Савчук. Foreign trade

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With bag cargo and handy cases of uniform dimensions, such as tea packages, canned goods, very full stowage is possible.

On the other hand, irregularly shaped packages, varying in size and form, large packages, such as machinery, boilers, large reels and motor cars, cylindrical containers, etc., the loss of space is very high, and it sometimes reaches 25 %.

CONTAINER REVOLUTION

Big ports have changed completely in the last 20 years. Docks and ships look quite different nowadays. Instead of forests of tall thin cranes lifting pallets, we see a few huge heavily built transporter cranes lifting big steel boxes. Instead of hundreds of stevedores working in the holds and on the quayside we see no men at all, we just see huge machines. Instead of long warehouses at the dockside, we see open spaces with stacks of boxes. Lines of goods trains with the same boxes stand nearby. The ships themselves look like huge steel tanks with lots of smaller tanks stacked in them.

The capital cost of containerizing ports is enormous. So the majority of ports still use traditional methods.

Containers are steel boxes of different sizes but usually 8 by 8 by 20 or 40 feet. This size is limited by the width of roads. But all containers are the same width and height. This is a revolution in transport. The advantages are:

-Handling at docks can be done mostly by machines. Ships designed with special guide structures in their holds can receive the containers.

-Very few stevedores are needed. A traditional ship took one hundred men, 3 or 4 weeks to unload and load. A container ship of the same size takes 12 to 15 men, 3 to 4 days.

-Unloading and loading a container ship is very fast and turnaround (the time spent in port) is much shorter. Goods can be delivered more quickly by fewer ships.

-Packing can be done in suppliers’ factories. Containers needn’t be opened except for Customs inspection until they reach the customers.

-Warehouses are unnecessary. Containers are waterproof and can be stacked by straddle carriers outside in the rain.

-Refrigerated containers can be connected to electrical plant at the dockside and in the ship.

Find words or phrases in the text which have the following meanings:

(a)money in big quantities

(b)most

(c)breadth

(d)complete change

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(e)automated

(f)planned

(g)required

(h)examination

(i)shed docks

(j)do not let in rain

(k)generators

Match the expressions on the left with the words on the right:

Supply a suitable word for each space:

Traditional cargo is made up of _ shapes and sizes of container which _ a lot of men a lot _ _ time to load and stow into _. The idea of containerization is that _ goods are pre-packed into standard sized _ which are the same height and _ and in two standard lengths (20 _ 40 feet). The width and height _ determined by the sizes of the _, bridges and railway tunnels. Container lengths _ more variable and go up to _ feet. This means containers can be _ quickly by machines which move them _ different kinds of transport: railway trucks, _, cranes and ships can all be _ to handle containers. Containers can be _ by the exporters and needn’t be _ except for Customs inspection until _ the customers. So delivery is much _ than before. But the capital cost of new _ equipment is very high indeed. Only _ ports have changed to container systems. _ ports still use traditional methods of _ and loading.

Fill in missing words, choosing them from the ones given below:

Liquid, odorous, residue, leak, securely, grabs, pilfering, bulk, chilled, dimensions.

1 _ is a serious problem in many ports.

2 Crude oil is a _ cargo and is usually carried in _.

3Grain is discharged by _.

4Rubber is an _ cargo.

5Fruit is only _, not frozen.

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6 Dirty cargoes leave a _ behind them.

7 This container should be _ fastened.

8 I don’t know the _ of the case.

9 Damaged drums can _.

In the first group of words find synonyms for the words in the second group:

1)variety, chilled, different, to package, odorous, toxic, to fasten, to stow;

2)to secure, smelly, cooled, to place, to wrap, poisonous, a rich choice, various.

Find the corresponding adjectives in the right – hand column which describe the nouns in the left-hand column:

Correct the statements if they are wrong:

1.Dairy produce is very odorous and can taint other goods.

2.Fertilizers often leave a residue behind them.

3.Combustible and toxic cargoes are a risk to human life.

4.Flour is seldom carried in bags. It is usually carried in bulk.

5.Containerization reduces handling costs.

6.Containers are very cheap.

CONTAINER SHIPS

The use of containers has continued to increase in recent years. Containerization means the consolidation of goods of single or mixed commodity into a freight container which may be closed or open and which, if in conformance to the recommendations of the international Standards Organization (ISO), would be 10 ft, 20 ft, 30 ft or 40 ft in length by 8 ft wide and 9 ft or 9 ft 6 inch high in external cross-section. A container is designed to be handled mechanically throughout the transit. Specially designed cellular container ships and efficient port facilities are essential in order to take full advantage of the system. To support

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container ship operation a great deal of capital has been invested in depots, road and roll vehicles, ships, containers and port terminals.

Such a service offers the maximum possibilities for reduction in overall transport costs, since individual containers are only handled twice; once when loading and once when unloading the container. Damage, pilferage, packing, insurance and stock inventories are all potentially capable of reduction.

