ShipCars UK moves project, heavy lift and out-of-gauge cargo from the United Kingdom to Panama using flat racks, open tops, breakbulk stowage and RoRo mafi trailers into Colón, Balboa. Every project starts with measurements and a lift plan, not a guess: we survey the unit, work out how it stows, and price the actual space and lifting gear it consumes.
Pricing guide
Project & Out-of-Gauge Rates to Panama
Port to port · Colón · transit approx. 22 days
| Flat rack, in-gaugeUp to 12 m x 2.4 m x 2.4 m | from £3,466 |
| Flat rack, out-of-gaugePriced on overwidth and overheight slots lost | from £4,742 |
| Open top with tarpaulinTop-loaded machinery and long items | from £3,192 |
| Breakbulk / conventional (per freight tonne)W/M basis, 1 tonne or 1 cbm whichever is greater | from £164 |
| RoRo static cargo on mafi trailerNon-runners, gensets, tanks and modules | from £2,462 |
| Heavy lift over 45 tCrane study and method statement included | quoted per lift |
| Route survey and lift planAbnormal load routing to the UK berth | £450 – £1,500 |
| Abnormal load haulageEscorts and police notification where required | quoted per movement |
| Project marine insuranceIncludes lifting risk and DSU on request | from 1.8% of value |
Out-of-gauge pricing depends on final measured dimensions and the deck slots blocked.
Project, heavy lift and out-of-gauge cargo to Panama
Cargo becomes "project" the moment it stops fitting inside a standard container. Anything over 2.35 m wide, 2.35 m high or 12 m long is out of gauge and is priced on the slots it blocks as well as its own footprint. We move excavators, transformers, generators, tanks, steel structures, prefabricated buildings and complete production lines from the UK to Colón, Balboa.
Equipment we use into Colón
- 40ft flat racks with collapsible ends for machinery up to around 40 tonnes
- Open top containers for over-height cargo craned in and sheeted
- Conventional breakbulk stowage on multipurpose vessels
- RoRo mafi trailers for tracked and non-running plant
- Heavy lift and tandem crane operations where the unit exceeds gear capacity
UK abnormal load handling
The UK leg is often harder than the sea leg. Abnormal loads need route surveys, movement orders, escorts and in some cases police notification, and the berth must have the crane capacity and laydown area to receive the unit. We handle the survey, the haulage, the port booking and the lifting method statement as one package and will tell you early if a different loading berth saves days or thousands of pounds.
Discharge and delivery in Panama
At Colón the same questions apply in reverse: discharge crane capacity, customs treatment of capital equipment, inland route restrictions and the final lift onto foundations. We appoint a destination agent in Panama at quotation stage so the discharge plan is agreed before the vessel sails, and arrange project marine insurance that covers the lifting risk as well as the voyage.
Request a project cargo quotation for Panama
Send us the dimensions, weight and centre of gravity of each unit, together with the collection address and required delivery point in Panama, and we will return a written scope: what is included, what your consignee pays locally, and the assumptions behind the price.
Discharge ports in Panama
Ports we sail to in Panama
Average port-to-port transit 22 days · weekly departures
UK loading ports
- Tilbury
- London Gateway
- Southampton
- Felixstowe
- Liverpool
Panama discharge ports
- ColónRoRo ramp, container terminal and inland haulage available
- BalboaRoRo ramp, container terminal and inland haulage available
Moving project cargo to Panama
Quote & booking
Rates, sailing or flight options confirmed in writing.
UK collection
Nationwide collection or delivery into our Tilbury depot.
Loading & packing
Lashing, crating, palletising and photographic record.
Customs & export
Export entry, NES clearance and documentation released.
Transit & delivery
Tracking updates until the cargo lands with your consignee.
Project cargo we move to Panama
Surveyed, lift-planned and lashed to a carrier-approved stowage plan.
- Excavators, dozers, cranes and quarry plant
- Transformers, generators and switchgear
- Prefabricated buildings and modular units
- Agricultural combines, sprayers and balers
- Drilling equipment and oilfield modules
- Boats, yachts and marine engines
- Steel structures, tanks and pressure vessels
- Complete factory and production line relocations
What we need to quote accurately
- Length, width and height of each piece, and the total weight
- Centre of gravity and designated lifting points
- Collection postcode and any access restrictions on site
- Final delivery address in Panama and the discharge port preferred
- Whether the unit rolls, is static, or must be craned