UNIT FOUR
BREAK BULK CARGO
Break Bulk Cargo operations include the handling, carriage, stowage and storage of cargo in individual items, i.e. crates, cases, cartons, bags, bales, bundles, drums, barrels etc., listed in a number of Bills of Lading, each consisting of a different commodity.
Stowage should aim at distributing the cargo for any particular port equally, or as nearly so as circumstances permit, in every hold, thus provision is made that all the cargo handling equipment is employed to its full capacity throughout the time the vessel is loading and discharging. It is best to ensure that the "heavy" hatch does not have to remain working for extensive periods after all other hatches are finished and have been battened down, with the added restriction probably, if only one gang and one hook is able to get access to the space being worked.
Where foodstuffs and fine goods are stowed (that is, goods such as carpets, clothes, etc., that may be easily damaged or take on taint) only clean nailfree dunnage should be used and stowage should be found in separate compartments away from such obnoxious commodities as creosote, aniline, essential oils, petroleum, copra, hides, manures, cassia, certain chemicals, turpentine, newly sawn or most kinds of timber, green fruit, onions, etc.
Weighty packages such as cases of machinery, railway bar or plate iron, blocks of stones, ingots or pigs of metal, etc., should always be stowed on the floor and the lighter cargo on top.
As a general rule fragile and light packages should be stowed in 'tween deck space.
The nature of the packages sometimes calls for them to be kept in a certain position, i.e. coils and rings on the flat, etc. Avoid stowing bale and light goods on top of cargo which has life and spring, or against bulkhead stiffeners, deck beams, brackets, frames, stanchions or other projections, using plenty of dunnage to protect them from contacting such projections and rough surfaces.
Each tier should be kept as level as possible (with packages of uniform size it should be perfectly level). Packages should not be stowed in such position that they tilt either way, as will occur at the turn of the bilge, or with the rise on floor in the fore part of the forward hold, etc., unless properly dunnaged or bridged.
Any break in stowage or broken stowage caused by the presence of pillars, stanchions, brackets, etc., for the filling of which certain packages are not available, or space which is unsuitable to receive a package of cargo, should be packed firmly with suitable dunnage, in order to prevent any movement of cargo in a seaway and to afford a stable and level platform for the next tier.
QUESTIONS
1. What is break bulk cargo?
2. What do the break bulk cargo operations include?
3. What does the distributing of cargo for various ports aim at?
4. What is a "heavy" hatch?
5. What is meant by "battening down the hatch"?
6. What kind od dunnage must be used with foodstuffs and fine goods?
7. Where should you stow weighty packages?
8. How can you protect bales or light goods from damage in the ship's hold?
9. What measures should you take to stow the cargo properly in way of bilges, rise of floors, or in the fore parts of the forward hold?
10. What are the two meanings of the term "broken stowage"?
EXERCISES
I COMPREHENSION AND VOCABULARY
1. Supply the missing word from those listed in the brackets:
(TIER, CASES, MISSING, DAMAGE, RAIL, BAGS, TALLY, HOOKS, LIABLE, TORN, SHORE, USE, STOWING, BARREL, DRUM)
1. Many kinds of commodity are packed in for shipment such as flour, coffee, sugar, cement, etc.
2. When receiving bag cargo a careful is essential.
3. Tally should not be made in lighters or on ; it should be taken at the ship's .
4. , defective or hookmarked bags should be rejected.
5. Most bag cargoes are liable to if stowed with moist cargo or cargo to sweat.
6. The of hooks should not be permitted in handling bags at any circumstances.
7. containing heavy machinery should be stowed with marks up, and them on edges of the hold should be avoided.
8. Each of heavy cases should be kept as level and firm as possible to prevent damaging smaller packages.
9. Casks or is a general term for ail round and oblong containers, built of wood staves and bound by hoops.
10. Casks made of steel are called .
11. Bales of cotton should be carefully examined on wharf or , and all damp or wet bales, or those with burst or bands should be rejected.
