A shipping line or shipping company is a company whose line of business is ownership and operation of ships. Shipping companies provide a method of distinguishing ships by different kinds of cargo: 1. * Bulk cargo is a type of special cargo that is delivered and handled in large quantities. 2. * General cargo, now known as break-bulk cargo, refers to a wide assortment of goods that may be delivered to several ports around the world. 3. * Oil became a crucial part of the shipping industry in the early 20th century. Its use varied from lubrication for developed machinery, burning in boilers and industrial plants, as well as for operating engines. Oil is also primarily shipped by specific shipping companies as opposed to other forms of transportation. This is considered a type of specia