Ships that carry containers can range from the cellular type full container ship or semi-container ship where some of the cargo spaces can be used to carry containers.

The cellular type full container ship is equipped to carry containers in the holds and on the hatch covers. Within the holds of the vessel there is a cellular structure of angle bars forming container guides into which the containers are stowed, one on top of another. The containers carried on deck are carefully secured to ensure that they will not shift. The only movement of the container within the ship is vertical one, and thus loading and discharging is carried out by vertical movement only. Height of container stacks vary and may be 6 high in the holds and 3 high on deck. In general, cells are arranged fore and aft in groups, their number depending on the ship’s breadth. The distinguishing features of container ships are very large hatch opening and elimination of tweendecks. The fore and aft groups of cells are separated by heavy web frames, or similar structure, to act as support to the cells and also give rigidity to the vessel. Each cell is for one container stack and extends vertically from the coaming level to the tank-top. The basic functions of the cellguide system are: 1 to facilitate the lowering and positioning of containers; 2 to distribute the lateral loads from the containers (arising from the rolling motion of the ship) to the adjacent hull structure.

In many areas of the world on short voyage service feeder ships of similar configuration but of reduced capacity are in operation. By fully mechanizing the handling of cargo and using shore based gantry cranes the typical feeder ship can be turned around in about 5 hours, a practical loading-unloading cycle being 2 to 3 minutes per container.

There are also roll-on/roll-off container ships on which the containers are mounted on the wheels or trailers and are then rolled on the ship and stowed complete with their undercarriage. Such ships are particularly advantageous for short voyages, but they can carry fewer containers as compared to cellular full container ships or feeder ships of equivalent size because of considerable space occupied by trailers and access ramps from deck to deck. This difference may be as much as 35 % or even more.

Like all other specialized ships designed to carry unitized cargo container ships have a high service speed from 16 to 26 knots, and even up to 30 knots, in dependence of ship’s deadweight.

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:

goods of single or mixed commodity – - '

if in conformance to recommendations – (

+

throughout the transit – '

stock inventories –

cellular type full container vessel – + ' (

"

angle bar –

web frames – (") " "

to give rigidity – , "

cell-guide system – - ()-

to distribute the lateral loads (arising from the rolling motion of the ship) to the adjacent hull structure – '

"

feeder ship can be turned around in about 5 hours –

5 "

complete with undercarriage –

consolidation –

depot –

container guides – ()

tank-top –

shipboard gantry crane –

access ramp – '

CONTAINER CARGOES

Both loading and discharging container cargoes is done in the warehouses. As an exception it may be done in the ports on the permission of Port Authorities.

Handling containers should be done according to the following conditions: Cargoes in containers are to be stowed to ensure complete tightness. The cargoes should be hitched and lashed tightly so that it could not shift inside of a container under any conditions of carriage.

Packages of light and fragile cargoes should be stowed on the heavy ones.

Cargoes of different physical and chemical properties should not be stowed in the same container. All the cargoes must be compatible with each other.

After stowing the cargo the doors of the containers should close and open freely.

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It is quite important to use some means of safeguarding the cargo from chafage, smashing, freezing to sometimes or overheating.

For this purpose the walls of a container should be wrapped with paper and set (fitted) rubber gaskets. Packages to be put into the container are usually wrapped up with some soft isolating materials.

Cargo should be stowed and packed up to full container capacity. After loading cargo inside the container should be sealed.

For each container a Bill of Lading is drawn up. Each B/L shows the number and the type of a container, the weight or total amount of the cargo, the kind of the cargo and the seal print.

Container transportation is carried out by specialized ships as well as by usual cargo ships.

The advantage of containerization is that an entire container can be lifted off the truck by a crane which is aboard the ship and placed in a cell constructed in the ship’s holds.

After arrival in the port of destination the container is unloaded into a truck which is beside the ship on the pier.

The truck then delivers its contents to the final place.

This concept minimizes the port time of the ship, reduces the number of shore workers needed to load and unload the ship, and optimizes the time from initial point of shipment to final point of destination. In addition, it greatly reduces cargo loss and damage in transit. Modern container ships have been specifically constructed for this purpose. Today very few ships have their own cranes. Most loading and unloading operations are done by huge, very high capacity shoreside cranes which remain at the special container terminals in major ports of the world.

Remember the following abbreviations and give them in full:

Ro-Ro vessels (doubleor multi-deckers) are designed to carryall sorts of rolled vehicles and motor cars – by driving them on/off the ship – and unitized cargo and length/bulky cargo units. The types of access and distribution facilities are numerous, each designed to serve a specific purpose, such as: stern/bow doors and side ports, the doors being normally hydraulically operated; access ramps, internal ramps; hoistable platforms, lifts; bulkhead doors. The actual link between the shore and the ship consists of a bridge ramp hinged at the shore end and supported at the other end in such a way that the ramp can be adjusted to varying tide levels. The ramp should be sufficiently wide to provide at least two traffic lanes for the vehicles. The connection between the ramp and the ship is usually by a secondary ramp. The latter may be a door or an internal ramp. Loading may be effected through the stern/bow door or side ports. On some medium-sized ships

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both bow and stern doors are provided, the ramp arrangement at the bow being similar to that at the stern. Such arrangement enables the vehicles to drive straight off the ship without having to be turned or reversed; hence the expression – “drivethrough” type vessel.

