Services

Cargo Handling In deciding what cargo-handling equipment to fit, a balance is needed between giving a ship the ability to load and discharge its own cargo and reliance upon the terminal port facilities. If the ship is to operate between well-defined ports, the balance may be clear. If the ship is to operate more flexibly, it cannot rely on specialist unloading equipment and must carry more of its own. The development of the container ship was closely linked to the development of special container ports and the supporting road and rail networks for moving the containers inland. Similarly large crude oil carriers can expect good facilities at the loading port and the refinery terminal.