A generator set is not a heavy box. It is a machine with a centre of gravity, a base frame designed for one lifting method, and a control panel that dislikes being used as a handhold.

Why a Generator Is a Freight Problem Before It Is Cargo

Most damage to generator sets does not happen at sea. It happens in the yard, when a forklift lifts a unit by the frame in a place the manufacturer never intended, or when a crane spreads its slings at the wrong angle and the enclosure takes the load.

The freight consequence is immediate. A bent base frame turns into a survey, a repair quote and a delay that runs longer than the sailing itself. Sorting this out before booking is cheaper than sorting it out on the quay.

We ask for the manufacturer's lifting diagram and the unit's gross weight with fuel and without. Those two numbers decide the equipment, the rate and often the route.

Weight, Base Frame and Lifting Points

Skid or base tank

A skid-mounted set sits on a steel frame with forklift pockets. A set on a base tank is wider, heavier and often too tall for a standard container. The difference is not cosmetic; it changes the container type.

Centre of gravity

An engine block at one end and an alternator at the other do not balance. Units that look level on a trailer can shift lashings once the vessel starts to roll. We mark the lifting points and the centre line before loading, and we photograph the lashing pattern after.

Lashing

Chain through the base frame, never around the enclosure. Cross-lashing on a flat rack, with timber packing under the skid so the frame sits clear of the deck.

Flat Rack, Open Top or Container

When it fits a standard container

Smaller sets, usually under about 500 kVA, often fit a 40ft high cube with the skid blocked and braced. This is the cheapest option when the dimensions allow it.

When it does not

Oversize units, sets on base tanks, and anything that cannot be lifted into a box without a crane go on a flat rack or an open top. The freight rate rises, but the alternative is a unit that cannot be loaded at all.

Documents and Clearance

Power equipment is classified by output and by application, not by the words on the brochure. A 100 kVA diesel set and a 100 kVA transformer do not share a tariff line, and a description that says only power equipment invites a question.

We work from an invoice that states output in kVA, fuel type, model and country of origin, plus a packing list showing each unit and its lifting points. Where a shipment sits near the threshold covered in our Philippines BOC de minimis rules 2026 note, we check it before the booking is confirmed.

Units that have run before shipment need clean fuel lines and a declared fuel level. A set that arrives with a full tank creates a problem that a set shipped dry does not.

How the Shipment Moves

1. Collection. Factory pickup with the lifting diagram on file, and a condition survey before loading.
2. Export. Flat rack or container booking, crane loading, lashing and photo record.
3. Clearance. Duty and VAT assessed on the declared value, then release to our broker.
4. Delivery. Lowbed or crane truck to site, coordinated with your installation team.

We handle the inland leg ourselves where the route allows, which is why the crane on arrival matches the crane that was planned at booking. The full document sequence is on our service flowchart.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a generator be shipped with fuel in the tank?

Generally no. Fuel is a regulated commodity, and a set is normally shipped drained or with a declared residual. We confirm the requirement with the carrier before the unit leaves the factory, because a full tank can stop the booking at the gate.

Do you arrange the crane at destination?

Yes, when the delivery is on DDP and the site can be reached by crane truck. We ask for the site access photos in advance, including gate width and overhead lines, because a crane that cannot enter the gate is a wasted day.

What is the usual lead time to Manila?

Allow two to three weeks of sailing plus clearance, and add site delivery on top. Provincial destinations take longer because the unit may need to transship from Manila. Routing for the southern islands is covered on the China to Cebu route page.

Send the lifting diagram and unit dimensions through our contact page and we will come back with the container type, the inland route and a landed price.