Handysize is a naval architecture term for smaller bulk carriers or oil tanker with deadweight of up to 50,000 tonnes, although there is no official definition in terms of exact tonnages. Handysize is also sometimes used to refer to the span of up to 60,000 tons, with the vessels above 35,000 tonnes referred to as Handymax or Supramax.
31-561: SS Lake Illawarra was a handysize bulk carrier of 7,274 tons in the service of the Australian National Line . This ship is known for causing the Tasman Bridge disaster when she collided with pylon 19 of Hobart 's giant high concrete arch style Tasman Bridge on the evening of 5 January 1975 at 9.27 pm, resulting in the deaths of 12 people. Lake Illawarra was built by BHP , Whyalla , South Australia. Her keel
62-430: A verb— to initiate the extraction of a portion of the cargo of a ship , or to begin the unloading process from the ship's hold(s) . Break-bulk cargo is not in shipping containers —neither standard nor non-standard—instead the goods are transported, packaged in smaller containers, like bags, boxes, crates, drums, or barrels. Unit loads of items secured to a pallet or skid are also used. A break-in-bulk point
93-508: A different commodity. Their dry bulk cargo includes iron ore, coal, cement, phosphate, finished steel products, wooden logs, fertilizer, and grains to name a few. B.Delta Break bulk cargo In shipping , break-bulk , breakbulk , or break bulk cargo , also called general cargo , is goods that are stowed on board ships in individually counted units. Traditionally, the large numbers of items are recorded on distinct bills of lading that list them by different commodities . This
124-558: A few other countries also have the capacity to build such vessels. The most common industry-standard specification handysize bulker is now about 32,000 metric tons of deadweight on a summer draft of about 10 metres (33 ft), and features 5 cargo holds with hydraulically operated hatch covers, with four 30 metric ton cranes for cargo handling. Some handysizes are also fitted with stanchions to enable logs to be loaded in stacks on deck. Such vessels are often referred to as 'handy loggers'. - Despite multiple recent orders for new ships,
155-421: A good layer of dunnage and kept clear of any moisture. Military and weather-resistant grades of corrugated fiberboard are available. They are not overstowed with anything other than similar boxes. They are frequently loaded on pallets to form a unit load ; if so the slings that are used to load the cargo are frequently left on to facilitate discharge. Wooden boxes or crates are stowed on double dunnage in
186-512: A speed of 12.5 knots (23.2 km/h; 14.4 mph). Lake Illawarra was loaded with zinc concentrate , for EZ Industries ' Risdon Zinc Works , about three nautical miles (5.6 km; 3.5 mi) up the River Derwent from the bridge. Just before the impact, Captain Bolesław Pelc realised as he passed Rosny Point that he was off course, and traveling too fast. He tried to correct
217-449: A vessel includes the use of dunnage . When no hoisting equipment is available, break bulk has traditionally been manually carried on and off ship, over a plank, or it might be passed from man to man via a human chain . Since the 1960s, the volume of break-bulk cargo has enormously declined worldwide in favor of mass adoption of intermodal containers . The term break-bulk derives from the phrase breaking bulk —using "to break bulk" as
248-524: A wider variety of cargo types. These include steel products, grain, metal ores, phosphate, cement, logs, woodchips and other types of so-called ' break bulk cargo '. They are numerically the most common size of bulk carrier, with nearly 2000 units in service totalling about 43 million tons. Handysize bulkers are built mainly by shipyards in Japan , Korea , China , Vietnam , the Philippines and India , though
279-486: Is a place where goods are transferred from one mode of transport to another, for example the docks where goods transfer from ship to truck. Break-bulk was the most common form of cargo for most of the history of shipping. Since the late 1960s, the volume of break-bulk cargo has declined dramatically, relative to containerized cargo, while the latter has grown exponentially worldwide. Containerizing makes cargo effectively more homogenous, like other bulk cargoes, and enables
310-420: Is for the cargo to be delivered to the dock in advance of the arrival of the ship and for the cargo to be stored in warehouses . When the ship arrives the cargo is then taken from the warehouse to the quay and then lifted on board by either the ship's gear ( derricks or cranes ) or by the dockside cranes . The discharge of the ship is the reverse of the loading operation. Loading and discharging by breakbulk
