Chapter 1

TRANSPORT MEANS
AND COMMODITIES
1. Transportation of goods in different ways

- Now international transportation of goods by sea

(ship), river (barge), road (truck), rail (train), air
(plane) = modes of transportation
- After Word War II started to look for ways to
decrease transportation costs, especially reduce
the time ships laying in port while loaded or
unloaded
- Most attention has been paid to the
development of and improvement of cargo
handling techniques.
- First step to decrease turn around time by
subdivision of cargo into major groups.
2. Specific data of merchant ships
A. Transport Capacity
- Tonnage express amount of cargo capacity.
- Depending on the type of vessel, country origin,
purpose for which tonnage is used :
BRT = Bruto/gross Registered Tonnage
NRT = Net Registered Tonnage
DWT = Dead Weight Tonnage
- General cargo ship
DWT = 1.5*BRT = 2.5*NRT
- Very large crude oil carriers
DWT = 2.0*BRT = 2.6*NRT
- BRT
Total volume of permanently enclosed space above &
below decks. (tons)
1 tons = 100 ft3 = 2.83 m3

- NRT
Total of all space destined for cargo (units of 2.83m3)
NRT = BRT – crews accommodation, engine rooms etc

- DWT
Differences light & load displacement
• light displacement : The mass of the ships hull, engines
and all other items necessary for
normal working performance
• load displacement : Ships mass when fully loaded; the
ships sinks into the water down to
summer draught line
- DWT : mass of cargo, fuel crew, passengers,
fresh water etc.
- Unities are used :
• Metric ton (t = 1000 kg)
• English or long ton (ts = 1016 kg)
• Short ton (sts = 907)
• Port tons : use to determine port charges
1 m3  < 1000 kg/m3
1t  > 1000 kg/m3
• Other unit : TEU (capacity for container
storage on board a ship)
• Length : 20 feet = 6,03 m
• Height : 8 feet = 2,44 m
• Width : 8 feet = 2,44 m

Volume = 6,03 x 2,44 x 2,44 = 36,2 m3

m3 : capacity of liquefied gas tankers

Steel length : use for ro-ro vessels
: total loading length with standardizes
width of 2,50 m
B. Vertical Dimension
- Draught
• Related to the density of water sailing (uplifting
force)
• Draught D maximum distance between
waterline & the keel of the ship (m)
• Displacement tonnage the draught D & the
stationary freebord F, indicated on the ships side
• Maximum draught line indicated by Plimsoll
Mark
Plimsoll mark letters :
LR : Lloyd’s Register (England)
BV : Bureau Veritas (France)
AB : American Bureau of shipping (USA)
• Draught under various conditions :
TF : Tropical Fresh Water
F : Fresh Water
T : Tropical Salt Water
S : Summer Salt Water
W : Winter Salt Water
WNA : Winter Salt Water on the North
Atlantic
C. Horizontal Dimension
- Length
• LBP (Length Between Perpendiculars)
distance between points of intersection of the
ship’s bow and the summer salt water when
fully loaded
• LOA (Length Over All)
distance between two perpendiculars; one
tangent to the ship’s bow & one to the ship’s
stern
• B (Beam)
maximum distance between two sides of the
ship (m)
D. Propulsion
- In engine room & drive the ship’s propellers to
move forward & backward
- Common propulsion engine :
SR : Steam Reciprocating Engine
ST : Steam Reaction Turbine
TE : Electric Propulsion
M : Diesel Engine
GT : Gas Turbine
NR : Nuclear Reactor
- Diesel Engine mostly used approx. 90% ships in
the world
- Engine Power : Output of engine ships in HP,
where; 1 HP = 736 joule/sec
- Position of the engine room and the number of
propellers
• Engine room position indicated by symbol (A),
is placed aft.
• Number of propellers :
(2) twin screw
(3) triple screw
(4) quadruple screw
- Speed (S) : knots
where; 1 knot = 1 nautical mile = 1852 m/hour
= 0.514m/sec
- Example : ST (A) 2
E. Improvement of Ship Maneuverability
- Thruster
• At the bow or stern and/or at both places
• Consist of a horizontal tube through the ships
bow or stern under waterline in which a
reversible screw is fitted
• Screw is able when rotating to exert a beam
forces on the ship
• Thrusters increase maneuverability the ship is
turning or approaching a berth
• Safety : the presence of a bow thruster is
indicated on the bow of ship above the
waterline
- Bulbous bow
• Recent development in ship design
• Economic reason
• Pitching reduction
• Increases maneuverability
• Indicated the bow of the ship

