Letter from the Editor
Container lines are no passing figure in the breakbulk cargo sector.
Room for two
By Carly Fields
Viewed with barely concealed animosity, container lines are frequently treated like an unwanted guest at the breakbulk and project cargo festive table.
In conversations with the Journal of Commerce, emotive words like“ stealing” and“ threat” are commonly used by multipurpose vessel( MPV) carriers referring to container lines’ involvement in the breakbulk cargo space. There is a definite sense that MPV lines would prefer them to“ keep their noses out” of breakbulk transportation bids.
But while their breakbulk volumes might wax and wane depending on rates and capacity, container lines are no passing figure in the breakbulk cargo sector. Data is notoriously difficult to verify when it comes to actual breakbulk volumes on container ships, anecdotally the Journal of Commerce is told that breakbulk and project cargo make up mid- to high-single-digit percentages of a container carriers’ overall volumes.
With that backdrop, it’ s unsurprising that tensions between the two sectors finally bubbled over at a breakbulk event this year. On stage, an MPV carrier stressed the importance of breakbulk cargoes for the stability of their ships to balance project cargoes. While acknowledging that shippers need to have a variety of carrier options, the speaker said that MPVs also need to“ maintain that continuum of being able to service projects and specializations.” Back off from breakbulk, container carriers, was the implication.
In response, panelist Ben Collins, global project cargo manager at container line Mediterranean Shipping Company( MSC), drew attention to MSC’ s dedicated vertical for project cargo, a feature common among container lines that offer out-of-gauge cargo services.
“ We have a very dedicated team that focuses only on this sector,” Collins said.“ Boxes just keep flowing; it’ s very transactional. Project cargo is harder and needs a very, very focused approach by a dedicated team of people.”
While he agreed that breakbulk and project cargo is an add-on to MSC’ s container services, Collins stressed that it is not an arbitrary add-on.“ It wouldn’ t exist if there wasn’ t a demand for it,” he told the audience, and the MPV carrier.
Container lines can offer a frequency of sailing and fleet scale that small and midsize MPV carriers cannot compete with— a jarring truth that frustrates MPVs.“ This is one of the really big advantages that we have,” Collins noted.
There will always be a need for MPVs with their adaptability and nomadic routes, as some cargoes just can’ t fit within a container ship’ s size or geographic constraints. But there is a plethora of breakbulk and project cargoes that can take their pick of ships for seaborne transportation today.
MPV carriers berate their container brethren for pinching“ their” cargoes, but their energies might be better spent forging partnerships with containers lines and accepting the fact that they are here to stay.
email: carly. fields @ spglobal. com
Breakbulk & Project Cargo
Executive Editor: Mark Szakonyi 202.872.1234, mark. szakonyi @ spglobal. com
Managing Editor: Benjamin Meyer 916.716.6272, benjamin. meyer @ spglobal. com
Associate Editor: Carly Fields + 44( 0) 7966 210030, carly. fields @ spglobal. com
Shipper Engagement Manager, Breakbulk: Diana Hamm, 832.499.7368, diana. hamm @ spglobal. com
Senior Research Analyst, Project and Breakbulk Cargo: Susan Oatway, FICS, + 44.7930.411659 susan. oatway @ spglobal. com
Managing Editor: Kevin Saville, 212.488.4282, kevin. saville @ spglobal. com
Senior Editors: William B. Cassidy Trucking and Domestic Transportation 202.872.1228, bill. cassidy @ spglobal. com
Bill Mongelluzzo, West Coast 562.428.5999, bill. mongelluzzo @ spglobal. com
Eric Johnson, Technology 213.444.9326, eric. johnson @ spglobal. com
Janet Nodar, Breakbulk and Heavy Lift 251.408.2090, janet. nodar @ spglobal. com
Greg Knowler, Europe + 44.797.679.8770, greg. knowler @ spglobal. com
Ari Ashe, Southeast Ports, Intermodal Rail 202.548.7895, ari. ashe @ spglobal. com
Michael Angell, Northeast ports, 646.505.4712, michael. angell @ spglobal. com
Laura Robb, Associate Editor 281.216.0456, laura. robb @ spglobal. com
Senior Contributor: Cathy Morrow Roberson, 732.730.2533, cathy. morrowroberso @ spglobal. com
Data Hub Manager: Marcin Lejk, + 44.58.741.6270, marcin. lejk @ spglobal. com
Shipper Engagement Manager: Annalee Witte, 317.941.8130, annalee. witte @ spglobal. com
Senior Editor, Special Projects: Alessandra Gregory Barrett, 860.248.5238, alessandra. barrett @ spglobal. com
Senior Associate Editor, Special Projects: Ariane Herrera, 215.789.7478, ariane. Herrera @ spglobal. com
Special Projects Coordinator: Amanda Hunter, 212.205.1226, amanda. hunter @ spglobal. com
Senior Designer: Sue Abt, sue. abt @ spglobal. com
Associate Production Editor: Ivan Klos, ivan. klos @ spglobal. com
Designer: Hannah Kidd, + 44 203 253 2134, hannah. kidd @ spglobal. com
Sales: Cindy Cronin, Director APAC sales, 954.260.6061
Jean Gibbons, Senior Sales Executive West Coast, FL, GA sales, 706.469.7160
Kimberly Davis Guerra, Senior Sales Executive Midwest, Gulf, Latin America sales, 832.370.6350
John Knowles, Sales Manager EMEA, AU sales, + 44.777.997.4677
Allyson Marek, Senior Sales Executive Northeast sales, 727.337.3010
Elaine Nosaka, Senior Sales Executive VA, NC, SC, Canada sales, 703.447.9555
For Magazine Subscription Customer Service: www. joc. com / help 55 Water St., 39th Floor, New York, N. Y. 10041
Peter Tirschwell, Vice President- Shipping Intellience, S & P Global
Chris Brooks, Executive Director- Shipping Intelligence, S & P Global
Carmen Verenna, Manager, Production
© 2025 Journal of Commerce— All Rights Reserved For more information, visit our website, www. joc. com.
4 Journal of Commerce | December 2025 www. joc. com