This guide covers the shipping options, the preparation and documents, and the steps from port to site.
Choosing a shipping mode
| Mode | Suits | Watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Standard or high-cube container | Smaller sets, parts and controls | Weight limits, securing inside the box |
| Containerised genset as its own unit | Sets built in ISO container enclosures | Certification of the enclosure for shipping |
| Flat rack or open top | Oversize or heavy sets, radiators, transformers | Weather protection, lashing |
| Breakbulk | Very heavy or large items, turbines and engines | Ship’s cranes, port handling, lift plans |
| Ro-ro | Trailer-mounted units | Route availability, height limits |
The cheapest freight rate is rarely the cheapest outcome. A mode that avoids an extra lift or a transshipment often saves more than it costs.
Preparing the unit
Before shipping, the set should be prepared to the maker’s preservation instructions: fuel drained to the allowed level, batteries disconnected or shipped separately under dangerous goods rules, coolant protected against freezing where relevant, openings sealed, desiccant placed in control panels and the unit wrapped where it will be exposed. Lifting points and the centre of gravity must be marked. Our pages on preservation and storage and crate marking cover these steps for turbines, and the principles apply to all generators.
Documents that must be right
Typical documents include the commercial invoice, packing list with weights and dimensions, bill of lading, certificate of origin, any required inspection certificates, and dangerous goods declarations for batteries or residual fluids. Incoterms set who pays for and carries the risk on each leg, so they must match the contract. Errors in descriptions, serial numbers or tariff codes are a common reason for customs holds. See customs clearance for the import side.
Insurance and survey
Marine cargo insurance should cover the full journey to site, not just the sea leg. A pre-shipment survey with photographs and a loading survey give evidence if damage is found later. Our cargo insurance guide explains the cover to ask for.
Port to site
On arrival, the unit is discharged, cleared and moved inland. Heavy and oversize loads need route surveys, abnormal load permits, escorts and sometimes bridge checks or temporary works. In Africa, inland legs from ports such as Durban, Walvis Bay, Mombasa or Tema can be longer and slower than the sea leg, so plan them first. See heavy haul permits.
Timing shipping around commissioning
The right arrival date is the one that matches site readiness. Equipment that arrives before foundations are cured sits in a laydown yard, needs preservation and may need a second lift. Equipment that arrives late holds up commissioning crews and grid connection dates. Work backwards from the planned installation date, allow for customs and inland transport at their realistic duration, and add a margin for port congestion and weather. For multi-unit plants, sequence the deliveries so the first units arrive with the switchgear and controls they need, not after them.
Keep one shipment tracker for the whole project, showing every unit, its status and its documents, so site and procurement teams work from the same picture.
Receiving on site
At site, the unit should be inspected before the transport company leaves: packaging, tilt and shock indicators, visible damage and the packing list. Damage should be noted on the delivery documents and photographed. The unit then goes to a prepared laydown area or straight to its foundation. Our site receiving checklist sets out the steps.
Logistics run by a power plant contractor
USP&E ships generators, engines, gas turbines and balance of plant to projects worldwide as part of its EPC and supply work. With 150+ power projects in 45+ countries and 25,000 MW contracted since 2002, we plan logistics around commissioning dates. See the equipment we hold for shipment.
Offices: Colorado Springs (1755 Telstar Dr, Suite 300), Knoxville (800 S Gay St, Suite 700), London (162-168 Regent Street), Johannesburg (22 Kildoon Rd, Bryanston), Cape Town (31 Brickfield Road, Woodstock) and China (No. 1 Ningzhou Road, Wuxi). Regions: USA | AFRICA | UK | UAE | CHINA. ISO 9001 and ISO 45001 certified.
Generator shipping questions
How are large generators shipped?
Smaller sets go in containers; larger or oversize units go on flat racks, as breakbulk cargo or by ro-ro if trailer-mounted.
Do generator batteries need special shipping?
Often yes. Batteries may be classed as dangerous goods and are usually disconnected or shipped separately with the right declarations.
What documents are needed to ship a generator?
Commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading, certificate of origin, and any inspection certificates and dangerous goods declarations required.
Who is responsible for a generator during shipping?
That depends on the Incoterms in the contract, which set who pays and who carries the risk on each leg of the journey.
Need equipment moved to site?
We can plan shipping, documents and inland delivery for generators and turbines bought from us or elsewhere.
Send drawings, load data or questions via the logistics team; the switchboard is +27 10 822 2324 and the inbox is info@uspeglobal.com. Equipment ready to ship is listed in the USP&E inventory.