Cargo, including maritime cargo, is characterized by the method of transportation and the type of load unit involved.
- Continuous transport. Loose and unpacked cargo that can be potentially carried in large quantities without interruption and load handling equipment. This applies to solids, gases, and liquids that conveyor belts or pipes can transport from one storage medium (onshore or on a ship).
- Discontinuous transport. Cargo that requires specific handling in loads necessitates a form of consolidation and deconsolidation.
- Determined content. Cargo is carried in known and measurable quantities, which require a load unit, such as a tank, pallet, box, or container.
- Own form. Cargo, which, due to its physical characteristics, can be carried as is without the need for a container. This includes bulk, such as ores or petrochemicals, and break bulk, such as vehicles and project cargo (e.g. wind blades).