What is "detached lifting" transportation?

BBK refers to the detached lifting method using flat-rack containers, commonly applied to oversized cargo. This method is especially useful when the cargo is extremely large (width and height exceeding 4 meters, length exceeding 12 meters) or excessively heavy (over 50 tons), which often exceeds the load limits of standard containers and the lifting capacity of port cranes. In such cases, shipping lines typically reject the use of OOG (Out of Gauge) special containers due to the oversized nature of the cargo. Even when opting for breakbulk roll-on/roll-off (Ro-Ro) shipping, the lack of suitable Ro-Ro vessels in South China often requires transporting the cargo to other ports for road transport, which increases the risks and costs of inland transportation.

So, is there a solution that ensures cargo safety while keeping transportation costs reasonable? The answer is—detached lifting BBK. This method involves combining multiple flat-rack containers to form a large "platform" on which oversized and overweight cargo is secured. The process is as follows: first, the empty flat-rack containers are delivered to the port, and once notified by the terminal control, the cargo is brought directly to the ship's side for loading. After the regular containers are loaded, the crane lifts the empty flat-rack containers onto the ship and flattens them. The cargo is then lifted onto the flat "platform" and secured by terminal workers. These types of cargo are typically placed in the topmost tier of the deck and cannot have other containers stacked above them.

The advantages of detached lifting are clear: for particularly large or heavy cargo, traditional breakbulk roll-on/roll-off ships involve complex operations, unstable schedules, frequent cargo damage, and high shipping costs. In contrast, the detached lifting BBK method is simple to operate, ensures stable shipping schedules, provides higher safety for cargo, and is relatively cost-effective.