Chapter 4

Question 1

What is deck cargo

Answer 1

It is a cargo exposed to the elements and is subject to sea, spray and wind, as well as the additional risk of
being washed or falling overboard.

Question 2

Deck cargo main considerations
Contractual/legal requirements

Answer 2

Prior to carrying goods on deck, the owner/carrier should be fully
satisfied that it is safe to carry such goods on deck. If not, by carrying
goods on deck, the owner/carrier may be in breach of the contract of
carriage and its P&I cover may be prejudiced.

Question 3

Deck cargo main considerations
Weather

Answer 3

Protection from the elements is another major concern in carriage of
cargoes on deck. As the cargo on deck would be exposed to sea water,
winds and sun, their combined effect is likely to cause damage to the
cargo.
Deck cargoes must therefore be carried in appropriate packaging units,
suppliers instructions should be strictly followed and additional
protective measures such as covering them with water and weather
proof covers (tarpaulin).

Question 4

Deck cargo main considerations
Access

Answer 4

Through and unencumbered access on deck must be provided for the
crew to carry out their normal duties and in emergencies. Deck house
water-tight doors, ventilators on deck and other hatch and store
accesses must not be blocked by cargo or lashing.
As required by the Merchant shipping (health and safety at work)
regulations 1997.

Question 5

Deck cargo main considerations
Stability

Answer 5

Deck cargoes can cause stability issues as they generally cause loss of GM due
to their high KG (centre of gravity relative to the ship)
Stability is adversely affected whilst loading also from own ships’ gear. Loading
from either side would cause a list towards the load and loss of GM.
The list and loss of GM is at its maximum at the instant the load is picked up as
the load is furthest transversely from the centre of the vessel and the effect of
the load is at the derrick head which needs to be taken into account when
determining ship stability for the operation. It will cause stresses on the ship’s
structural parts which need to be addressed.

Question 6

Deck cargo main considerations
Handling, stowing and securing

Answer 6

• Containers and heavy items should be stowed in the fore and aft direction
• Cargo should be secured with suitable lashings to approved securing points
• Lashings should be evenly distributed
• Where necessary dunnage can be used to fill spaces to prevent shifting, and
  provide additional friction between the cargo and deck
• Portable tanks should either be full or empty so as to limit free surface
  effect
• Stowage should be properly supervised and regular inspections should be
  made throughout the voyage
• All crew should be wearing proper PPE

Question 7

Deck cargo main considerations
Stability and structural strength of deck

Answer 7

Deck cargoes also cause potential structural strength issues as deck plates are
designed to withstand a maximum weight per square area, and must not be
overloaded.
Laying down appropriate dunnage to evenly distribute the weight on deck
before the cargo is loaded on it will ensure that no section of the deck plates is
adversely affected.

Question 8

Deck cargo main considerations
Windage

Answer 8

Deck cargoes also result in increasing the exposed windage area which will
cause increased heeling from winds, particularly from beam winds which
would result in increased heeling couple

Question 9

Heave motion

Answer 9

Up and down vertically

Question 10

Surge motion

Answer 10

Bow going down

Question 11

Sway motion

Answer 11

Port to Starboard motion

Question 12

Yaw movement

Answer 12

a side-to side movement of the bow and stern of the ship.

Question 13

Pitch movement of ship

Answer 13

Up and down horizontally

Question 14

Roll movement

Answer 14

Tilt- more extreme than yaw

Question 15

A ship has _ degrees of freedom of movement.

Answer 15

6

Question 16

A ship has six degrees of freedom of movement.
These movements result in a combination of ________ _______ and __________ forces.

Answer 16

longitudinal, transverse and vertical forces

Question 17

What needs to be taken into account when planning the loading of any cargo, and particularly a deck cargo.

Answer 17

longitudinal, transverse and vertical forces of the ship

Question 18

how to minimise force of acceleration

Answer 18

Stow as close to mid-ships (and as low) as is
practicable;
* Ensure that the vessel will have adequate, but
not excessive metacentric height (GM)
throughout the voyage;
* Be prepared to reduce speed and/or alter
course;
* Take special care with weather routing;
* Do not rely on anti-rolling devices

Question 19

SOLAS VI > Regulation 5 -
Stowage and Securing

Answer 19

6 All cargoes, other than solid and liquid
bulk cargoes, cargo units and cargo
transport units, shall be loaded, stowed
and secured throughout the voyage in
accordance with the Cargo Securing
Manual approved by the Administration.

Question 20

SOLAS VII > Regulation 5 - Regulation 5 - Cargo Securing Manual

Answer 20

Cargo, cargo units and cargo
transport units shall be loaded,
stowed and secured throughout the
voyage in accordance with the Cargo
Securing Manual approved by the
Administration.

Question 21

In the UK, the law which regulates the carriage of cargo is

Answer 21

The Merchant Shipping (Carriage of
Cargoes) Regulations 1999.

