CARGO WORK

Questions and instructions accompanying the slides

What are we going to talk about?

About the different types of cargoes that vessels can carry.

1 – 8 What type of cargo is this?

Can you give any examples of this cargo?

How is it carried?

How is it handled?

Slide 2. Solid bulk cargo

Examples: sugar, cocoa, coffee...

Carried: In bulks

Handled: The cargo is store in large holds with specialized equipment to load on board
that type of cargo, like cranes or hoppers.

Slide 3. Liquid bulk cargo

Examples: Petroleum, chemicals, liquefied natural gas (LNG)...

Carried: In liquid form.

Handled: Cargo stored in tanks to controlled the conditions during all the process to
prevent spills, leaks or other types of contamination. The liquids are carried on board by
pipelines.

Slide 4. General cargo

Examples: Clothes, machinery, food...

Carried: In packages, pallets...

Handled: The cargo is handled by different types of cranes and it’s common that the
cargo can be unitized to speed up the process of loading.

Slide 5. Containerized cargo

Examples: Toys, cars, trucks...

Carried: In containers

Handled: Containers are carried by cranes and special forklift trucks and can be stored
inside holds or onto deck.
 Slide 6. Neo bulk cargo

Examples: Heavy machinery, lumber, steel coils...

Carried: Prepackaged, accountable, in defined load units and not stored in a container.

Handled: Neo bulk cargo cannot be loaded and unloaded with standard equipment. This
type of cargo needs specialized cranes, forklifts or other machinery

Slide 7. Refrigerated cargo

Examples: fruits, meat, dairy products…

Carried: In large insulated holds with refrigerating machinery.

Handled: The cargo is loaded in separate spaces in holds and tween decks. The
temperatures inside the spaces must be checked and controlled to avoid spoiling the
cargo.

Slide 8. Ro-Ro cargo

Examples: Trucks, cars, construction machinery…

Carried: In different decks as a parking.

Handled: Mostly self driven onto the vessel by ramps. The cargo is rolled inside the
vessel.

9 Which of these types is most commonly carried?

Main dry bulks like iron, ore, grain and coal & containerized cargo.

10 Identify the types of ship

Container ship

Ro-Ro ship

General cargo ship

 Bulk carrier

11, 12 gantry; grab; piping system, boom; LNG loading arm; tugmaster, pump; elevator; conveyor belt,
sling; straddle carrier; spout

Piping system Grab Gantry

Boom LNG loading arm Tugmaster

Pump Conveyor belt Spout

Sling Straddle carrier Elevator

13 Complete the table.

Type of cargo Examples Type of ship How (un)loaded

Liquid Bulk Petroleum, chemicals, Tanker Through pipelines on

LNG deck

Dry bulk Grain, Iron ore Bulk carriers Through special cranes
and hoopers

Containerized Toys, clothes, cars Container ship Through cranes and

special forklift trucks

Non-containerized Machinery, food General cargo ship Through cranes

Refrigerated Meat, fruit, dairy Reefer vessel Controlling the

products temperature

Ro-Ro Cars, trucks, Ro-Ro ship Rolled on and of the

construction machinery vessel

14. Convert the diagram into a table.

How’s carried
Packaging Type of cargo Examples % tonnage
on board?

Drums, bags,
Break bulk Lift-on/Lift-off 7%
pallets, boxes

General cargo Unitized cargo Lumber, paper, Lift-on/Lift-off,

Neo bulk 5%
steel, vehicles Roll-on/Roll-off

Containerized Containers Lift-on/Lift-off 13%

Petroleum,
Pumps and
Liquid bulk LNG, chemicals, 35%
pipelines
vegetable oils
Bulk cargo Loose Cargo
Coal, iron ore,
Grabs/suction
Dry bulk grains, bauxite, 40%
and conveyors
sand
I. Decide what terms are defined below:

trim stowage factor oil space cargo grain space dunnage package
bale space

1. Cargo: the load of goods carried on board a ship or on another means of transport
2. Dunnage: materials and items used to wrap, contain and protect goods during transport
3. Stowage factor: volume of the cargo hold occupied by one ton of cargo
4. Bale space: the volume of the cargo holds that can be used for general cargo.
5. Grain space: the volume of the cargo holds that can be used for dry bulk cargo.
6. Oil space: 98% of the total volume of the wet bulk tanks
7. Package: material used to segregate different types of cargoes
8. Trim: difference between the draft forward and the draft aft.

II. Read the text below. Then answer the questions.

The traffic of cargoes that are carried in inland waters, along the coast, or across the ocean is known as
waterborne freight. Cargo carried by sea may be divided into two basic types: bulk cargo and general
cargo. The former consists of a single commodity usually carried loose. The latter is comprised of a variety
of goods. These are packed separately in crates, barrels or drums, or bags. General or breakbulk cargo
includes containerized, non-containerized and refrigerated goods. Recently a new type of cargo has
emerged – Ro-Ro units.

There are two major types of bulk cargo - liquid and solid bulk cargo. Oil, gas and chemicals are carried in
tankers which may be crude oil tankers, product tankers, chemical and gas carriers. Most serve to carry
crude oil to the oil refineries and the refined products – to the end user. In all of them the hull is divided
into a series of tanks for structural strength and cargo segregation. The cargo tanks are fitted with a
system of pipelines, connected to a central manifold, valves and fittings. To keep them clean a system
called ‘crude oil washing’ (COW) is employed by which the heavy residues are removed from the tank
sides. Before cleaning takes place inert gas (usually the exhaust gases from the main engine) is pumped
into the holds to avoid the risk of explosion. The cargo itself is handled by pumps - at the loading port by
shore pumps and at the discharging port by the ship’s own reciprocating or centrifugal type pumps.

