What are the precautions while loading Steel plates on ships ?

1.  Stow steel plate on the bottom of the lower holds or the between decks.
2. Stow steel plate level on dunnage so that the weight of cargo loaded on top of it will be evenly distributed over the entire plate.
3.  Stow steel plate in a fore-and-aft direction if possible.
4. Sling steel plate on the quarters at a point about one-quarter of the length of the plates from each end.
5. Use a round turn on each sling and use taglines to control the draft if long lengths of plate have a tendency to bend when slung.
6. Use crowbars or wedge point bars for moving the plates into final stowed position.

Points to pounder for steel plate loading:

• Plate should be stowed in the fore and aft direction, with dunnage running athwartship and between each tier.
• Stowage should be from one side of the ship to the other, leaving no voids, and the top layer secured with wire or chain bindings.
• When loading thin plate, stowage in subsequent tiers can be in alternate directions

Dunnage

• Steel is a very high-density cargo, to avoid damage to the ship’s structure and to enable an even weight distribution, carefully apply dunnage between the ship and cargo, and within cargo tiers.
•   Lay dunnage over strong points
• laying dunnage is an important part of safe and efficient carriage of steel. Ship’s officers should ensure that dunnage is laid properly.

Dunnage is applied to:

• create frictional resistance
• spread the load. Always use sufficient strips of dunnage to avoid   exceeding the tank top acceptable point load. As the height of a  stow increases so too does the requirement for additional strips of dunnage.
• avoid deformation of the cargo, especially when loading steel plate, coils and railway lines
• protect steel from moisture
• reduce possible movement within a stow, especially when carrying steel plate or slabs