14. Organization of cargo handling operations

As you know merchant sea ports are intended to perform economic and administrative functions. Main administrative functions are ensuring of safe navigation and proper order within the port. Economic functions are loading and discharging operations, servicing of inbound and outbound vessels, forwarding and warehousing operations.

Cargo handling is in my opinion the most important function of the port. To transport cargo from water modes of transport to shore modes is the basic reason why such an institute as cargo port was established. During ages all activities concerning sea trade developed greatly. Cargo handling is not exclusion. Originally the cargo operations were effected on a very low level. Cargo was loaded and discharged by ordinary workmen – stevedores by means of the most simple equipment: slings, nets, winches, derricks. Nowadays this is very complicated and high organized process. The whole process consists of several stages. Prior to loading stage plan and cargo plan is drawn up. Stevedores headed by foreman effect stowage of the cargo and sufficient securing and lashing of the cargo. Three very important documents should be taken into consideration during this stage. Mates receipts are issued for each consignment showing the quality and the quantity of the cargo taken onboard, B’s/l are issued and signed by the master on the basis of these documents. And the last one is charter party, that regulates the rate/speed of cargo handling operations. Prior to discharging stevedores require stowage and cargo plan as far the discharging shall be effected very carefully in roper order, consignments for different consignees shall not be mixed.

Cargo handling operations are effected by stevedores by means of various cargo facilities. They are port cranes, floating cranes, gantry cranes, bridge cranes for general cargo, cranes equipped with grabs, elevators, conveyors and suction plants for bulk cargo, pipelines for liquid cargo. Sometimes they can even be effected automatically.

The labor in the stevedoring company or department in the port who is responsible for cargo handling operations may be divided into: stevedores – ordinary workmen, foremen – who are responsible for the work and safety of groups of stevedores called gangs, chief foreman is responsible for all work onboard the ship, superintendent is responsible for handling of all ships in the dock.

As far as nowadays many vessels call in the ports every day and each of them require to loaded and discharge, and such operations may be done only by means of cargo handling facilities and adequate personnel all cargo handling operations are arranged in strict schedule by planning department of the port. Commercial department is in charge of finances and profit of cargo handling complexes.

Loading

Before the commencement of loading the ship all necessary preparations should be made both in the port and on board the ship to be loaded. First of all, the cargo plan must be drawn up. In Russian ports this document is usually drawn up at the Chief Controller's Office since this office directs cargo work in the port, while in foreign ports the Ship Agent and the Master draw up the cargo plan.

Before loading the Chief Stevedore (or Boss Stevedore as he is called sometimes), who is in charge of loading the ship, secures the necessary number of stevedore gangs, obtains port cargo handling facilities, if necessary, and supplies the tackles which the stevedores need. He also supervises the correct tonnage allotment for the holds. In the process of loading the Chief Stevedore checks up if cargoes are properly stowed and trimmed, for proper stowage of cargo ensures the stability of the ship loaded. It is also his duty to see that the cargo should be properly

secured from shifting.

On board the ship the Cargo Officer sees to that all necessary preparations for loading should be made. Under his supervision the crewmen clear the hatches. They roll back the tarpaulins from the hatches, remove hatchcovers, remove beams The crewmen also get ready the ship's winches, derricks and cranes, if any.

Different kinds of cargo require different equipment and appliances. So, for loading cases steel slings, nets and pallets are necessary; bags require nets and canvas slings; heavy lifts are loaded either with heavy duty derricks (or «jumbo» derricks as they are also called), the lifting capacity of which is over 5 tons, or with ship's or quay cranes; for loading flowing cargoes elevators and grabs are used; for loading containers there are gantry cranes and container bridges having container claws; for loading RO-RO vessels or various sorts of vehicles (such as autotrucks, forklift trucks, trailers and others) are used; as to tankers, they are loaded with the help of pipelines and hoses.