- Stabilizers
• Economic reason
• Find below the waterline
• Reduce the effect of the rolling of the ship due
to bad weather conditions
3. Commodities Vs Types of Vessels
A. Break Bulk Cargo
- Boxes, crates, bags, sacks, drums etc
- 3 types of break bulk ships transport
1. General cargo ships
2. Multipurpose ships
3. Refrigerated ships
1. General Cargo Ship

Categories of Shape of Transshipment

break bulk packing method
1. Bagged goods A none fixed shape Transshipment with
ropes
2. Normal break bulk Crated boxes drums Transshipment with
containers ropes, hooks, pallets
3. Other types Unpacked goods as Transshipment with
iron plates bars rolls ropes and hooks
or iron wire
- Weight limited by the maximum lifting capacity of
the shore based crane in port or of the ships
derrick.
- Symbol indicate an activity :
• temporary rest
→ movement of cargo
• final stowage
→ general cargo ship refer to original ship
→ capacity conventional general cargo
5000 – 13000 DWT
→ Small draught of vessel : 7.5 – 12 m
- Cargo handling method :
a. Opening of holds became wider and were
placed in one vertical line to ease the vertical
movement of cargo
b. Horizontal cargo handling with side loading
ports
c. Introduction of the pallet, forklift truck which
one of the basic element of Unit Load
Concept (U.L.C)
Example of the ULC are:
→ Palletized cargo (for instance boxes)
→ Pre-slung cargo (for instance pipe)
→ Pre-strapped cargo (for instance drum
on a pallet)
→ Shrink wrapping of cargo (for wrapping
of pallet with cargo by plastic foil)
- The advantage :
• Palletized & unitized
• Protected bed weather & pilferage
General Cargo Ship
2. Multipurpose Ship (12.000 – 25.000 DWT)
- Capable transport almost any piece of cargo;
small box to container or even a truck
- Identified ship:
• The robust shape and heavy lift deck
equipment
• The hatch cover have been constructed that
they can withstand the load of heavy pieces
of cargo/container placed on it
• Bow thruster and bulbous bow
• Side loading port for horizontal cargo
3. Refrigerated General Cargo Ship
(reefer 12.000 DWT)
- Transportation of fruit, meat or other perishable
commodities which are kept on board at
temperature -30o – 12o C
- The feature
• The ship usually painted white
• The speed is higher ; from 18 – 25 knots
• Looks elegant and fast ; the appearance is
stream lined
B. Mass Break Bulk (also Neo Bulk)
- Growth of industrial production caused
congestion in many ports
- Solution = mass break bulk ships
- Using the specialized and integrated transport
system increase of efficiency shortens the time
spend in harbor considerable
1. Container Ship
- First generation (converted general cargo ship)
LOA = 180 – 200 m ; B = 27 m ; S = 20 - 22 knots ;
cargo = 750 - 1100 TEU
- Second generation (full container ship)
LOA = 240 m ; B = 30 m ; S = 24 knots ;
cargo = 1500 – 1800 TEU
- Third generation (full container ship)
LOA = 300 m ; B = 32 m ; S = 25 - 27 knots ;
cargo = 2400 - 3000 TEU
- Fourth generation (full container ship)
LOA = 300 m ; B = 32 m ; S = 18 knots ;
cargo = 4000 - 4500 TEU
- Identification: second, third and fourth
generation high freeboard, superstructure aft

2. Roro/Container Ship
- Cargo: containers, road building machines, etc
- Identification: same marks as full container ship
and provided with a ramp
3. Roro/Passenger Ship
- Cargo : passengers, cars, lorries, trailers
- Identification : ramp, high super structure,
ventilation shafts

4. Roro/Unit Load Ship

- Cargo: lorries & trailers
- Identification: ramp

5. Lash Ship (Lighter Aboard Ship)

- Cargo : floatable barges
- Identification : great length, low super structure
& huge gantry crane
6. Seabee
- Cargo : floatable barges
- Identification : elevator to handle the barges
simultaneously

7. Bacat (Barge Catamaran)

- Cargo : floatable barges
- Identification : elevator to handle the barges
between the hull

