General cargo space or bale space the volume of the cargo holds that can be used to carry general cargo
General Cargo ship has holds on the main deck and also has tweendecks, where cargo can be stacked atop or beneath them.
TYPE OF CARGO INCLUDED
These spaces can be filled by: * breakbulk cargo - variety of goods that must be loaded individually, is transported in bags, boxes, crates, drums, or barrels. This type of cargo is called “loose cargo” * unitized cargo.- uniform or heterogeneous cargo carried aboard a ship in pallets, containers, wheeled, vehicles, and barges or lighters. * Palletized cargo or other materials handled by means of pallets. It allows handling and storage efficiencies * Containerized cargo transported in containers- Two most common sizes used in ground and sea transportation are (1) Twenty-footer (typical capacity 33.2 cubic meter and (2) Forty-footer typical capacity 67.7 cubic meter
Containerization is a system of intermodal freight transport using intermodal containers made of weathering steel.
Documents on board
International Health Regulation – Ship sanitation control certificate
SOLAS 74 – * Cargo Ship Safety Certificate * Document of Authorization for the Carriage of Grain
IMO Resolution * Damage control plan * Maintenance plan
i. Cargo plans * A cargo plan can help to prevent over-carrying, help the stevedores at the port of discharge ii. Preparation of holds * Tank top – covered with a double layer of dunnage to ensure free drainage to the bilges. * Tween deck – care to have a layer of dunnage at ship side over the stringer plate since water tends to accumulated there * Top of cargo – protected by covering by matting, wood dunnage. iii. Separation of Cargo * Method depends on type of cargo * Instance-bagged cargo * Bulk cargo * Timber * Use