341-884: Is in contrast to cargo stowed in modern intermodal containers as well as bulk cargo , which goes directly, unpackaged and in large quantities, into a ship's hold(s) , measured by volume or weight (for instance, oil or grain). The term break-bulk derives from the phrase breaking bulk , a term for unloading part of a ship's cargo, or commencing unloading the cargo. Ships carrying break-bulk cargo are often called general cargo ships . Break-bulk/general cargo consists of goods transported, stowed and handled piecemeal to some degree, typically bundled somehow in unit loads for hoisting, either with cargo nets , slings, or crates , or stacked on trays, pallets or skids. Furthermore, batches of break-bulk goods are frequently packaged in smaller containers : bags , boxes , cartons , crates , drums , or barrels /vats. Ideally, break-bulk cargo
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#1732855675457372-399: Is labour-intensive. The cargo is brought to the quay next to the ship and then each individual item is lifted on board separately. Some items such as sacks or bags can be loaded in batches by using a sling or cargo net and others such as cartons can be loaded onto trays before being lifted on board. Once on board each item must be stowed separately. Before any loading takes place, any signs of
403-407: Is lifted directly into and out of a vessel's holds, and this is mostly the case today. Otherwise, it must be lifted onto and off its deck, by cranes or derricks present on the dock or on the ship itself. If hoisted on deck rather than straight into the hold, liftable or rollable goods then have to be man-handled and stowed competently by stevedores . Securing break-bulk and general freight inside
434-400: Is taken to prevent damage. Vehicles are prepared by removing hazardous liquids ( gasoline , etc.). This is in contrast to ro-ro ( roll-on/roll-off ) vessels where vehicles are driven on and off the ship under their own power. Any long heavy items are stowed fore and aft. If they are stowed athwart ships they are liable to shift if the ship rolls heavily, and could pierce through the side of
465-1094: The Tasmanian Seafarers Memorial at Triabunna on the east coast of Tasmania, approximately 80 kilometres (50 mi) north-east of Hobart. The plaque contains the following text: S.S. "Lake Illawarra" 5.1.1975 on Derwent River, Hobart 7274 ton steam turbine bulk carrier crew of 42, cargo 10,000 tons of zinc collided with Tasman Bridge and sank causing loss of 7 crew*, 5 motorists. A.Campbell*, A.Robinson*, C.Maddigan* L.Mendizabel*, T.Sheridan*, R.Rezek J.Stokoe, A.Sward, P.Sward Missing G.Kemp*, R.Turner*, Dr T.Jones ~ 42°51′52″S 147°20′45″E / 42.86444°S 147.34583°E / -42.86444; 147.34583 Handysize Their small size allows Handysize vessels to enter smaller ports to pick up cargoes, and because in most cases they are 'geared' - i.e. fitted with cranes - they can often load and discharge cargoes at ports which lack cranes or other cargo handling systems. Compared to larger bulk carriers, handysizes carry
496-476: The captain instead attempted to pass through one of the eastern spans, due to a combination of strong tidal currents and inattention. The Court found that Pelc had not handled Lake Illawarra in a proper and seamanlike manner, and suspended his master's certificate for six months. A pilot service was introduced in response to the court's findings. A memorial plaque is dedicated to the SS Lake Illawarra at
527-409: The deckhead are covered to prevent damage by dripping sweat. Wooden barrels are stowed on their sides on "beds" of dunnage which keeps the middle of the side (the bilge) off the deck and they are stowed with the bung at the top. To prevent movement, wedges called quoins are put in on top of the "beds". Barrels should be stowed fore and aft and not athwart ships. Once the first tier has been loaded,
558-630: The handling of cargo on the newer vessels may not be available. As modernization of ports and shipping fleets spreads across the world, the advantages of using containerization and specialized ships over break-bulk has sped the overall decline of break-bulk operations around the world. In all, the new systems have reduced costs as well as spillage and turnaround times; in the case of containerisation, damage and theft as well. Breakbulk continues to hold an advantage in areas where port development has not kept pace with shipping technology; break-bulk shipping requires relatively minimal shore facilities—a wharf for
589-433: The handysize sector still has the highest average age profile of the major bulk carrier sectors. Today, most of handysize vessels operate within regional trade routes. These ships are capable of traveling to small ports with length and draught restrictions, as well as lacking the infrastructure for cargo loading and unloading. They are used to carry small bulk cargoes, often in parcel size where individual cargo holds may have
620-409: The heading, but managed only to bring the bow too far to port (left) and was now heading for the western shore. He urgently counter-corrected, but could not make the opening. Realising he was headed for a collision, he ordered the engine full astern, but the torque from her propeller caused the ship to slide in a broadside movement. She smashed into the 18th and 19th pylons. The collision brought down
