heavy or wide cargo | Road permits, escorts, axle-weight limits, route clearances |
Special equipment is limited and booked case by case, so start planning several weeks before the cargo is ready. See container sizes and capacity for standard and special container types.
We need accurate technical data for every piece, because carriers, ports and hauliers plan lifting and securing from it.
If the data is incomplete, we arrange a survey or a measurement at origin before booking.
Most project cargo for southern and central Iraq goes by sea to Umm Qasr and then by low-bed truck to the site, while RoRo suits vehicles and trailer-mounted equipment.
DP World announced a direct Jebel Ali–Umm Qasr RoRo service in 2023 at about 36 hours at sea (Iraq Business News), and these sailings do not pass through the Strait of Hormuz; confirm current schedules for each booking. Iraq's 2026 import rules still apply to machinery: a registered importer, an ASYCUDA declaration, e-verified documents and, for regulated products, a COC; see our Iraq COC guide. Inland legs need oversize permits and, in some areas, security arrangements, which we coordinate through specialised hauliers.
Special equipment, handling at both ports and the inland leg usually cost more than the sea freight itself.
Every item appears as a separate line on your quote, and any change found after a survey is shown to you before you approve it.
We agree the plan in writing before booking and record every hand-over with photos and condition notes.
Our partners provide loading and securing arrangements for review, photos are taken at loading and discharge, and condition is noted at each hand-over. Because carrier and haulier liability is limited, we strongly recommend cargo insurance on full value and can obtain a quote on request.
A typical checklist. Your coordinator confirms the exact list for your cargo and destination, and you upload everything in the portal.
Every shipment is screened against applicable sanctions lists and checked for restricted or prohibited goods before booking. Some routes and commodities need extra documents or cannot be accepted.
Compliance & sanctions policyRestricted & prohibited goodsLane status
Answers to the questions customers ask most about Project and breakbulk cargo.
Usually a flat rack or open-top container, breakbulk space on a conventional vessel, or RoRo if the machine can roll on board. We compare the options using its dimensions, weight and lifting points.
Dimensions and weight of every piece, the centre of gravity and lifting points, drawings or photos, packing details, and the pickup and delivery sites with any access limits.
Yes, we coordinate the sea leg to Umm Qasr and low-bed trucking to site through specialised hauliers, including oversize permits. Iraq's import rules, including the COC for regulated products, apply to machinery as well.
DP World announced a Jebel Ali–Umm Qasr RoRo service in 2023 at about 36 hours at sea. Schedules can change, so we confirm the current sailing before planning around it.
Special equipment, overwidth premiums, crane hire, securing materials, surveys, permits and escorts all add cost. We list each one separately so you can see what drives the total.
Carrier and haulier liability is limited by law and contract and is usually far below the value of project cargo. We strongly recommend insurance on full value and record condition at every hand-over.
United Arab EmiratestoIraq
Feeder, RoRo and overland options from Jebel Ali and Dubai to Umm Qasr, Baghdad and Erbil, including JAFZA storage and re-export, with Iraq's 2026 document checks prepared before departure.
ChinatoIraq
FCL and LCL sea freight from Shanghai, Ningbo, Shenzhen, Qingdao and other Chinese ports to Umm Qasr, or through Jebel Ali or Türkiye, with Iraq's 2026 customs rules (ASYCUDA, Decision 957/2025, e-verification) built into every case.
United Arab EmiratestoSaudi Arabia
Road freight from Dubai and the rest of the UAE to Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain, with sea options where carriers accept Gulf bookings, transit documents prepared before loading and an update at every border.
ChinatoSaudi Arabia
FCL and LCL sea freight from Shanghai, Ningbo, Shenzhen, Qingdao and other Chinese ports to Jeddah or Dammam, or via the UAE with overland trucking to Riyadh and the Eastern Province, with SABER and FASAH requirements checked before loading.
From Dubai you can reach Iraq in three main ways: a container feeder from Jebel Ali to Umm Qasr, a RoRo service for vehicles, machinery and trailers, or overland trucking through Saudi Arabia. Sea routes are usually the simpler choice for containers into southern and central Iraq; trucks suit specific door-to-door cases. In 2026 the bigger risk is Iraqi clearance: ASYCUDA, e-verified documents and the COC.
8 min read1 Nov 2026
Next step
Send your route and cargo details. A named coordinator replies with an itemised quote and the next steps.
Project and breakbulk cargo is cargo too large, heavy or awkward for a standard container, such as machinery, generators, steel structures or vehicles. Nil Ocean Shipping coordinates these moves with carriers, specialised hauliers and surveyors: we review the technical data, propose flat-rack, open-top, breakbulk or RoRo options, arrange oversize road permits through hauliers, and document loading, transit and delivery in your case file, with Iraq and the GCC as our main destinations.
A standard 20ft container is about 5.9 m long inside and holds about 33 CBM; a 40ft holds about 67 CBM; a 40ft high cube is 30 cm taller and holds about 76 CBM. In practice cartons and pallets load to roughly 25–28, 55–58 and 65–68 CBM. Maximum gross weight is commonly 30,480 kg, but the container's own plate and road limits on your route can be lower.
7 min read1 Nov 2026
Regulated goods shipped to Iraq need a Certificate of Conformity issued before export by a COSQC-appointed inspection body, and it is checked at the Iraqi border. This guide explains which goods need it, who applies, the steps, typical lead times and how to avoid the delays that hold containers at the port.
7 min read1 Nov 2026
