Drilling Rigs Shipping
Drilling Rig & Foundation Equipment Transport
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Ship Your Drilling Rigs
Get expert advice on the best shipping solution for your equipment.
Related Equipment
Overview
Drilling rigs range from compact geotechnical units to massive foundation drilling machines and mining blast hole drills. Each type has specific handling and transport requirements.
Many drilling rigs have tall masts that must be lowered for transport. Augers, buckets, and tooling often ship separately.
We handle rotary drills, foundation rigs, micropile drills, and specialized geotechnical equipment for projects worldwide.
Typical Specifications
| Weight Range | 10 - 200+ metric tons |
| Mast Height | 10m - 30m+ (working) |
| Transport Height | 3.5m - 5.0m (mast down) |
| Track Width | 3.0m - 5.0m |
Recommended Shipping Methods
Flat Rack
RecommendedFor tooling and auxiliary equipment.
RoRo (Roll-on/Roll-off)
RecommendedFor tracked rigs that can travel.
Breakbulk/Heavy Lift
RecommendedFor large foundation rigs.
Heavy Haul Trucking
RecommendedMulti-axle trailers for inland moves.
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
- Mast lowered and secured
- Kelly bar removed (if equipped)
- Augers/tooling removed and secured
- Hydraulic lines capped
- Counterweights in transport position
- Cab windows protected
Common Models We Ship
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you transport rigs with tall masts?
Masts are lowered to transport position. Some rigs require mast removal for very tall configurations.
Do kellys and augers ship with the rig?
Typically removed and shipped separately for large rigs. They may remain attached on smaller units.
Are drilling rigs suitable for RoRo?
Many tracked drilling rigs work well on RoRo. Very heavy foundation rigs may exceed limits and require breakbulk.
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 Drilling Rigs?
Get a customized quote for your equipment. Our experts handle drilling rigs shipments worldwide.