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Safe Stowage Is an Essential in Efficient Operation By H. A. Rhatigan pendent on proper stowage of cargo. Improper stowage May completely invalidate all the advan- tages of a stout ship, a fine command and a good crew. It menaces the lives of passengers and crew, and may mean loss of property, for cargo improperly stowed is certain to shift, cause the ship to list, sail improperly and pos- sibly result in its capsizing. Much is required of the man who loads a vessel. He must know his busi- ness and how to handle men. He per- sonally supervises the loading and stowage of cargo and does not permit a ship to sail without his final inspec- tion. His stevedores know how to carry out his orders, and they func- tion under the supervision of foremen who are.expert in their capacities. Cargo must be properly chocked and secured to prevent the slightest shift- ing. Blocks of iron or wood or mis- cellaneous cargo are inserted in all the empty spaces between articles, so that the vacant spots are completely occu- pied. In a properly stowed ship there is never any necessity for the crew’s chocking cargo after the vessel has left port and commenced its voyage. S renee at sea is substantially de- Chocking and Securing Cargo The chief officer supervising stowage must load his heavy and lightweight articles in proper location according to the ports of call, yet arange them so that they can be readily discharged. At the same time he must see that the vessel does not lose stability. Freight must be so placed that the cargo for each port is easily accessible without This is a full abstract of an article by H. A. Rhatigan, Traffic Manager, W. R. Grace & Co., which appeared in The Grace Log for January-February, 1931. 46 Claims Are Eliminated by Correct Stowage that which is intended for subsequent ports being confused with it. When loading for more than one port, only cargo for one port should be worked at a time into any’ particular hatch. To do otherwise involves great risks of confusion and subsequent short or over landing at the various ports. Care in this particular saves time later on in avoiding delays at various ports. Poor stowage is the reason why vessels discharging at in- termediate ports work a few hatches only, causing the remainder to be idle and so materially hindering rapid discharge. Good stowage would, in such cases, have resulted in all hatches being worked more or less simulta- neously, with the result tbat the time of the voyage would be shortened or that more time might be had at a port where this might be used to advantage. The equal distribution over all holds of heavy cargo, such as ore, is to be TYUOUUUVUCNNQQUQUUACUUUOUUULCUILUNCLOUUUUUIL Discharging Three Ton Motor Truck. Care in Handling and proper stowage are necessary to good ship opera- tion. Goodwill and revenue are both increased by such attention MUDUITVTULOVNTOQOOUUUENUUUUUGUUTENNUUULUUUUL MARINE REVIEW—J uly, 1931 avoided, as that would place too much weight forward and aft, making the vessel sluggish in rising to head geag and rendering it liable to undue strain in heavy weather. Cargo damage results from careless. ness in loading and discharging, such as heedless winch work, the lowering of slings with heavy drafts of cargo too rapidly down upon cargo already placed in the holds. Cargo hooks, while indispensable in the handling of some freight, if used in the handling of commodities such as bag cargo, bale goods, hides or similar exposed or unprotected freight, are oftentimes the cause of claims against the line. Efficient stevedores know how to operate winches and that it is not nee- essary to drag cargo over a dock floor or over other freight within the hatches and holds of a ship.. They have among their equipment, steel and wood platform sleighs which are drawn by motor tractors, while the handling between decks is done care- fully by steel drag plates on which the freight, after being lowered into the hatches, is placed and dragged over the walking boards covering other freight, and safely stowed away. Rope and wire net slings are used for cer- tain kinds of small cargo, while box and crate slings are brought into use for other materials, and wire cables and chain tackle are used for heavy merchandise and canvas slings for all bagstuff and small, light packages. Every precaution is taken in the handling of all dangerous shipments, this class of goods being carefully in- spected before placing aboard and stowed in well-ventilated compart- ments as far away as posible from the engine and boiler rooms, bunkers, pas- senger and crew’s quarters. Dunnage (pieces of wood or plank- ing) should be freely used to insure proper stowage. Used as a fill-in around most packages, it also serves as a protection, especially when used as flooring or walking boards between tiers of freight. Failure to use suffi- cient dunnage results in shifting of cargo. Freight, such as barrel goods, rolls of paper, newsprint, roofing and other cylindrically shaped cargo is stowed in head-up position. This prevents it from sliding and acts as a stay against damage to other materials. All moist or liquid freight is always separated from the dry goods. Cotton and wool in bales, oils, turpentine and such freight is never placed in the same holds or compartments. These commodities are separated by substan- tial bulkheads in order to withstand fire hazards. Cotton in particular is protected with ’tween deck hatches, thoroughly secured and segregated as, when damp, it is subject to sponta- neous combustion. Odorous materials and moist cargo exuding an objectionable odor are al- Ways stowed far away from green fruits, edibles and other like freight.