ship handling

Guidelines and procedures provided herewith pertain to container ship operations

CMA CGM Lamartine at sea passage



Containerized cargo carrying is being increasingly popular worldwide.The articles here are procedures / guidelines concerning container stowage and safe handling in port,care at sea, Stacking weights,cargo securing prior departure port, Lashing Strength, Dangerous Cargo Stowage & Segregation,handling Reefer units, Special Container Stowage, Irregular Stowage of Containers, Over-stow of Containers,safety of navigation,Hull strength & stability,stevedores injury and reporting, Hatch Cover Clearance (High cube containers Under Deck ), & Other matters regarding cargo stowage as necessary and many more detail topics related with containership operation and business.

Summarized below are some basic procedures. These procedures are only indicative, not exhaustive in nature and one must always be guided by practices of good seamanship.


Safe cargo stowage and planning
When considering acceptability of a container cargo stowage plan, some basic check items, procedures / guidelines concerning cargo stowage shall be taken into account . Read more...

Safe Cargo operation

On Arrival Port, Prior Commencing Cargo Operation 1) The composition of cargo watch personnel shall be decided and duties well understood. 2) All personnel involved in the cargo watch shall be briefed regarding the expected operations and provided with a Cargo Discharge Plan . Read more...

Guidelines and procedures concerning containership hull strength & stability
When considering acceptability of a container cargo stowage plan, the following procedures/guidelines concerning hull strength & stability shall be taken into account:
a) Draft, Trim and Heel Draft restrictions at berth, approaches, passage and next port shall be taken into consideration and vessels maximum draft must be maintained within the applicable restriction. Read more...

Procedures for dangerous cargo handling and documentation
Handling dangerous cargo requires special care due to the inherent hazardous nature of the cargo and applicable carriage regulations.
Read more...

Procedures for reefer cargo handling
Reefer containers require special care after they are loaded on board ship. These containers need to be supplied with power, monitored closely for proper function and repaired as required in case of malfunction.
Read more...

Handling breakbulk,Out of gauge and open top containers
Break bulk cargo is usually stowed on flat racks and platforms. It is important to confirm that the break bulk cargo itself is properly secured onto the Flat rack or Platform prior loading on board.
Read more...

Containership operation: 2 in 1 (Two in One) Loading
The term 2 in 1 operation is normally used when two 20feet units are loaded in one 40feet bay underdeck. When such loading operation is being conducted, it must be ensured that the terminal staff is aware of the vessels lashing system.
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Containership operation: On Deck Loading of 20feet Containers
20feet containers loaded on deck must be spaced apart in order to leave room for lashing each container on the fore and aft ends.
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Containership operation: Opening closing hatch covers
Hatch cover operations are frequently carried out on board container ships but due care is necessary to prevent damage by incorrect operation.
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Containership operation: Cargo lashing
Regular inspection and maintenance of ships cargo securing devices must be carried out. These would include routine visual examination of components being utilized, lubrication of securing devices, repair of damaged securing devices and separating out and rejecting damaged/unusable securing devices.
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Containership Cargo securing
When containers are carried on deck, the ship is required to be approved for that purpose and the containers themselves are secured with twistlocks and lashings. These usually consist of steel rods and turnbuckles.
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Containership Cargo Securing Devices (Lashing Gear Box Containers)
Vessel shall account for all lashing gear box containers including bins prior departure from every port.
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Containership Cargo hold ventilation
Cargo holds of container ships are fitted with two basic types of ventilation systems, namely natural and mechanical. Mechanical ventilation could be of either the supply or the exhaust type.
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Safety navigation for container ships
While planning the passage for intended voyage the safety of navigation should be accommodated in, where it is both reasonable and possible to do so,
Read more...

Containership Cargo care at sea
Condition of Cargo (Container) Securing / Lashing shall be checked at least once daily and tightened as required.
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Containership operation: Safety of personnel
On board containerships there are several potential safety hazards in the cargo working area and these will have to be identified, made safe and monitored to ensure continued safety.
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Containership operation: wet damage in cargo hold
Water entered into vessel cargo holds may cause wet damage to the cargo inside containers especially stowed on the bottom, unless the bilge water is drained in a proper and swift manner.
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Containership operation: hull damage stevedores
In case a third party including stevedores is responsible for an accident caused by work, such as Cargo handling, Bunkering, or Loading ships stores or the like, the Master shall handle the accident with appropriate steps to claim for damages.
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Measures to protect the vessel side against stevedores injury
All working areas and accesses must be checked to be clear of any slippery matter and obstructions, be structurally sound and well lit, before stevedores come on board.
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Measures to protect reefer cargo deterioration
Check and monitor each reefer container as per voyage instruction, which requires some basic check items.
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Containership Navigation : Ships motion in a seaway
Ships are affected by movement in six degrees of freedom; rolling, pitching, heaving, swaying, surging and yawing. Of these, rolling, pitching and heaving generate the highest forces during heavy weather.
Read more...

Containership Cargo Securing Arrangement
Details of the securing system and its constraints are set out in the vessels approved Cargo/Container Securing Manual.
Read more...

Containership Cargo Operation : Common reasons for stowfall
Container stows often fail due to:

Container stacks being too heavy and too high overall, exposing the lower containers to excessive transverse racking and compressive forces due to the tipping effect.
Read more...

Containership operation : Ships motion in a seaway :parametric roll
The term parametric roll is used to describe the phenomenon of large unstable roll motion suddenly occurring in head or stern seas.
Read more...




Container handling more info pages:

  1. Containership advantages


  2. Containership cargo stowage and planning


  3. Procedures and guidelines for dangerous cargo handling


  4. How to avoid irregular stowage of containers ?


  5. Measures against lashing failure


  6. Reefer container stowage guideline


  7. Care of Reefer container during sea passage


  8. Container ships procedures for securing for sea


  9. Deployment and monitoring of moorings and safety of crew


  10. Cargo securing procedure for container ship


Confirmation and record of securing

The following checklists shall be used to confirm the securing condition:

Cargo ships preparation for sailing

Checklist for Navigation in Heavy weather

Checklist for Departure

How to maintain Water tightness, Seaworthiness, Fire integrity and Security of ship ?

Securing your vessel for sea passage - when to check and what to check

Confirming stability & hull strength prior sailing

Collecting Information and Data for Passage Planning







Our additional pages contain somewhat larger resources regarding procedures / guidelines about container stowage and safe handling in port,care at sea, Stacking weights,cargo securing prior departure port, Lashing Strength, Dangerous Cargo Stowage & Segregation,handling Reefer units, Special Container Stowage, Irregular Stowage of Containers, Over-stow of Containers,safety of navigation,Hull strength & stability,stevedores injury and reporting, Hatch Cover Clearance (High cube containers Under Deck ) and many more detail topics related with containership operation and business. For any comments or suggestions please Contact us
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