Heavy-Lift & Project Cargo from China
Oversized equipment, heavy machinery and complete industrial plants, shipped from any Chinese factory to any global destination. Single pieces up to 45 tons. Zero cargo damage.
Last updated: June 14, 2026
Container & vessel types we deploy
Standard containers won't work for oversized cargo. We select and book the right equipment for your load, and we have the carrier relationships to secure it when others can't.
Flat Rack
No side walls. For extra-wide or extra-tall cargo. 40ft standard.
Up to 45T on 40ft
Open Top
Tarpaulin cover. For tall cargo that can't fit through standard doors.
Top loading via crane
Platform
Flat base, no end walls. For extreme over-length cargo. 20ft & 40ft.
Unlimited height
Breakbulk / Ro-Ro
No container. Direct vessel loading for massive equipment and vehicles.
Self-propelled or crane-loaded
In short: Great Hensen selects and books the correct specialized container or breakbulk/RO-RO vessel type for your cargo dimensions, with carrier partnerships across MSK, COSCO, HPL, and others to secure equipment availability when standard containers cannot accommodate oversized loads.
What We Ship
Heavy Machinery & Mining Equipment
Excavators, crushers, tunnel boring components, generators. We have shipped for SANY, Shantui, and SINOTRUK, single pieces up to 45 tons.
Electrical & Power Equipment
Transformers, switchgear, turbine components. Custom heavy-duty wooden crates with vacuum packaging. Batch numbers, standardized packing lists, hundreds of crates, zero confusion.
Complete Factory Relocation
Dismantling, classification numbering, professional bundling, moisture protection. Full-container + LCL + special container mix for cost optimization. Destination clearance, delivery, positioning, reassembly, one team, one contract.
Precision Instruments
Shock-ball vibration dampers, tilt indicators, vacuum packaging, custom wooden crates, multi-layer protection. On-site professional packing, light handling throughout, dedicated supervision. Sea or air as required.
Used Machinery Export
Used CNC machine tools, printing equipment, construction machinery. Full compliance: used machinery filing, CCIC pre-shipment inspection, machinery import license. 100% CCIC approval rate.
Overseas Engineering Projects
Power stations, highways, bridges, construction materials, equipment, and living supplies. Dedicated project team with timeline management. Multi-modal: sea + rail + truck. Full supply chain from consolidation to site handover.
To summarize: Great Hensen ships heavy machinery, electrical equipment, complete factory relocations, precision instruments, used machinery, and overseas engineering project cargo from China, with single-piece capacity up to 45 tons and a zero-damage track record across all categories.
Project Experience
Heavy Equipment Export, Flat Rack & Special Container
Served TGood, SANY Heavy Industry, Shantui, and SINOTRUK for heavy machinery and mining equipment exports. Single pieces up to 45 tons, 35 tons, 25 tons. One-stop service: crating → packaging → lifting → container loading → reinforcement → customs → ocean freight.
max single piece
cargo damage
on-time delivery
carrier options
Factory Relocation, Cross-Border Plant Move
Goertek factory relocation from Weifang to Vietnam; Master Kong complete production line dismantling and shipping; Rizhao factory relocation to Korea. Thousands of components, heaviest single piece 45 tons. Dismantling → packing → transport → customs clearance → destination reassembly and commissioning.
countries relocated
heaviest component
components handled
lost/damaged items
In summary: Great Hensen has executed heavy equipment exports for SANY, Shantui, SINOTRUK, and TGood, plus complete factory relocations for Goertek and Master Kong, handling single pieces up to 45 tons with zero cargo damage and 100% on-time delivery across all projects.
How we handle every project shipment
Site Survey
We assess the cargo at your factory, dimensions, weight, lifting points, fragility. Route survey from factory gate to port.
Engineering Plan
Professional lifting plan. Lashing and reinforcement design. Container type recommendation. All plans signed off before cargo moves.
Packing & Loading
Vacuum packaging, heat-shrink wrapping, custom crating. Steel chain lashing. DG-certified personnel supervise every loading.
Delivery & Handover
Ocean/air/rail transport. Destination clearance. Final delivery to site. For factory relocations: positioning and reassembly included.
In short: every project cargo shipment follows a four-stage process: on-site survey at your factory, an engineered lifting and lashing plan, supervised packing and container loading, and end-to-end transport with destination clearance, delivery, and for factory relocations, positioning and reassembly at the new site.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between flat rack, open top, and platform containers?
Flat Rack Containers have collapsible end walls and no sides, ideal for cargo that exceeds standard container width. Open Top Containers have no roof, cargo is loaded from above by crane, suitable for tall equipment that cannot fit through standard doors. Platform Containers are just a reinforced steel floor with lashing points, no sides, no ends, for the heaviest and most irregularly shaped pieces. We select the optimal type based on your cargo dimensions, weight, center of gravity, and handling requirements.
What is the heaviest single piece you can ship?
We have successfully shipped single pieces up to 45 tons for clients including TGood (heavy equipment case study), SANY Heavy Industry, and Sinotruk. However, the limiting factor is typically not our capability but the combination of weight, dimensions, and destination port infrastructure. A 45-ton piece that fits on a flat rack and ships to a major port with heavy-lift cranes is routine. A 35-ton piece that is 4 meters wide shipping to a port without heavy-lift capability requires specialized engineering solutions, which we provide.
