Deck Cargo Ship Charter
Deck cargo ships have a large open deck for cargo that is too long, wide or awkward to fit inside the holds of an ordinary ship.
What they carry
Oversized equipment and structures, long pipes, large steel pieces and other cargo that is loaded on deck and secured by lashing.
What to prepare
The weight and size of each piece, how it is lashed or supported, the ports and whether they can handle the pieces, and the laycan. A short piece list or drawing helps ship operators answer correctly.
How it is chartered
Usually a voyage charter with a freight for the whole shipment. For very heavy pieces see heavy lift vessels.
What deck cargo is
Deck cargo is carried on the open deck, not in a hold, because it is too large, too tall or too long for the hold, or because it must not be enclosed. Typical pieces are large tanks and vessels, structures, long pipes and heavy machinery. The ship needs a large, strong, flat deck.
What the ship operator needs to know
The strength of the deck is given in tonnes per square metre, and the ship operator checks it against the weight and the area of the cargo. The stability of the ship with a high load on deck is calculated, and the cargo is lashed and sometimes welded to the deck. Give the weight, the dimensions, the centre of gravity and the number of pieces, and say whether the ship needs its own cranes.
Search deck cargo ships
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