Universidad Nacional Experimental Marítima del Caribe Vicerrectorado Académico Cátedra de Idiomas Inglés VI. Maritime Engineering Operaciones Unit III. Cargo handling systems. Reading Read and match the vessel types with the explanations. The cargo is moved on and off the ship on wheels. The cargo is lifted in and out of the ship (loaded and unloaded) using on-board lifting gear or loading gear, such as derricks, on-board cranes or gantries, or also on-shore lifting gear. This is the traditional handling method and is used for most ships throughout the world. It stands for float-on/float-off. The cargo is lifted on board with on-board loading gear or winch platforms and then rolled into place. It is the commonest handling method for livestock carriers. In this case, the cargo is rolled on or off ship, but is conventionally stowed when on board, usually by means of forklift trucks. Speaking The cargo is set down using ground conveyors, such as forklift trucks, onto on-board lifts. Discharge proceeds in the reverse order. List all the types of merchant vessels you know. Check how competent you are or could be by answering the questionnaire below. Could you. X Answer 1. list the cargo gear for the LNG vessel? 2. tell a synonym for unloading? 3. define a winch? 4. list at least three loading or unloading ship devices?
Reading Use of ship s cargo gear Typical cargo-handling gear is addressed under particular ship type headings, but some general arrangements can be noted here. General cargo ships are typically fitted with derricks or deck cranes to load or discharge cargo from piers or lighters without assistance. Most tankers discharge cargo with installed pumps and generally carry sufficient cargo hose to connect to receiving terminals; many tankers have small derricks or cranes to handle the cargo hose. Many ship types are gearless, that is, they are not fitted with cargo gear. Modern container ships rarely have the ability to handle their own containers and can load and discharge cargo only with the aid of specialized port facilities. If installed, container ship cargo gear may consist of conventional derricks or rotating cranes, or travelling overhead gantry cranes. Most bulk carriers are gearless although there are some self un-loaders with installed derrick grabs or conveyor systems for discharging cargo, particularly on the Great Lakes. Roll-on/roll-off (RO/RO) ships load cargo over ramps through stern, bow, or side ports; in the case of trailers, vehicles, and train cars, part of the cargo gear is integral to the cargo itself. Loading and unloading a bulker is time-consuming and dangerous. The loading method used depends on both the cargo and the equipment available on the ship and on the dock. For instance, geared cargo carriers might have cranes, derricks or conveyors that allow them to load and discharge cargo in ports whereas gearless carriers are bulkers without cranes or conveyors. These ships depend on shore-based equipment at their ports of call for loading and discharging. Self-dischargers are bulkers with conveyor belts, or with the use of an excavator that is fitted on a traverse running over the vessel's entire hatch, and that is able to move sideways as well. This allows them to discharge their cargo quickly and efficiently. When installed and operable, a vessel s cargo gear can be of great asset to the salvage effort. Lightering is most effective and efficient when accomplished with ship s gear. The large number of derricks or cranes on general cargo ships facilitates loading salvage equipment and
placing it in its required location on deck or in holds. Deck mounted gantry cranes are particularly useful for shifting weight longitudinally to adjust trim, weight distribution, or ground reaction; the cranes themselves are large weights that can be shifted. Deck crane Deck crane Cargo crane Container crane A means whereby cargo may be loaded in and discharged from a ship has to be available. With highly specialised ships like the larger bulk carriers and container ships, this process is carried out by appliances on the shore, as the greater space and lack of need to worry about weight enables shore gear to be faster and have a great capacity. Tankers, of course, depend upon pumps - shore pumps to put the cargo in and shipboard pumps to discharge it (it has to be this way because pumps can push very efficiently but only 'suck' rather poorly). It is with the smaller bulk carriers, container feeder ships and general purpose ships that one finds shipboard cargo handling equipment and, if the trade needs a ship with cargo gear, there are various features which have to be considered. Vocabulary Match the words in column A with synonyms in column B Column A Column B a. Gear Devices b. Piers To unload c. To handle Risky, hazardous d. Aid Help, support e. Dangerous Tool f. Container To manage, to operate g. Means Docks, berths, quays, jetties h. Appliances Box, trunk i. To discharge Way, method, technique
Did you know that...? At one time there was little choice and ships used winches and derricks. A winch is an electric or steam driven winding engine, while a derrick is a pole hinged to the mast near the deck over which runs hoisting wires which are linked to the winch. More recently the trend has been towards deck cranes which are more expensive than winches and derricks, and need more sophisticated maintenance, but operate at a far faster rate. Terms and words to be remembered load - discharge - cargo-handling gear - rotating cranes - derrick - deck cranes - winch - pumps - cargo hose - container ship - tanker ship - derrick grab - bulk carrier - conveyor belts - gantry cranes Speaking and writing Complete the chart with the appropriate information. Types of vessel Types of cargo Cargo gear In groups, ask and answer questions. For example: What type of cargo gear do tankers use for loading and unloading operations? They use What type of vessel carries passengers? Ferries and cruisers carry passengers // Ferries and cruisers do.
Read the text Use of ship s cargo gear and answer the questions below. 1. What does the cargo gear used for loading and unloading operations depend on? Elaborate your answer. 2. What is a crane? And what is it useful for? 3. What type of vessel do you think utilises cargo hose, pumps and pipes for loading and unloading operations? Glossary Bulk carrier means a vessel that is intended primarily to carry dry cargo in bulk, including an ore carrier or a combination carrier. Cargo gear means an article, for use with a lifting appliance in loading or unloading cargo. Cargo space, for a vessel, means a space intended for the carriage of cargo, including a trunk-way or hatchway to the space. Crane is the main equipment used for ship loading/unloading. Cranes can be either located on the dock (dock cranes) or mounted on the ship (ship-mounted cranes) Hatchway means an opening that provides access to a cargo space for loading or unloading. Hold is the lowest compartment under the hatch and is normally used to stow cargo. Lifting appliance means a stationary or mobile cargo-handling appliance used on board a vessel for suspending, raising or lowering or moving loads from one position to another while suspended or supported, including a crane, a derrick crane, a derrick, a cargo lift and a mechanical ramp Loading means conveying cargo from a location outside a vessel to a location on board a vessel or transferring cargo between locations on board a vessel, including associated operations such as lashing and securing of cargo and inserting clamps and pins in securing devices. Pallet means a load-carrying platform having 2 interconnected decks separated to permit the entry of lifting equipment, such as fork arms, tines, bars or slings. Ship equipment means material handling equipment carried or installed on board a vessel. Unloading means conveying cargo located on board a vessel to a location outside the vessel, including associated operations such as unlashing of cargo and removing clamps and pins from securing devices.