II GRAMMAR
1. Supply a suitable verb form (tense, active or passive voice):
In the stowage the first consideration must (give) to safety. The cargo must (stow) so that the ship (be) stable and seaworthy. It must (secure) in such a manner that it cannot (shift) if the vessel (encounter) bad weather. Care must (take) to stow it so that it (not damage) either by contact with or proximity to other kinds of cargo. Care must also (take) to prevent pilferage or damage while the cargo (stow). Where cargo (ship) for several ports, (arrange) it in the hold in such a way that it can (discharge) conveniently at each port, and that no cargo (overcarry).
2. Word Forms. Supply the right form of the words listed in the brackets
(handle, handling; store, storage; stow, stowage, stowing; discharge, discharging):
1. The cargo must be in the fore end of the hold.
2. Each officer must be well familiar with the factors for individual cargoes.
3. Broken includes also the areas around pillars, knees, stiffeners, stringers etc.
4. The ship's must be sealed when in port.
5. Avoid lightweight cargo in the bottom tiers.
6. Survey on hatches are made in the port of .
7. The chain cable is in the chain locker.
8. The of the cargo in the discharging port will take 6 hours only.
9. Modern cargo equipment is vital to any port.
1O. with care!
3. The following collocations (verb + object noun) were used in the reading text:
make provision, finish the hatch, batten down the hatch, get access to, work a space, stow the goods, take on taint
Find and write down the sentences where these collocations are found, and check the meaning of the collocations.
4. Extend the shortened relative sentences to full verb sentences; use the appropriate relative pronoun:
1. Break bulk cargo including such goods as crates, cases, bales, etc. is also called general cargo.
2. Vessels carrying break bulk cargo are called general cargo ships.
3. The method employed for handling the drums proved very successful.
4. It is always necessary to determine the place most suitable for stowing heavy lifts.
5. Avoid stowing light goods on the cargo having sharp ends.
5. Purpose. The following sentences from the text express purpose:
1. Stowage should aim at distributing the cargo equally.
2. Plenty of dunnage should be used to protect the bales from contacting the ship hold projections and rough surfaces.
3. Any break in stowage should be packed firmly with suitable dunnage in order to prevent any movement of cargo.
Rearrange the sentences below by introducing one of the underlined elements:
1. The purpose stowing is to ensure the ship's stability and to prevent damage to cargo.
2. The damaged packages were sent on shore for reconditioning.
3. Effective actions should be taken so that collision could be avoided.
4. The stowage factor should be increased substantially in order that it may be useful in stowing refrigerated cargoes.
5. The master decided to put into Bermuda to have the necessary repairs performed.
6. All available means should be used for determining if the risk of collision exists.
7. To pick up the buoy the ship had to sail close to the reef.
8. The lookout had been sent to call the next watch.
III TRANSLATION
1. Teret se mora slagati tako da gubitak prostora bude minimalan.
2. Neiskorišteni prostor obuhvaća sve prostore između i oko koleta, ili u području (in way of) stupova u skladištu, koljena, proveza, ukrepa, te prostor koji je ispunjen "duneđom".
3. Faktor slaganja obično se definira kao prostor (u kubnim stopama ili metrima) koji zauzima jedna tona (occupy) nekog tereta, ako je pravilno složen i podložen (dunnage)
4. Volumenski teret (measurement cargo) ima faktor slaganja više od 40, a težinski (dead weight cargo) ispod 40.
5. Na što morate paziti u skladištu za vrijeme iskrcaja?
6. Ako brod ima međupalublja, da li je potrebno podlaganje tereta (dunnaging)?
7. Kako se treba rasporediti mješoviti teret u skladištu?
8. Kako treba slagati željezničke šine?
9. Kako biste složili najniži red bačava?
10. Koliko bačava smijete složiti u visinu? (How many heights of ...) (allow)?