What is OOG (Out of Gauge) cargo and how is it handled differently?
OOG cargo exceeds the standard container dimensions (approximately 2.35m wide × 2.39m high internally). It cannot fit inside a standard container and must be shipped on flat racks, open tops, or as breakbulk. OOG cargo requires: special stowage on the vessel (typically on deck or in specific hold positions), custom lashing plans approved by the carrier, additional surcharges for the space it occupies beyond a standard slot, and specialized handling equipment at both origin and destination ports. Our engineering team prepares all required documentation and plans.
Planning & Engineering
Do I need a lashing plan for heavy cargo?
Yes, and it must be professionally engineered, not improvised. Every piece over 10 tons requires a custom lashing plan specifying: number, type, and placement of lashing points; chain/wire rope specifications with calculated breaking strengths (minimum 1.5x safety factor); anti-slip matting; and weather protection. The plan must be submitted to and approved by the shipping line before loading. We prepare all lashing plans in-house, our engineering team reviews each plan, and we handle carrier submission and approval.
How do you handle factory relocation projects?
Factory relocations follow a 6-phase methodology: (1) Pre-move planning, complete inventory audit, route survey, timeline with milestones. (2) Dismantling & cataloguing, every component tagged with unique ID, photographed. (3) Risk-based packing, protection level matched to fragility. (4) Container loading strategy, reverse-engineered from the reassembly sequence. (5) Dual customs clearance, all documentation prepared before cargo moves. (6) Destination reassembly, project manager remains accountable until the production line restarts. We have completed relocations for Goertek (cross-border relocation case), Master Kong, and a Rizhao-based manufacturer (→Korea).
How far in advance should I book project cargo?
4-6 weeks minimum for standard heavy-lift shipments. 8-12 weeks for complex projects involving multiple oversized pieces, specialized vessels, or remote destination ports. Early engagement allows us to: conduct the route survey, prepare and submit lashing plans to the carrier, secure the appropriate container types (flat racks and platforms are scarcer than standard containers), and coordinate destination heavy-lift handling. Last-minute project cargo bookings are possible but limit routing options and often incur premium pricing.
Carrier & Cost
How do you secure space for project cargo during peak season?
Through strategic carrier partnerships with 10+ major lines. We maintain allocated space agreements on key routes, not just for standard containers but for special equipment (flat racks, open tops). During peak season, when carriers prioritize higher-paying cargo and cut special equipment allocations, our agreements protect our clients' space. For critical project cargo, we can also arrange charter vessel options as a contingency.
How is project cargo priced differently from standard FCL?
Project cargo pricing includes several components beyond standard ocean freight: special equipment surcharge (flat rack/open top/platform), OOG surcharge (calculated per cubic meter beyond standard dimensions), heavy-lift surcharge (for pieces exceeding a weight threshold, typically 20-25 tons), lashing and securing (materials and labor), crane and handling charges at both ends (often higher than standard container handling), and engineering and documentation fees (lashing plan preparation, carrier approval). We provide an all-in quote so there are no surprises.
Got oversized cargo? let's plan the move.
Tell us what you need to ship, dimensions, weight, origin, destination. We'll return a routing plan and quote within 24 hours.
Request a Project Cargo QuoteFrequently Asked Questions
What is considered heavy-lift or project cargo?
Cargo exceeding standard container weight limits (typically 28 tons per 20ft container) or dimensions (length >12m, width >2.4m, height >2.6m). We handle single pieces up to 45 tons using flat racks, open tops, platform containers, and breakbulk/RO-RO for oversized equipment.
How do you secure oversized cargo for sea transport?
We prepare custom lashing plans per piece, using certified chains, wire ropes, and tensioners. Each plan is approved by the carrier and port authority. We supervise loading on-site at the port to ensure compliance, our zero-damage record covers 500+ heavy-lift shipments.
What are the main Chinese ports for heavy-lift cargo?
Qingdao, Shanghai, and Tianjin all handle heavy-lift. Qingdao is our primary base and often preferred for North China cargo due to its heavy-lift berth infrastructure and availability of floating cranes up to 600 tons.
How long does heavy-lift cargo shipping take from China?
Transit time: 25–40 days to Europe, 20–30 days to Middle East, 30–45 days to South America. Add 2–3 weeks for inland heavy-haul transport from factory to port and customs/documentation processing at both ends.
How much does heavy-lift cargo shipping from China cost?
Heavy-lift and project cargo costs vary significantly by cargo dimensions, weight, origin/destination, and equipment type. Flat rack and open top containers typically cost 1.5x to 3x more than standard containers. Breakbulk and RO-RO are quoted per cubic meter or per ton. We provide a detailed quote within 24 hours after a free site survey and cargo assessment.
What documents are required for heavy-lift cargo export from China?
Required documents include: commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading, export declaration to China Customs, and a lashing plan approved by the carrier. For used machinery, a CCIC pre-shipment inspection certificate is also required. Oversized cargo may need a port authority lifting permit and road transport permit for inland heavy-haul from factory to port.