Loading/discharge: loading by shore-based portal cranes; discharge by the vessel’s own cranes.
The vessel successfully completed the transportation of 25,000 tonnes of steel billets from the Port of Vanino to the Port of Taichung. Cargo operations were completed without delays or claims. The average daily discharge rate using the vessel’s cranes reached 3,500 tonnes per day, demonstrating the high reliability of the cargo-handling equipment.
Cargo behaviour during transportation.
Steel billets are a heavy cargo liable to shifting. During passage through the Taiwan Strait, where sea conditions of force 4–5 may occur, inertial forces can cause unsecured bundles to move.
The vessel’s stability and safety were fully maintained through accurate cargo-stowage calculations; maximum stress in the hull structure did not exceed the allowable level of 65%.
The passage from sub-zero temperatures in Vanino to the subtropical climate of Taichung causes a sharp temperature change inside the holds, inevitably resulting in condensation on the metal surface. Nevertheless, the cargo remained fully controlled throughout the voyage. To minimise oxidation, the crew measured hold temperature and humidity daily and maintained the required ventilation regime.