651-432: The holds and single dunnage in the 'tween decks. Heavy boxes are given bottom stowage. The loading slings are often left on to aid discharge. Metal drums are stowed on end with dunnage between tiers, in the longitudinal space of the ship. Reels or rolls are generally stowed on their sides and care is taken to make sure they are not crushed. Automobiles are lifted on board and then secured using lashings . Great care
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#1732855675457682-449: The need for transporting liquids in barrels and grains in sacks. Such tankers and carriers use specialised ships and shore facilities to deliver larger amounts of cargo to the dock and effect faster turnarounds with fewer personnel once the ship arrives; however, they do require large initial investments in ships, machinery, and training, slowing their spread to areas where funds to overhaul port operations and/or training for dock personnel in
713-415: The next tier of barrels fits into the hollows between the barrels; this is known as stowing "bilge and cantline". Barrels which are also known as casks or tuns are primarily used for transporting liquids such as wine, water, brandy, whiskey, and even oil. They are usually built in a spherical shape to make them easier to roll and have less friction when changing direction. Corrugated boxes are stowed on
744-416: The previous cargo are removed. The holds are swept, washed if necessary and any damage to them repaired. Dunnage is laid ready for the cargo or is just put in bundles ready for the stevedores to lay out as the cargo is loaded. There are a great many kinds of breakbulk cargo. Examples of the more common types follow below. Bagged cargo (e.g. coffee in sacks) is stowed on double dunnage and kept clear of
775-405: The same economies of scale . Moving cargo on and off ship in containers is much more efficient, allowing ships to spend less time in port. Containerization, once widely accepted, reduced shipping and loading costs by 80% to 90%. Break-bulk cargo also suffered from greater theft and damage. Although cargo of this sort can be delivered straight from a truck or train onto a ship, the most common way
806-668: The ship to tie to, dock workers to assist in unloading, warehouses to store materials for later reloading onto other forms of transport. As a result, there are still some areas where break-bulk shipping continues to thrive. Goods shipped break-bulk can also be offloaded onto smaller vessels and lighters for transport into even the most minimally-developed port which the normally large container ships , tankers, and bulk carriers might not be able to access due to size and/or water depth. In addition, some ports capable of accepting larger container ships/tankers/bulk transporters still require goods to be offloaded in break-bulk fashion; for example, in
837-436: The ship's sides and bulk heads. Bags are kept away from pillars and stanchions by covering it with matting or waterproof paper. Baled goods are stowed on single dunnage at least 50 mm (2 in) thick. The bales must be clean with all the bands intact. Stained or oily bales are rejected. All fibres can absorb oil and are liable to spontaneous combustion. As a result, they are kept clear of any new paintwork. Bales close to
868-425: The ship. The biggest disadvantage with breakbulk is that it requires more resources at the wharves at both ends of a ship's journey—longshoremen, loading cranes, warehouses, transport vehicles—and often takes up more dock space due to multiple vessels carrying multiple loads of breakbulk cargo. Indeed, the decline of breakbulk did not start with containerisation; rather, the advent of tankers and bulk carriers reduced
899-411: The south of the bridge. Seven of the ship's crew died in the accident. The ship and the debris pile were deemed unsafe to move; the ship's bunker oil was pumped out, and the bow was removed at a later date. The wreck is deep enough not to be a navigational hazard. The subsequent Court of Marine Inquiry found that Lake Illawarra was capable of passing beneath the bridge's central navigation span, but
930-407: The two support pylons and a 127-metre (417 ft) section of steel and concrete. There was evening traffic on the bridge, and although no vehicles were on the section that fell, four cars drove off the gap, with five people killed. Two cars stopped on the edge, their occupants able to escape. The section of four-lane highway landed on the ship's deck, sinking her in 35 metres (115 ft) of water to
961-466: Was laid in June 1956, and she was launched on 28 September 1957. She was delivered from the shipyard on 28 March 1958. Lake Illawarra measured 7,274 gross register tons (GRT) and 10,380 tons deadweight (DWT), with a length of 139.8 metres (458 ft 8 in) and a beam of 18 metres (59 ft 1 in). She was powered by a steam turbine that drove a single propeller and gave her