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The Stowage Plan and Stowage Planning

By: Captain Brian Powney
Intermarine Technical Department

Figure 1 Figure 2

The stowage plan is a complete diagram showing the
location of the cargo loaded on board the ship (figure 1).
Traditionally the stowage plan looks like a vessel viewed
from the side. Each port of discharge is clearly indicated
along with the cargo weight, description and possibly
dimensions. The cargo stowed on the deck and in the
tween deck is shown from a plan perspective, whereas
the cargo in the lower hold is shown in profile.
Today most steamship companies have their own
Technical Departments that prepare stowage plans,
complete load spreading calculations and prepare
method statements. Stowage and securing of cargo is
still the responsibility of the Master but a Port Captain
can be of great assistance. An experienced Port Captain
can more than cover his costs with prior knowledge of
the cargo, good planning and scheduling of labor.

Stowage is the responsibility of the Master and in the

past the pre-stow and final cargo plans were completed
by ship’s staff and based on tabulated stowage factors
and experience. Today the process has become more
automated with optimization software such as Visio,
LoadPlanner and AutoCAD.

In the General Cargo Era, the Chief Officer would present

the Stevedore Superintendent with a pre-stow plan
clearly indicating the spaces that had been allocated for
that particular port. At that time, most stevedore gangs
employed a “plan man” who would prepare a detailed
plan based on stowage information received from the
clerks. The plans were meticulously prepared using
Figure 3
pencils and paper and were truly works of art.

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To prepare a pre-stow plan the following information is
essential:
1. The intended load and discharge port rotation
2. The complete cargo specifications, including
description, weight and overall dimensions, special
handling instructions, hazardous classifications and
deck option
3. Complete details of all heavylifts and out of gauge
units, including lifting instructions and the center of
gravity
Numerous parameters must be considered when
preparing a pre-stow plan including:
Vessel Rotation
The vessel’s full port rotation should be taken into
account to ensure that no cargo is over-stowed. Shifting
is expensive and increases the likelihood of cargo
damage.
Weight Distribution
The weight distribution determines the vessel’s trim,
stability and stress levels. A perfect trim helps ensure the
maximum speed with the minimum fuel consumption. The
ship must have adequate stability to ensure the safety of the
crew and cargo. The cargo weight should be stowed in a
manner that prevents the vessel from becoming excessively
stiff or tender. These two factors help determine how a
vessel behaves in a seaway and consequently the chances
of a cargo shifting in heavy weather.
Figure 4
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Each of the decks has weight limitations; therefore,
proper weight distribution and loadspreading measures
should be taken to prevent the decks from being
overloaded (figure 5).
Cargo Compatibility
Care should be taken to ensure that incompatible
cargoes are not stowed next to one another. There are
international regulations covering the stowage of
hazardous cargo but careful consideration should also
be taken when loading food, liquids in drums or pails,
odorous or dusty commodities and fragile cargoes.
A well prepared pre-stow plan helps ensure a safe,
speedy vessel turnaround with minimum cost and cargo
damage. The final stowage plan includes details of the
final cargo distribution, the total weight and cube in each
compartment and the total weight and cube for each
discharge port. The plan will show the location of all
heavy lifts and hazardous cargo.
In addition to the final cargo plan, the Port Captain and
or Technical Department may also furnish discharge and
lifting instructions. These will enable the stevedore at
the discharge port to prepare all the equipment
necessary for operations prior to the vessels arrival
(figure 4). The will help ensure a speedy turnaround with
minimal cargo damage.
Figure 5
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Case Study
VESSEL LAY SYSTEM
680 MT, 32.5 M: ITALY TO INDONESIA
Site Details
• Location - Genoa, Italy to Batam, Indonesia
• Region - Mediterranean
• Type of Cargo - VLS (Vessel Lay System)
• Client - McDermott
• Vessel – Industrial Grace
Synopsis
In April, 2016, Intermarine was awarded the shipment of
a VLS from Genoa, Italy, to Batam, Indonesia (figure 3).
Work Scope of Project
Intermarine’s Industrial Grace was utilized for the
transportation of a 680 mt Vessel Lay System (VLS)
measuring 15 x 16 x 32.5 meters high plus accessorial
equipment from fabricator’s berth in Genoa, Italy, to
McDermott’s yard in Batam, Indonesia (figures 2 & 6).
Before the client could award the project to any carrier,
months of technical work had to be completed to
determine best mode of transport, either underdeck
with hatch covers open or on deck, lifting plan, lashing
plan, method statement, etc. All spec work was included
in the full commercial proposal. The more information
Intermarine provided, the more options McDermott had
to choose from. This vetting process laid the groundwork
for the project scope and the client was confident
Intermarine had the expertise to perform on this cargo.
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Figure 6
Challenges
Intermarine’s in-house technical team had to design
unique sea-fastening material to alleviate the
accelerations that the VLS would sustain during loading
and transportation. Intermarine was also asked to go
into extensive analysis of the hatch covers to evaluate
the strength and integrity of the vessel.
Solutions
We worked closely with McDermott to adapt to the
clients rigorous design criteria and regulations, this
ensured the utmost precautions were taken when
handling this high profile cargo. Intermarine designed,
engineered and purchased custom made lifting
equipment that complied with the specific handling
instructions received from the client and the physical
restrictions of the ships gear.
The Future
The stowage plan has evolved from a simple draft with
pen and paper to a computer generated color
presentation. As technology and communication
systems improve 3D and animated stowage plans will
become more and more common.