Cleaning and ventilating cargo holds.

2.1 Stowage

Pay attention to underlined words and word combinations. (See the Notes).

Stowage is the placing of cargoes either in ship’s holds or on her deck. The method of stowage must ensure the following:

- The preservation of crew and ship from danger of injury arising from the manner in which the cargo is stowed

- To protect the cargo from damage, loss or deterioration, and to ensure its “sound delivery”.

- The economy of cargo space that depends on the vessel's earning capacity.

- The highest possible rate of port speed, i.e. the rate at which the vessel is capable to load or discharge her cargo.

A plan showing the disposition of cargoes throughout the ship should be drawn up in all cases. It is called the Stowage or Cargo Plan.

The cargo plan should be drawn up carefully. It will make the distribution of cargo pieces in the holds easier and will help to avoid cargo claims. When loading for more than one port, a different colour should be used to indicate the cargo for each separate port.

While stowing the cargo the stevedore and the cargo officer should ensure the ship's stability and seaworthiness. Cargo must be stowed and fastened reliably to avoid shifting if the ship rolls and pitches during a storm. A reliable fastening the cargo prevents possible damage from chafing, breaking and crushing.

Special attention should be paid to the stowage of barrels. For this kind of cargo bottom stowage is preferable in order that leakage may find access to the bilges without risk of damage to other cargo.

The method of stowage depends on the kind of the cargo. Light cargoes are stowed on top of heavy ones, the latter being given bottom stowage.

The stevedores and ship's cargo officers use such a term as “broken stowage”, which is used to express space which is lost and unoccupied by cargo between and round the packages; space occupied by dunnage; space at sides, ends and on top of cargo.

This loss of space varies according to the nature of the cargo carried. With free flowing cargoes like grain, sand, etc. provided they are properly trimmed, the loss is small.

With bag cargo and handy cases of uniform dimensions, such as tea packages, canned goods, very full stowage is possible.

On the other hand, irregularly shaped packages, varying in size and form, large packages, such as machinery, boilers, large reels and motor cars, cylindrical containers, etc., the loss of space is very high. And it sometimes reaches 25%.

The loss of cargo space can be avoided by

- Compactness of stowage.

- Selecting packages which by their sizes and form are suitable for_filling broken stowage.

- Always keeping a supply of such packages specially shipped for this purpose, close and ready at hand in the holds, for the use when wanted.

- Special selecting the cargo suitable for filling beam spaces.

Notes:

to place cargoes — размещать грузы

sound delivery — доставка груза (в неповрежденном виде)

earning capacity — эксплуатационные возможности

rate of port speed –нормы грузовых операций в порту

cargo pieces (packages) — грузовые места

cargo claims — претензии относительно грузов

to roll and pitch — испытывать ботовую и килевую качку

broken stowage — неправильная укладка

free flowing cargoes — сыпучие грузы

handy cases — удобные ящики

of uniform dimensions — одинаковых размеров

full stowage — оптимальная укладка

the loss of space — неиспользованная кубатура (трюма)

to fill broken stowage — заполнить свободное пространство, образовавшееся из-за неправильной укладки

ready at hand — находящиеся под рукой