Cargo Work

For Maritime Operations

D.J. House

• Publisher: Routledge
• Year: 2015
• ISBN:
  9781317540748
• Edition: 8
• Topic: Tecnologia e ingegneria
• Subtopic: Trasporti marittimi

An essential reference for merchant seamen around the world, Cargo Work provides a guide to the key characteristics of a wide range of cargoes. Fully revised and expanded to comprehensively reflect the unit load containerised systems that are now employed in all aspects of cargo handling and international shipping, while retaining the necessary detail on transporting key classes of cargoes safely, efficiently and profitably. This book covers general principles and the latest international regulations that affect all cargo work, including cargo types, coverage of roll-on/roll-off cargo handling, containerisation, equipment and offshore supply.

• A crucial reference for both students and serving crew
• Covers the latest International Maritime Organisation (IMO) codes, plus key elements of the International Port and Ship Security Code (ISPS)
• Includes two new chapters on Passenger Vessels and Offshore Trades

1

General Principles of the Handling, Stowage and Carriage of Cargoes

Introduction

The transport of cargo dates back through the centuries to the Egyptians, the Phoenicians, ancient Greeks and early Chinese, long before the Europeans ventured beyond the shores of the Atlantic. Strong evidence exists that the Chinese treasure ships traded for spices, and charted the Americas, Antarctica, Australia, the Pacific and Indian Oceans, before Columbus supposedly discovered America.*

The stones for the Pyramids of Egypt had to be brought up the River Nile or across the Mediterranean and this would reflect means of lifting heavy weights, and transporting the same was a known science before the birth of Christ. Marco Polo reported 200,000 vessels a year were plying the Yangtze River of China in 1271 and it must be assumed that commerce was very much alive, with a variety of merchandise being transported over water.

Produce from the world’s markets has grown considerably alongside technology. Bigger and better ships feed the world populations and the methods of faster and safer methods of transport have evolved.

The various cargoes or merchandise which are carried may be broadly divided into the following six types:

1. Bulk Solids

2. Bulk Liquids

3. Containerised Units

4. Refrigerated /Chilled

5. General, which includes virtually everything not in (a), (b), (c) or (d) above.

6. Roll On, Roll Off cargoes

Bulk cargoes can be loaded and discharged quickly and efficiently but we have yet to see 10,000 tons of grain being loaded into a jumbo jet. Ships remain the most efficient means of transport for all cargo parcels of any respectable weight or size.

This book investigates the business of how cargo is loaded, how it is stowed and subsequently shipped to its destination. Later chapters will deal with specifics on the commodities, but the methods of handling prior to starting the voyage and the practical stowage of goods should be considered an essential element of the foundation to successful trade.

*Gavin Menzies, 1421: The Year China Discovered the World (London: Bantam, 2002).

Definitions and Cargo Terminology

Air draught – The vertical distance from the surface of the water to the highest point of the ship’s mast or aerial.

Bale space capacity – The cubic capacity of a cargo space when the breadth is measured from the inside of the cargo battens (spar ceiling) and the measured depth is from the wood tank top ceiling to the underside of the deck beams – the length being measured from the inside of the fore and aft bulkhead stiffeners.

Bill of Lading – A document issued by a carrier to a shipper recording the receipt by the carrier of a consignment of goods for carriage to a stated destination. It incorporates the carrier’s conditions of carriage.

Broken stowage – The space between packages which remains unfilled. The percentage that has to be allowed varies with the type of cargo and with the shape of the ship’s hold. It is greatest when large cases are stowed in an end hold or at the turn of a bilge.

Cargo information – Appropriate information relevant to the cargo and its stowage and securing, which should specify in particular the precautions necessary for the safe carriage of that cargo by sea.

Cargo manifest – A ship’s list of all cargo parcels being carried on board. It is an essential document for use with customs when the vessel is entering inwards to a port or harbour and forms part of the Master’s declaration. A Chief Officer would use the manifest to identify any dangerous goods, heavy lift cargo and valuable parcels.

Cargo plan – A ship’s plan which shows the distribution of all cargo parcels stowed on board the vessel for the voyage. Each entry onto the plan would detail the quantity, the weight, and the port of discharge. The plan is constructed by the ship’s cargo officer and would effectively show special loads such as heavy lifts, hazardous cargoes and valuable cargo, in addition to all other commodities being shipped.

Cargo runner – General term used to describe the cargo lifting wire used on a derrick. It may be found rove as a ‘single whip’ or doubled up into a ‘gun tackle’ (two single blocks) or set into a multi-sheave lifting purchase. It is part of the derrick’s ‘running rigging’ passing over at least two sheaves set in the head block and the heel block, prior to being led to the barrel of the winch. Normal size is usually 24 mm and its construction is FSWR of 6 x 24 w.p.s.

Cargo securing manual – A manual pertinent to an individual ship, which will show the lashing points and details of the securing of relevant cargoes carried by the vessel.

It is a ship’s reference which specifies the on-board securing arrangements for cargo units including vehicles and containers and other entities. The securing examples are based on the transverse, longitudinal and vertical forces which may arise during adverse weather conditions at sea. The manual is drawn up to the standard contained in MSC circular of the organisation, MSC/Circ 745.

Cargo ship – Any ship which is not a ‘Passenger ship’, troop ship, pleasure vessel or fishing boat.

Cargo spaces (e.g. Cargo hold) – All enclosed spaces which are appropriate for the transport of cargo to be discharged from the ship. Space available for cargo may be expressed by either the vessel’s deadweight or her cubic capacity in either bale or grain space terms.

Cargo unit – Includes a cargo transport unit and means wheeled cargo, vehicles, containers, flat pallet, portable tank packaged unit or any other cargo and loading equipment or any part thereof, which belongs to the ship and which is not fixed to the ship.

Centre of buoyancy – The centre of the underwater volume. The point through which all the forces due to buoyancy are considered to act.

Centre of gravity (C of G) – The point through which all the forces due to gravity are considered to act. Each cargo load will have its own C of G.

Dangerous goods – Goods defined as such in the Merchant Shipping (Dangerous Goods and Marine Pollutants) Regulations 1990.

Deadweight – The difference in tonnes between the displacement of a ship at the summer load water line in water of specific gravity of 1,025, and the lightweight of the ship.

Deadweight cargo – Cargo on which freight is usually charged on its weight. While no hard-and-fast rules are in force, cargo stowing at less than 1.2m²/tonne (40 cu. ft./ton) is likely to be rated as deadweight cargo.

Deadweight scale – One of the ship’s stability documents. It is frequently displayed on a convenient bulkhead, usually in the Chief Mate’s Office. Once loading or discharge has taken place, the ship’s draughts are noted and compared to the scale. This allows the estimated cargo tonnage transferred to be quickly established by the cargo officer.

Dunnage – An expression used to describe timber boards which can be laid singularly or in double pattern under cargo parcels to keep the surface of the cargo off the steel deck plate. Its purpose is to provide air space around the cargo and so prevent ‘cargo sweat’. Heavy lift cargoes would normally employ heavy timber bearers to spread the load and dunnage would normally be used for lighter load cargoes.

Flemish Eye – A name given to a reduced eye made of three strands (not six), spliced into the end of a cargo runner which is secured to...