On This Page
Ship Your Draglines
Get expert advice on the best shipping solution for your equipment.
Related Equipment
Overview
Draglines are among the largest machines ever built, with the biggest units weighing over 8,000 tons. These walking machines are typically assembled on-site and rarely moved, but when relocation is required, it's a major undertaking.
Dragline transport involves either walking the machine short distances or complete disassembly for longer moves. Full disassembly can involve 100+ loads over 12-24 months.
We partner with specialized dragline contractors and OEMs for these rare but complex projects.
Typical Specifications
| Operating Weight | 1,500 - 8,000+ metric tons |
| Bucket Capacity | 40 - 170 cubic meters |
| Boom Length | 80m - 130m |
| Walking Shoe Size | 15m - 25m |
Recommended Shipping Methods
Breakbulk/Heavy Lift
RecommendedFor all major structural components.
Heavy Haul Trucking
RecommendedMulti-configuration for walking assemblies.
Barge
RecommendedOften used for waterway access to mining sites.
Walk
Short relocations may walk the machine.
Container, flat rack, RoRo or breakbulk?
We quote in this order because it is usually cheapest first. Most machines that look too big for a box fit once our crew takes off the bucket, boom, cab or wheels; larger ones are taken further apart across several containers, and pieces too big or heavy for a flat rack or roll trailer go breakbulk.
01Container
- Work needed
- We partially disassemble when needed (bucket, boom, cab, wheels), or take larger machines further apart across several high-cubes and open-tops, then crate, block and lash every part.
- Destinations
- Widest: almost every port worldwide, plus inland delivery by rail.
- Typical cost
- Usually the lowest, with no out-of-gauge surcharges.
- Protection
- Sealed steel box; loose parts and attachments travel locked inside.
- Best for
- Most machines: compact ones as they are, others after partial disassembly, and large ones split across several containers.
02Flat rack
- Work needed
- Ships assembled, blocked and lashed. Surcharges apply when wider than 2.4 m or taller than about 1.95 m.
- Destinations
- Most container ports, on the same vessels as containers.
- Typical cost
- Moderate; rises with every centimetre out of gauge.
- Protection
- Open to the weather; we protect cabs, electronics and hydraulics.
- Best for
- Excavators, dozers and loaders too wide for a container door.
03RoRo
- Work needed
- Drives on assembled; non-runners go on a roll trailer.
- Destinations
- Fewer destinations: regular lanes to Europe, West Africa, the Middle East, Oceania and parts of Latin America.
- Typical cost
- Often competitive for large self-propelled machines where a lane exists.
- Protection
- Below deck, but loose items and attachments cannot ride inside the cab.
- Best for
- Running machines going to a port with regular RoRo sailings.
04Breakbulk
- Work needed
- Lifted aboard piece by piece by ship’s or shore cranes, on its own skids or cradle, then stowed and lashed in the hold or on deck.
- Destinations
- Ports with breakbulk berths and heavy-lift cranes; sailings are booked voyage by voyage.
- Typical cost
- Usually the highest for a single small machine; often the only option for the largest pieces.
- Protection
- In the hold or lashed on deck; we crate, wrap and protect exposed parts.
- Best for
- Pieces too large or heavy for a flat rack or roll trailer: transformers, process modules, mining trucks, crane sections.
Handling & Preparation Requirements
- Complete structural disassembly
- Boom section cutting and transport
- Tub and house separation
- Walking mechanism breakdown
- Electrical/mechanical systems
- Multi-year project planning
Common Models We Ship
Frequently Asked Questions
Are draglines ever shipped complete?
No, draglines are always assembled on-site. Relocation requires complete disassembly.
How long does a dragline relocation take?
Full relocation typically takes 12-24 months from planning through reassembly and commissioning.
Can draglines walk to new locations?
Yes, for short distances (a few kilometers), draglines can walk at about 200 meters per hour.
Plan your shipment
Import Duty & Tax Estimator
Estimate duty and VAT on the CIF value for 70+ destinations.
Dimensional Weight Calculator
Work out chargeable weight before you book.
Container Space Calculator
See how your cargo fits in 20ft, 40ft, and HC containers.
Route Finder
Load port, sailings, duty and rules for a machine and destination.
Ready to Ship Your Draglines?
Get a customized quote for your equipment. Our experts handle draglines shipments worldwide.