8. Car Carrier
- Cargo : new cars
- Identification : side ramps, high and long
superstructure ventilation shafts
9. Heavy Lift Carrier
- Cargo: huge and heavy units
- Identification: vast deck-space, one or more
heavy duty cranes or derrick (500t)
Container Ship
- Steel/aluminium strong box
- Dimension
• Height = 2.44 m (8 ft) ; Width = 2.44 m (8 ft)
• Length =
6.10 m (20 ft container, 1 TEU, max.weight 20 t)
9.14 m (30 ft container, max. weight 25 t)
12.14 m (40 ft container, max. weight 30 t)
- Advantages
• Reduction of the turn around time and with that
reduce in port uses costs and transport costs
• Damage and pilferage of cargo are reduced
considerably and with that insurance costs
• A reduction in packing charges
- Disadvantages
• Regular containers services run only
between the developed countries.
• Containerization is very expensive
• Container service profitable is essential,
transportation of empty containers is
relatively expensive
• Cargo carried by containers mostly the usual
break bulk cargo consisting of finished or
semi-finished product
• Stowage lost , high own weight of the
container and an unfavorable influence on
employment
- They are called first generation container ships
- Capacity 750 – 1100 TEU
- To be profitable = second generation
- Second generation used on medium range
voyages
- Third & fourth generation for longer voyages

TEU  capacity
 0.05 to 0.06
DWT

- Size of container ships is limited by the dimension

of Panama Canal
- To handle containers on and off board a vessel =
lift on/lift off
 Portainer
Procedure :
• The crane – driver lowers a steel frame, the
spreader which has the same length and
width as that container to be handled on the
container
• The ‘pins’ (twist lock) at the 4 corners of
spreader fall into the corresponding oval
corner fittings on the top of the container.
Then twist locks are turned over 90o by which
they are blocked and the spreader is fixed to
the container
• Expensive equipment with two trolley and
spreaders
 Shiptaner
• Containers ships carry their own equipment to
handle containers, a gantry crane on board
the ship
• Some ships have two/three shiptainers
• Quite obsolete
- The equipment which requires a heavy
investment
- Only used when the ship is in port, small
percentage of time service life
- The tracks of the gantry crane consume
space that could otherwise be used for the
stacking of containers
- Shiptainer requires much maintenance due
to corrosion by sea water
 Cranes
• Lift on lift off procedures can be carried out by the
ship’s own gear, a big mobile crane, combine
operation of two quay cranes, multipurpose crane
• Straddle carriers
Container on the quay can be taken by straddle
carrier, carried to the stacking area and wait for
further dispatch
• Three layer high
• Advantage operation at a high speed
• Disadvantages : expensive equipment & vulnerable
to breakdown; accidents likely happen because
limited view of the driver; diesel engine &
hydraulically operated cause oil spills on the
terminal
 Forklift truck
• Disadvantage
- Limited view of the driver
- Oil spills
- Slower operation speed

 Trailer
• Container be placed on a trailer directly in 3
method
1. The container is placed on a road trailer, which
moves out to the customer directly
• disadvantages
a. trailers drivers may have to wait for long
periods when the ship has been delayed
b. traffic on the quay side become too busy ,
which may lead to accidents
 c. When documentation and/or
custom procedures are not adequate
and fast an expensive parking place has to
be available
2. The container is placed on a quay side trailer
which is moved by a tractor to the stacking
area, where further handling is carried out by
straddle carrier, forklift truck or a transtainer.
3. The third possibility is the method where every
container (35 foot) is placed on a trailer and
moved by tractor to the parking area, from
where it is finally picked up by a road truck.
Container Ship
Container Ship
Roro-Container Ship
- First types of ro-ro
• Had the ramp at the stern of the ship. At sea
it was pulled up into a vertical position, and
in port it was lowered onto the quay
• Disadvantages
a. special place at port or special berth
construction is necessary
b. difficult maneuvering with long trailers
c. problem with high tidal differences were
solved with use of a pontoon
- Second, roro ship was provided with a quarter ramp
• Disadvantages
a. high costs of the ramp
b. loss of storage space
 • Advantages
a. More flexible in allocation of the berth
in a port
b. The ship enable to berth at any stretch
of a straight quay
- Called slewing stern ramp
- Ro-ro capacity in TEU
- Total street length 5300 m
Ro-Ro Vessel
Roro-Unit Load Ship
- Purely to transport lorries and trailers
- Limit accommodation for drivers
- Ferry refer to ro-ro ship
- Integrated transport
• Cargo stowed into a floatable barge at the
producer’s premises
• Barges are pushed or towed to the place where
the lash-ship is to arrive, where she is put in barge
parking area
• After lash-ship arrived, the barges for the port
concerned are unloaded and the already parked
barges are put on board of the lash-ship
• Unload barges are put together in a formation and
pushed or towed to the customer
Seabee – Ship
- The system is same as the Lash-ship
- Barge carrier
- Differences
• Barges are lowered into and lifted out of the water
by means of a huge elevator at the ship’s stern
• Dimension and capacity of Seabee barge different
from the Lash barge : 29.70*10.70*3.00 m. carrying
capacity 850 DWT
• Barges are placed parallel to the ship’s longitudinal
axis and also transport containers as single load
Bacat – Ship
- Bacat (barge catamaran) consist of twin hull ship
(catamaran)
- Barges are pushed in between the two hulls and
then lifted by an elevating platform
- The smallest barge carrier
• dimension : 16.80*4.65 m at a draught of 2.45 m
• carrying capacity 140 tons

