What is meaning of cargo planning or cargo stowage on ships and its benefits?

To make it possible to plan the cargo stowage, loading, and unloading sequences, the cargo terminal should provide the ship with the following information well in advance:

  • Cargo characteristics; stowage factor, angle of repose, amounts, and special properties.
  • Cargo availability and any special requirements for the sequencing of cargo operations.
  • Characteristics of the loading or unloading equipment including the number of loaders and unloaders to be used, their ranges of movement, and the terminal’s nominal and maximum loading and unloading rates, where applicable.
  • Minimum depth of water alongside the berth and in the fairway channels.
  • Water density at the berth.
  • Air draught restrictions at the berth.
  • Maximum sailing draught and minimum draught for safe maneuvering permitted by the port authority.
  • The amount of cargo remaining on the conveyor belt will be loaded onboard the ship after a cargo stoppage signal has been given by the ship.
  • Terminal requirements/procedures for shifting ship.
  • Local port restrictions, for example, bunkering and deballasting requirements, etc.

Cargo trimming is a mandatory requirement for some cargoes, especially where there is a risk of cargo shifting or where liquefaction could take place.

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