Stevedoring is the operational work of loading cargo onto a vessel or unloading it from a vessel, together with the agreed work directly connected to that transfer. ILO dock-work terminology covers loading or unloading a ship and work incidental to it, while the exact legal definition can depend on national law and practice.

In a commercial proposal, “stevedoring” should never stand alone. The quote must describe the cargo, transfer points, included labour and equipment, quantity basis and responsibility boundaries.

Typical stevedoring scope

Depending on the contract, it may include:

  • preparing the agreed working area;
  • moving cargo between the vessel interface and the designated terminal point;
  • operating the approved cargo-handling method;
  • coordinating the working sequence with the vessel;
  • recording operational quantities and exceptions;
  • placing or removing agreed dunnage and handling materials;
  • supporting survey access;
  • housekeeping directly connected to the operation.

The actual inclusions must be written into the service order.

What is usually a separate scope

  • Terminal storage: custody, segregation, inventory and release between operations.
  • Ship agency: formalities, communications and local representation for the vessel’s principal.
  • Freight forwarding: coordination or contracting of transport and related logistics.
  • Customs brokerage: declarations and customs representation under authorization.
  • Independent survey: contractual quantity, quality or condition evidence.
  • Cargo securing approval: vessel-side stowage and securing responsibilities governed by the carrier, master and applicable rules.

One provider may coordinate several scopes, but that does not make the responsibilities identical.

Who supplies the method information?

The shipper describes the cargo and handling restrictions. The vessel provides the working, stowage and securing requirements within its responsibility. The terminal assesses and executes the agreed shore-side method. Surveyors observe or certify their appointed scope.

IMO states that proper stowage and securing depend on planning, execution and supervision. A stevedore’s physical work does not remove the master’s or carrier’s responsibilities for the vessel and voyage.

How stevedoring is priced

The commercial basis may depend on cargo form, unit schedule, total quantity, vessel interface, handling sequence, labour, storage transfers, survey support and exception exposure. A rate per tonne or unit is meaningful only when the inclusions and quantity basis are defined.

Use this request structure:

cargo → form/units → direction → vessel interface → terminal endpoint → method restrictions → quantity basis → included services → excluded services → survey → documents → exception owners

New Energy provides cargo handling within a confirmed project scope. Detailed method and equipment compatibility are qualified privately after the cargo and vessel information is received.