Stevedores — Who Are They?
Stevedores — Who are they and what do they do?…
Most freight in the world is moved by ships. In ports, this is usually called cargo operations, and for the function of loading and unloading ships, a specialised group of workers are required.
In the United Kingdom and Europe, persons who work in this industry are known as stevedores
Stevedores are employed by ports and freight terminals, for example, places like Dubai, Singapore, and others where stevedoring is essential where all cargo passing via domestic and international ports is routinely handled.
The term “stevedoring” is derived from either Spanish or Portuguese and refers to the people who handle cargo on mercantile or commercial transport vessels. It has had a number of slightly varied meanings since it was first introduced into English. The term “stevedore” is frequently interchanged with terms like “docker” in the United Kingdom and “longshoreman” in the United States.
Until recent decades, stevedores primarily boarded merchant boats as soon as they arrived in a harbour to load and unload cargo. With the development of containerized shipping, this basic principle is still there, but the operations are carried out on a larger and faster scale. Today’s stevedoring ships are outfitted with the full complement of cargo handling equipment. There is no doubt that containerization has revolutionised stevedoring.
Stevedoring is usually regulated by the country or region in which it is located. Ports are operated by governments in certain places, or by a partnership of public and private interests in others. All stevedoring operations in other locations are contracted out to private enterprises. In some areas, stevedores working at specific ports are required to be members of an accredited labour union. The union then chooses which stevedores will fill the open positions, usually based on seniority.
Generally due to the vast number of workers required in comparison to the available positions, starting a stevedore career is tough, and an investment is sometimes necessary, in addition to the hard process required to join the trade union.
THE ROLE OF THE STEVEDORE IN SHIPPING
Ships make money at sea when they transport cargo between ports, but they lose money when they dock alongside a port. As a result, ports and terminals must be efficient in order to reduce port time and send the ship back on its way as quickly as possible. In this regard, the involvement of stevedoring businesses that organise cargo handling in port is critical, since it can make a significant difference in the voyage’s profitability.
Once upon a time, stevedores were in charge of organising large-scale dock labour. Thousands of dockers would manually move cargo in and out of the ship’s holds with the “sweat of their brow.”
In today’s ports and terminals around the world, stevedoring businesses and their professional workers operate a variety of expensive and complex cargo handling equipment. One of the massive container cranes that span big ships and their terminals can cost tens of millions of dollars, while ground handling equipment like straddle carriers and low loaders can be costly as well. Nowadays, stevedores are professionals in mechanical equipment handling.
There are “general user” terminals in major world ports in the current period, where the stevedoring personnel can efficiently handle whatever goods the ship brings. As a result, large container ships that do not have their own cargo handling equipment rely on specialised container terminals to handle their boxes, transhipping cargo in and out of both deep-sea and feeder ships, receiving and delivering containers to road/rail transportation, and sorting the boxes in massive stackyards alongside the ships.
Special vehicle terminals are loaded and discharged by specialised workers. Some have the capacity to transport 6000 cars at once and sort them for import and export. While unique bulk terminals with massive nearby stackyards load or discharge commodities like ore or coal, liquid cargoes have their own terminals with experienced workers in their respective trades.
Stevedores are the “interface” between land and sea, and their abilities determine both the pace of cargo handling and the efficiency of the voyage. If the cargo is loaded into the ship in the incorrect order, it may be subjected to double handling before arriving at its final destination. The stevedores’ talents are called upon to “pick up the slack” if the ship is halted — to save fuel — or by poor weather, bringing cargo delivery back on schedule, with the master of the ship taking necessary action.
Stevedoring firms frequently add value to their facilities in addition to managing freight. As a result, auto terminals frequently prepare newly delivered cars for eventual dealer sale, whereas paper or wood terminals prepare and store cargo for the consignee. Stevedores are highly skilled professionals who are becoming increasingly vital and on whom we rely for efficient transportation.
Simply put, a stevedore is someone who loads and unloads cargo onto ships, usually as part of a team to ensure a smooth and effective procedure. Because of their great strength and infamously unpleasant speech, people who execute this work are iconic figures in many cultures; previously, they were noted for having fairly “colourful” vocabulary, similar to sailors. They have also played an important role in the labour movement in many parts of the world, and today, stevedores are more likely to be members of trade unions, ensuring that they are paid fairly and are protected from long hours and hazardous working conditions.
Since the 1700s, the term stevedoring has been used to describe someone who manages the loading and unloading of ships. It comes from the Spanish term estibador, which is derived from estibar, which means “to stow,” which is derived from the Latin word stipare, which means “to pack.” The word was most likely disseminated by sailors, who were known for taking snatches of other languages with them all over the world. These dock workers are known by a variety of names, including stevedore, longshoreman, and dockers, depending on the locale.
