Deck cargo and its function

The deck cargo is cargo shipments loaded on deck instead of directly in the ship. According to the legislation of several types of cargo must be carried out on the deck, while other types of cargo do this for convenience or to resolve the problem of space when loaded on the ship. The cargo must be kept with care to prevent loss and reduce the risk of injury to the crew, as they will be directly affected by the cargo deck while working on the ship.

Livestock typically loaded as deck cargo when there are concerns about safety and ventilation below deck. A special pen can be made on the deck or livestock can be carried in crates. Other items that are usually loaded in this way are explosive. In many areas, people can not carry explosives under the deck due to security reasons. In addition done on deck, they also need to be labeled are clear so that people will understand the risks.


Planes, trucks, and other large cargo can be loaded on deck because it is impossible to bring them under the deck. This might be because of their size too big so they won't be loaded in cargo spaces, or openings to cargo is not large enough, or the crane and other devices used for the handling of cargo in the hold is not intended for heavy loads.


Sometimes a large cargo loaded in pieces such as on aircraft, where the wings can be removed and carried separately to allow the entire aircraft can be loaded in the ship. Lumber and other building materials can also be classified as deck cargo, along with other items such as prefabricated materials for construction.


Deck cargo could be carried in containers, while others may be tied directly to the deck and covered with a protective material. The cargo will be checked thoroughly and carefully laid out and the load must be set in order to be balanced for safety. A document that describes the type of cargo and its history must also be loaded, including notes about the details of where the cargo originated and where it will go.


Insurance companies usually treat the deck cargo varies depending on the type of cargo. When there is an increased risk of loss with the insurer then cargo could create limits on when and where they are going to pay a claim, or require people to buy cargo insurance for certain types of cargo. This is done to reduce the liability of the insurance company.