Inside the vessel the vessel the vehicles are distributed throughout the cargo spaces by either internal ramps or hoistable platform. Where space is available, fixed or movable ramps are used, since they permit faster rates of loading than mechanically operated vertical lifts. The fixed ramp has the disadvantage of reducing valuable parking space on the deck above and below it. It is of greater advantage to use a hinged ramp which can be used as a closure for the deck above. On some RO-RO vessels lifts of varying sizes are designed to transfer loads from deck to deck.

If the stern bridge ramp is placed right in the direction of ship’s fore-and-aft centre line, the ship can moor only stern to the berth. When the ramp is placed at an angle to the centre line, the ship can moor either stern to or alongside the berth (but only with one of the ship’s sides). Such development in ship-to-shore access as slewing ramp enables the ship to load and discharge rolled cargo directly astern, over the port quarter or over the starboard quarter. The advantage of the slewing ramp is that it makes the ship completely independent of port facilities; the ship can berth in remote ports, estuaries, rivers and other locations where only one berthing position is possible. The slewing ramp moves round the stern through approximately 80degrees and is operated by winches. Storage of the ramp is directly astern, and the stern opening forward of the ramp is closed by a separate watertight door. The advantages of RO-RO vessels:1 independence of port facilities; 2 quick door-to-door service; 3 faster cargo handling rate and, consequently, reduced turn-round time; 4 as goods are generally in containers, the risk of damage or pilferage is reduced.

The disadvantage of RO-RO ships: 1 a considerable amount of cargo volume is occupied by vehicles and trailers; 2 a considerable space below the lower deck cannot be used for trailers.

:

Hoistable platform – 64

Traffic lane –

Without having to be turned or reversed – "

' "

“drive-through” vessel – ' '

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Find English equivalents to the following:

,--/ ;

/ 4 - ; # * ; &/ / ; !64/* ; &; 7 +;

' / ; , ' .

BARGE CARRYING VESSEL

The idea of a barge carrier is the same as that of any unitized goods transporter: to keep cargo in the same package all the way and not to reload it. Large steel barges used as containers may be of different sizes and of different cargo carrying capacity. The only difference between a container and a barge is that the latter is much bigger and can float. Barges can be loaded with principal different cargo – from ore to containers. Several barge carrier designs are available, including the lighter aboard ship (LASH) and the sea barge (Sea Bee) designs.

These designs differ in dimensions and design features but provide similar benefits in that the ship is able to load and unload barges in rivers and estuaries away from docks and quays. Thus they reduce the time in port and avoid the usual problems of port congestion.

Both LASH and Sea Bee ships can be operated as container ships. The advantages of the barge carrying system: 1 rapid loading and unloading; 2 the barge carrier can anchor and moor clear of quays and thus avoid port congestion; 3 the life of barge is 2.5 times that of a container and the depreciation of barge is about half that of the equivalent number of containers; 4 the organization of the barges is simpler than that involved with the much larger equivalent number of containers.

The disadvantages of the barge carrying system: 1 distribution is limited, since the barge is restricted to a navigable inland waterway suited to the draught of the barge; 2 ice on the waterways can restrict barge transport; 3 inland waterway transport is relatively slow; this is important in relation to perishable products; 4 the LASH type ship is more expensive than the equivalent container ship.

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:

Unitized cargo transporter – '

4- '

Port congestion – '

To anchor and moor clear of quays – *

"

Translate the following letters from English into Russian:

(1)

Dear Sirs,

Please note that the covers of packed steel sheets loaded in No___ lower hold aft part are rusted and most of the bands broken. The Mate’s receipt for this particular lot will be claused accordingly. The cover of steel package No__ is very badly damaged and the contents exposed.

Kindly have the cover renewed and inform the authorities concerned.

Yours faithfully,

(2)

Dear Sirs,

I have to draw your attention to the fact that as a result of negligent and careless handling of the cargo by stevedores some damage was caused to the cargo during discharging.

Contrary to the correct practice of discharging cargo from corners of a hold, bags had been stowed on slings, in corners and then dragged along the floor all the way through until lifted. Most bags turned out to be considerably torn and dirtied, their contents partly spilled.

In view of the above I have to attribute all losses incurred hereupon to the stevedoring company of which please take due note.

Yours faithfully,

(3)

Dear Sirs,

The following damage has been caused to my ship by the stevedores (crane operators) for which I hold them fully responsible.