Car Carrier
- Transportation of newly built motorcars from the
producer to the consumer markets
Heavy Lift Carrier (HLC)
- To transport huge, heavy units of cargo, which
can’t handle be transported by another type of
vessel
- Characteristic:
• Vast deck space
• Presence one or more heavy duty cranes or
derrick
- Method of operation the cargo can also be put
on board by floatation
Heavy Lift Carrier
Bulk Cargo
- Carry large quantities of unpacked cargo, which
is of more or less homogenous nature
• Liquefied gas
• Liquids (oil)
• Chemical (fertilizer, cement)
• Ores
• Coal
• Grain, rice, cereal, etc
- Handling procedure: pumping (liquid), sucking
(cereals), slurring (transported by pipeline),
combination of grabs and a conveyor belt
system (coal & ores)
- Several types
• Liquid bulk carriers
• Dry bulk carrier
• Combined bulk carriers
• Gas carriers
Bulk Cargo
Bulk Ore Strengthen
Bulk Ore Strengthen
Crude Oil Carrier
- Crude oil was transported in barrels by small
tankers
- Important procedures (and exporters) of crude oil
are the Middle East countries around the Arabian
Gulf
- Important smaller type of tanker
• The economy of transportation and the
present recession of world trade
• VLCC’c & ULCC’s can transport very large
quantities of crude oil on one voyage
- Identification ship
• Flat deck without derrick and hatch covers
• Some deck arrangement like stoplocks,
pumps, pipelines and small hose derricks
• Remarkable feature is the catwalk, a
horizontal gangway, that runs along the deck
from bow to stern to enable the crew to move
along the ship
Pulp Carrier
Parcel Tanker
- Specialized tanker for the transportation of
refined oil products (paraffin, diesel oil and/or
chemical liquid)
- Parcel tanker name separately by which various
product can be transported
- Various additional characteristic: numerous
small tank hatches, many fore–and-aft running
pipes and amidships the manifold with its
complex arrangements of pipes and valves,
connected to the ship’s tanks system
- To reduce hazard of fire, the holds fore and aft
are equipped with double watertight bulkheads
- Problem: the cleaning of tanks
Tanker
Chemical Tanker
Liquefied Gas Carrier
- Transported at high pressure/with a low
temperature/a combination of both
- LPG : -46oC
- LNG : -162oC
- Gas carrier code
• Very poisonous gas
• Slightly poisonous gas
• Non poisonous and/or inflammable gas
- Three types carriers
• LPG
• LNG
• Other types of chemical gas
• LNG carrier are capable to transport LPG, but LPG
doesn’t
Dry Bulk Carrier
- Carry big quantities of uniform, unpacked
commodities
- Equipment to handling operation
• Pneumatic elevators (grain).
The elevator can be fixed/floating
• Grabs (coal).
The grab belong to the ship’s own gear or to a
landbased dock-side crane
• Conveyor-belt system (ore).
Manual operated – computerizes conveyor belt
- Self discharging via an ingenious conveyor system
- The advantages self unloader : possibility only
some mooring piles for berth
Dry Bulk Carrier
Combined bulk carrier (O/O, OBO, OCO)
- Transport raw materials or half finished product