Question 22

It is a requirement under this law, The Merchant Shipping (Carriage of Cargoes) Regulations 1999, that a ship-specific and approved ‘Cargo Securing Manual’
be carried on board, and:

Answer 22

• (a) Cargo and cargo units carried on or under deck are loaded, stowed and secured so as to
  prevent as far as is practicable, throughout the voyage, damage or hazard to the ship and
  the persons on board, and loss of cargo overboard;
• (b) Appropriate precautions are taken during loading and transport of heavy cargoes or
  cargoes with abnormal physical dimensions to ensure that no structural damage to the ship
  occurs and to maintain adequate stability throughout the voyage;
• (c) Cargo on board all ships to which regulation 5(4) is applicable shall be stowed and
  secured throughout any voyage in accordance with the Cargo Securing Manual;

Question 23

CSM

Answer 23

Cargo Securing Manual

Question 24

CSMs are ship specific
CSM contents:

Answer 24

• Locations of safe access
• Cargo securing devices and
  arrangements
• Safe stowage ad securing
  arrangements
• Special measures of vessel or the
  cargo

Question 25

The CSS code is an IMO publication, which provides an international
standard to promote the safe stowage and securing of cargoes (non-bulk)
by:

Answer 25

Drawing the attention to the need to ensure that the ship is suitable for
its intended purpose;
Providing advice to ensure that the ship is equipped with proper cargo
securing means;
Providing general advice concerning the proper stowage and securing
of cargoes to minimize the risks to the ship and personnel;
providing specific advice on cargoes which are known to create
difficulties and hazards with regard to their stowage and securing;
Advising on actions which may be taken in heavy sea conditions; and
Advising on actions which may be taken to remedy the effects of cargo
shifting.

Question 26

CSS Code

Answer 26

Code of Safe Practice for Cargo
Stowage and Securing

Question 27

General Principals of the Code
of Safe Practice for Cargo
Stowage and Securing (CSS
code)
- There are 7

Answer 27

1. All cargo should be stowed and secured in such a way that the ship
   and persons on board are not put at risk.
2. The safe stowage and securing of cargo depends on proper planning,
   execution and supervision.
3. Personnel commissioned to tasks of cargo stowage and securing
   should be properly qualified and experienced.
4. Personnel planning and supervising the stowage and securing of
   cargo should have a sound practical knowledge of the application and
   content of the Cargo Securing Manual, if provided.
5. In all cases, improper stowage and securing of cargo will be
   potentially hazardous to the securing of other cargoes and to the ship
   itself.
6. Decisions taken for measures of stowage and securing cargo should
   be based on the most severe weather conditions that may be
   expected by experience for the intended voyage.
7. Ship-handling decisions taken by the master, especially in bad
   weather conditions, should take into account the type and stowage
   position of the cargo and the securing arrangements.

Question 28

Annex 13: The two methods available to assess the
efficiency of securing arrangements for non-standardised
cargo are

Answer 28

the Rule-of-Thumb method and the advanced
calculation method

Question 29

Annex 13: The two methods available to assess the
efficiency of securing arrangements for non-standardised
cargo are the Rule-of-Thumb method and the advanced
calculation method. The purpose of these methods is to:

Answer 29

Provide guidance for the preparation of the
Cargo Securing Manual and the examples
therein;

Assist ship’s staff in assessing the securing of
cargo units not covered by the Cargo Securing
Manual;

Assist qualified shore personnel in assessing the
securing of cargo units not covered by the Cargo
Securing Manual; and

Serve as a reference for maritime and portrelated education and training.

Question 30

MSL

Answer 30

Maximum securing load

Question 31

A lashing arrangement consists of a D shackle, Turnbuckle and a wire with bull dog grips on. The MSL for each component is 3 tonnes, 2 tonnes, and 1 tonne respectively. What is the MSL for the whole arrangement?

Answer 31

1 tonne
The MSL (Maximum Securing Load) of a lashing arrangement is the same as the lowest MSL value of the components within that arrangement.

Question 32

What is a cargo securing manual?

Answer 32

A document on board detailing how cargo units other than bulk are to be stowed and secured

Question 33

Min GM for a vessel with timber load lines carrying timber

Answer 33

0.05m

Question 34

What percentage of its breaking strength is the MSL of a re-useable wire rope?

Answer 34

30%

Question 35

What is the IMO code for cargo stowage and securing?

Answer 35

CSS

Question 36

If using Bulldog grips, what side should the U bend be?

Answer 36

The side of the wire which is not working

Question 37

In the UK, which law regulates the carriage of cargo?

Answer 37

The Merchant Shipping (Carriage of Cargoes) Regulations 1999

Question 38

Which direction do the majority of forces act through the cargo on a ship?

Answer 38

Transverse