The term “longshoreman” is most commonly used in North America, and it is said to be derived from “man along the shore.” This is an excellent description of someone who works in this industry on a continent where many ships are unloaded offshore and onto small boats to ensure that their cargo reaches little settlements where larger ships are unable to access.
Traditionally, stevedores were hired on a day-to-day basis, while certain ports keep a permanent dock staff. In addition to being physically strong, the worker had to be well-versed in ships, as he or she must know how to stow a wide range of cargo items. Because of the variety of packing containers used in the past, this part of the job was highly tough; now that the majority of the cargo is transported by container, this part of the task is a little less complex.
Stevedores must also be able to safely and efficiently operate dock equipment like as cranes and forklifts, as well as be aware of growing safety hazards such as dangerous items on board the ship and surrounding the docks. They are frequently encouraged to watch out for each other on the docks, where situations can change quickly, and they have carried this bond with them into the unionisation tradition. A stevedore who seeks to join the union must normally demonstrate the minimum required abilities before being accepted, and in some ports, a person cannot acquire work without a union card, making membership essential.
DIFFERENT TYPES OF STEVEDORING JOBS
There are classic Stevedore jobs, but there are also numerous responsibilities. The first and most important task is to ensure the safety of the cargo, crew, and themselves. When ships arrive in port, stevedores unload goods and load until the cargo operation is completed. These workers moved massive cargo containers laden with supplies and hefty parcels using big cranes, forklifts, and other cargo equipment.
The stevedore has to report to the Captain or Chief Officer when the vessel arrives in port. Stevedores assist in berthing the vessel in a suitable location for cargo operations and assemble a stevedoring crew for cargo loading and unloading. Because ships arrive and go at all hours of the day and night, every port employs stevedores who must be ready 24 hours a day (any time of day or night).
A stevedore’s duties also include examining the cargo for any damage that occurred at sea or during pre-loading. He inspects containers and documents any damage to the containers or cargo. The stevedore begins the secure loading/unloading of containers or cargo from/to the ship’s holds as soon as the vessel is berthed. Dockworkers frequently utilise portable radios to coordinate crane and other heavy equipment operations. Ship cargo is transferred to railroads or trucks for transport to warehouses or retailers.
The stevedore inspects cargo as ships prepare to depart port to verify proper stowage and lashing of all cargo. If a heavy load of products is shifted during inclement weather, damage to the cargo may occur; consequently, it is critical to secure the cargo for safe transit.
People who work in the stevedoring industry do not often require a high level of education, but they do need to obtain licences or pre-training in order to operate heavy machinery. Many people who work in this field like working on ships and in the outdoors.
Stevedores are cargo loaders and unloaders who work on wharves and ships. They operate the ship’s derricks and cranes, as well as the massive container cranes onboard or ashore. Stevedores transport containers from the storage area to the crane and back to the storage area on container ships. Containers are secured to the ship and to each other. They may also run conveyor belts or drive cars on and off ships at some wharfs.
Stevedores must be physically healthy and strong. Those who work outside in the winter should dress warmly, while those who work outside in the rain should dress appropriately. They labour in shifts to ensure that the port is available 24 hours a day.
LOADING AND UNLOADING SHIPS
Loading and unloading ships necessitates knowledge of how loading equipment works, proper lifting and stowing techniques, and safe handling of hazardous commodities. Workers must also be physically fit and able to follow instructions.
Men who loaded and unloaded ships had to tie down cargoes using rope and a sort of stopper knot called the stevedore knot in the days before containerization. The stevedore lashing or stevedore knotting methods of securely tying up packets of goods are known as stevedore lashing or stevedore knotting. During the loading of a general cargo vessel, dunnage is used, which consists of pieces of wood (or, more recently, robust inflatable dunnage bags) that are laid down to keep the cargo out of any water that may be present in the hold or due to the cargo and ship’s sweat.
Intermodal containers are currently used to transport the vast majority of non-bulk freight. The containers are delivered to a port by truck, rail, or another ship and placed in the port’s storage facility. A crane unloads the containers that the ships are offloading when they arrive. The containers are either trucked or railed out of the port or placed in a storage area until they are loaded onto another ship. After the ship has been unloaded, the containers are put onto a vehicle and driven to the port. The containers are lifted into the ship using a crane from the trucks.
Prior to containerization, freight was frequently handled using a longshoreman’s hook, a tool that has become synonymous with the industry.
Traditionally, stevedores had no set work and would show up at the docks in the morning trying to find someone who would hire them for the day. Standing on the stones was a term used by dockers in London, whereas Shaping was used in the United States. Such occupations have mainly become permanent positions
Dockworkers have played an important role in modern labour movements. And they always will, with the need for the movement of freight being a necessity in the modern world.