Ship and Cargo Types - Assignment Example

Ship and Cargo Types The movement of cargo by water is an art that has existed and refined for over thousands of years and this has created a situation where cargo carried by water has become an indispensable part of life in the modern world. It has created a situation where large parts of the world would not be able to survive without the precious cargo that is transported by ship. Over the years there have developed a large variety of cargo and ship which are designed to carry them and this has led to the creation of specialised ships that are meant to ensure that these types of cargo are moved efficiently. Gas cargo is one of the most prevalent types of cargo to be seen in the oceans of the world and it is not only because of its unusual nature but also as a result of the uniqueness of how it is transported. The difficulty in the transportation of gas is that in its natural state, it does not have the properties that other liquid gases, such as crude oil, tend to have. This is because in its natural state, it is in gaseous form and this creates a situation where it cannot be transported in that state (Energy Information Administration, 2003). Therefore, in order to ensure that its transportation is easier, this commodity has to be converted into a more manageable state through cooling and pressurisation so that it can take on a liquid form. The liquefaction of gas ensures that its volume is reduced an estimated six hundred times and this makes it possible for it to be transported by ship. This presents a challenge for regular ships and it creates a situation where specialised ships are designed specifically for the purpose of transporting gas. The ships that are designed to transport gas are designed in such a manner that they have powerful cooling and transportation systems that are meant to ensure that the gas remains in liquid state throughout the journey. It is essential to note that this type of cargo is highly delicate and it has to be maintained in a liquid state at all times to make it possible for its transportation to be easier. Therefore, gas carriers are often considered to be among the most specialised of ships of a commercial nature mainly because their capacity to carry the gas cargo means that they have to have some of the most expensive equipment in the business. As a result, gas carriers cost almost twice more than regular oil tankers of similar sizes and this is a testament to its highly specialised nature. In most cases, the gas cargo itself tends to consist of propane or methane and these are normally used as alternatives to other carbon fuels because of their essentially environmentally friendly nature. Because of their importance and the high demand that they have, gas cargo has to be transported extremely carefully and the ships involved have to ensure that their cooling and pressurising systems are working throughout the journey. Another type of cargo that is also important to many countries in the world is refrigerated food cargo and this is because it is useful in ensuring that the consumption needs of individuals are satisfied. For the most part, most food cargo is shipped over long distances and this is done in such a manner that when it arrives in its destination, it is not only still fresh, but also edible (Swiggum and Kohli 2006). This creates a situation where ships that transport refrigerated food cargo have the ability to not only make sure that the food does not go bad, but also that the cargo arrives at its destination on time. Under such circumstances, one will find refrigerated food cargo that comes from as far as New Zealand being sold in such countries as the United Kingdom, thousands of miles away. It is therefore essential that such sensitive cargo be provided with the best facilities for transportation within ships. This means that ships have to have refrigeration facilities that keep the cargo at the right temperature to maintain their freshness long after they have arrived at their destination. Furthermore, refrigerated cargo ships are built for speed and this has been done to ensure that they are able to meet strict schedules while at the same time making sure that the cargo reaches its destination in the best condition possible. Speed is essential because most of this cargo tends to be in heavy demand all over the world and any delays might mean shortages in some areas. These ships house temperature controlled containers, known as reefer containers, which are designed to ensure that the cargo is carried in either chilled or frozen conditions so that they are able to retain their freshness. Moreover, a wide range of commodities are shipped under these conditions and these include frozen meat, fresh fruit, as well as other farm products that are in demand in other parts of the world. A typical reefer ship tends to be designed in such a manner that allows it to have walkways that ensure that the cargo containers are checked at all time for any failures in the refrigeration system. In addition, constant inspections on the cargo are carried out so that the efficiency of the system can be determined and adjusted as needed. This creates a situation where reefer ships are in a mode of constant inspections throughout the journey so that none of the cargo can reach its destination in less than the expected condition. A third type of cargo is that special purpose cargo and although they are often shipped all over the world, they are normally quite unusual. This is because special purpose cargo is not part of the traditional types of cargo such as crude oil and other dry goods and it can be considered to be in a category of its own. While this type of cargo can be considered to be unusual, most of it is still a basic part of everyday life and this ensures that it remains extremely important. These are goods that require special treatment and they include such cargo as industrial generators and reactors, goods that cannot be moved without any specialised means (Dockwise, 2010). Other types of cargo that fall into this category are livestock, which require that they be moved in safe and comfortable conditions so that when they reach their destination, they are in a condition where they are not only healthy, but also not distressed by the long voyage. Under these conditions, specialised cargo ships have to be designed in such a manner that their parts are able to be adjusted or modified in order to carry the cargo in question. Therefore, whatever the type of cargo may be, the ships that are to transport it have to be specially designed for the purpose and no detail can be ignored because it is what will determine whether the cargo reaches its destination in the best condition. Therefore, under circumstances where ships are required to carry extremely heavy cargo, they have to ensure that they have reliable methods to ensure that they retain their balance throughout the journey. These methods might include the use of ballast to compensate for the weight of the cargo while others might utilise hydraulic feet that can be used as a means of clamping them onto the quay. There are also circumstances, especially in the transportation of livestock, where they require for systems of controlling the climate within the ship while at the same time have proper watering equipment as well as those that can be used for removing manure. These have to be accompanied by large quantities of food and bedding to help the livestock survive the voyage to their destination in peak condition. In conclusion, the types of cargo named above, namely gas, refrigerated food, and special purpose cargo are all essential goods that are moved using specialised ships. The specialisation of ships is necessary because the different products have to be in optimum condition when they reach their destinations. References Swiggum, S. & Kohli, M., 2006, "United Fruit Company". The Fleets. Dockwise. Projects: Thunder Horse PDQ. 2010. [Online] Available at: http://www.dockwise.com/page/projects/projectdata.html [accessed 15 Jan. 2015] Energy Information Administration. 2003. The Global Liquefied Natural Gas Market: Status and Outlook. [Online] Available at: http://www.eia.gov/oiaf/analysispaper/global/lngmarket.html [accessed 15 Jan. 2015] Read More