When it comes to transporting goods, containers are a vital part of the process. But just how secure are they while in transit on ships at sea? On the open sea, ships face harsh conditions and are subject to extreme forces. If containers are not secured properly, rough weather can quickly become a recipe for…
Moisture damage is one of the leading causes of cargo claims on bulk and break bulk vessels. Whether it comes from the cargo itself, from condensation on the ship’s structure, or from atmospheric humidity entering the hold, moisture affects different cargoes in fundamentally different ways — and the first thing a cargo officer needs to…
This page answers one question: how long is a ship’s anchor cable, and how is the correct amount calculated for your vessel and anchorage? It is written for deck officers, mates, and maritime students who need operationally accurate information — not a general guide for recreational boaters. What Is a Shackle of Anchor Cable and…
The need to provide an efficient cargo hold ventilation system on ships to ensure the quality of transported items is critical. Such a system is required to minimize the formation of condensation in cargo spaces, remove potentially hazardous gases, and lower the detrimental heating of cargo being transported. An efficient cargo hold ventilation system, therefore,…
Cargo ships are classified according to their sizes as well as the fuel they can carry. For instance, Panamax size cargo ships can carry approximately 5,700 MT up to 8,000 MT, meanwhile, Post-Panamax size cargo ships can carry roughly between 9,500 MT to 13,000 MT of fuel. For New-Panamax sizes of cargo ships, they can…
The structure of a ship is subject to strain during loading and bad weather conditions. The strain or load likely to be encountered by the ship’s structure constitutes perhaps one of the most formidable problems faced by ship officers during cargo operations. The two main types of cargo loads that are considered when loading a…
A Bill of Lading is a binding legal document between the consigner and the carrier in the shipment of goods and specifies the nature of goods being transported to the consignee. There are different types of Bills of Lading, and basically, the most important in shipment include To Order Bill of Lading, Claused Bill of…
Whenever you import some goods, whether as an individual or as an agent, there are other parties that are involved until you receive the goods. There is you as the consignee, a consigner or the shipper, and a notify party. A consignee is an individual, a client, or an entity that receives the shipment from…
For a ship to be commercially viable for carrying cargo the spaces on board need to be optimally utilized. This means cargo cannot be dumped haphazardly into the cargo spaces but rather must be loaded in an organized manner. This is done through careful planning and the result of such careful planning is a cargo…
Carriage of the cargo by sea transport starts with planning and searching for an appropriate cargo vessel and the cargo stowage factor plays a crucial role in this process. A ship must be fit for each cargo and cost-effective to keep a trade beneficial for all parties. Here is my simple cargo stowage factor calculator:…