Solid bulk cargo including grain, iron ore, coal, sugar, building materials, etc. is carried by bulk carriers.
These ships are categorized by size and purpose. The cargo holds in a general purpose bulk carrier are
self-trimming. They ensure that during the passage cargo will not shift and in any way affect the vessel's
stability. Minimum obstructions such as pillars help ease the loading and discharge of the cargo.
Depending on whether they are equipped with their own cranes and grabs, bulkers are called geared or
gearless. Cargo handling equipment includes cranes with grabs, conveyor belts, suction tubes called
elevators, chutes, spouts to throw and trim the cargo, ship unloaders, etc.

Unlike solid bulk goods, general cargo comprises materials of which the quantity is not registered per size
or weight but per individual item. It comprises a wide range of cargoes from breakbulk, unitized cargo to
heavy lifts. Stowage presents the greatest problem because each item has its own characteristics and
size. As a rule, general cargo ships are small, decked, multi-purpose ships plying on short-sea voyages or
in inland waterways, sometimes fitted with refrigerated holds. Reefer ships and container vessels also
belong to this category.
 The vast majority of cargo nowadays is containerized – that is, it is carried in metal containers of standard
size. The so-called 20-foot (TEU) and 40-foot (FEU) containers are transported on specially designed
ships for distribution between hub and feeder ports. Most of these are gearless and depend on shore
equipment – gantry cranes and straddle carriers for loading and discharging. Project cargo includes items
such as manufacturing equipment, factory components, power equipment and is too big or too heavy to fit
into a container. Refrigerated cargo consists of perishable goods such as meat, fruit, and dairy products. It
may be carried frozen or chilled. Some cargoes which are incompatible may be easily tainted, for example
tobacco and foodstuffs. Others need ventilation to prevent sweating.

Ro-ro cargo covers cars, trucks, trailers and railroad cars. They are driven on and off the ship on their own
wheels or using terminal equipment. This includes tugmasters or ro-ro tractors for moving cargoes on
shore and in the ship, MAFI trailers - platforms for cargo towing, etc. There are various types of ro-ro
vessels, such as ferries, cruise ferries, cargo ships, and barges. The ro-ro vessels that are exclusively
used for transporting cars and trucks across oceans are known as Pure Car Carriers (PCC), Pure Truck &
Car Carriers (PCTC) and Large Car & Truck Carriers (LCTC) respectively.

III. Complete this diagram to form a summary of the basic types of cargo:
Cargo

Bulk General

Liquid Solid Ro-Ro Units Containerized Non-containerized Refrigerated

IV. Answer the questions.

1. What is bulk cargo? Cargo usually carried loose.
2. What is general cargo? Cargo carried separately, unitized. Commonly packed in crates, barrels,
drums or bags
3. What systems are used to load liquid cargo? System of pipelines connected to a central manifold,
valves and fittings.
4. What types of pumps handle the liquid cargo? Reciprocating or centrifugal pump.
5. Why are holds on bulkers self-trimming? To ensure that the cargo will not shift and affect the
vessel’s stability during the voyage.
6. What machinery is used to handle solid bulk cargo? Cargo handling equipment such cranes with
grabs, conveyor belts, elevators, chutes, spouts...
7. Why is general cargo difficult to stow? Because the cargo has different characteristics and size.
8. What is typical of general cargo ships? That ships are generally small, decked or multi-purpose
and the voyages on short-sea or in inland waterways.
9. Why is the container trade so popular today? Because a container can carry different type of cargo
in a unic metal container of standard size.
10. What does project cargo feature? Can carry items that are too big or too heavy to fit into a
container.
11. Where is perishable cargo carried? Inside holds that can be frozen, chilled or ventilated.
12. How is ro-ro cargo moved on shore and in a ship? On their own wheels or using terminal
equipment.
V. Give synonyms of the following:

a. breakbulk cargo-General cargo e. heavy weight cargo-Heavy lifts

b. wet bulk cargo-Liquid bulk cargo f. ro-ro tractor-Tugmaster
c. solid bulk cargo-Dry cargo in bulk g. railroad car-Train car
d. suction tube-Elevator h. foodstuffs-Perishable goods

VI. Explain the terms:

a. geared bulk carrier – Bulk carrier equipped with their own cranes and grabs.
b. compatible cargoes – Cargo that can be stored side by side without damage any of them.
c. hub port – Central port connected with several small ports.
d. project cargo – Transportation of large, heavy duty, high value or complex pieces of
equipment that cannot be stored inside a container.
e. perishable goods – Cargo that can be spoil quickly.
f. Sweating – The cargo heats slowly and can be cocked in their own juices.

VII. Give instructions for stowage of cargo.

The Chief Mate is generally responsible for loading and discharging of the vessel. All cargo handling gear
on board needs frequent overhauling. If wires, chains, shackles, cargo hoses, hooks and slings are not
checked regularly, loading and discharging can become a risky affair or cause unnecessary delay.
Carrying general cargo and its many separate items in drums, barrels, crates, bags, rolls, cases, boxes
and cartons often presents difficulty. Therefore packing is checked for damage or deformation. When
loading general cargo, special care is taken not to waste loading space. The nature of the cargo is also
taken into account. Some goods give off a strong smell or moisture and are liable to contaminate other
goods by tainting. Contaminated goods are covered with tarpaulins and separated from other goods.
Fragile goods are handled with caution. Heavy pieces of cargo are not stowed on fragile ones; barrels of
liquids may leak and cause damage etc.

1. Before start loading operations check all cargo handling gear, that must be in perfect conditions.

2. Check all packing and look for any damage or deformation. Report any incident.

3. Follow the stowage plan for not waste loading space.

4. Avoid to put any cargo with strong smell or moisture next to others susceptible to contamination.

5. Put heavy cargoes under fragile ones to avoid cause any damage.