Operational guide · Operational procedure

Break Bulk Cargo: Stowage, Dunnage and Damage Prevention

For break bulk, weight, dimensions and centre of gravity come from reliable data and are verified according to risk; the evidence package follows cargo and contract and does not require draft surveys at every stage.

break bulkdunnagestowagecargo claim

Operational Explanation

Break bulk requires planning by item or homogeneous group under the CSM. Dunnage separates and supports cargo but does not itself ensure deck or tank-top limits are met: check local reactions, actual contact areas and load paths into the structure. Weight divided by total area or timber thickness alone does not demonstrate suitability.

Regulatory Reference

SOLAS VI/5, approved CSM, CSS Code; UK P&I — steel cargo guidance. Apply cargo-specific guidance without treating it as a universal requirement.

IPPC — ISPM 15: check relevant countries’ phytosanitary requirements for raw-wood dunnage used in international trade. Distinguish processed wood excluded from the standard, such as plywood, from raw wood. Phytosanitary compliance does not certify structural capacity.

Scope of Application

Every ship carrying non-containerised general cargo (break bulk), including bulk carriers with mixed cargoes, with the crew responsible for verifying stowage and documentation during operations.

Procedure / How to Complete It

Obtain and verify reliable weight, dimensions and centre-of-gravity data for each item as required for safe stowage and securing.
Require competent engineering assessment where data, shape, supports or risk do not permit ordinary verification.
Plan stowage, dunnage, supports, access and securing under CSM and ship limits.
Document tally, apparent condition, mate's receipts/reservations, photographs and condition reports.
Use draft survey only where an appropriate and agreed quantity-measurement method.

Practical Example

For steel coils, use reliable supplier data and the CSM/engineering arrangement to verify supports, local loads, stacking and securing. Do not estimate the centre of gravity empirically or select dunnage by thickness alone. Record apparent condition, tally and the installed arrangement.

What Typically Goes Wrong

Discontinuous or misaligned supports can concentrate forces; stacking can exceed the lower tier’s capacity. Incomplete tally and photographs make quantities and apparent condition at receipt harder to reconstruct.

Common Mistakes Mistake Library

Mistake	Consequence	How to avoid it
Stowage planning without reliable and verified weight, dimensions and centre-of-gravity data for the items concerned	Cargo instability and risk of damage during transport	Always plan break bulk stowage piece by piece, not by analogy with standardised cargoes
Over-stowage of the cargo, with accumulated weight that the lower layer cannot support	Damage to the cargo in the lower layer during transport	Always verify the load-bearing capacity of the lower layer before adding further layers on top
Imprecise cargo tally, especially for bagged goods	Inability to demonstrate the actual condition of the cargo at loading in the event of a cargo claim	Carry out an accurate, documented tally for every type of break bulk cargo, particularly bagged goods

What the PSCO Checks

The PSCO may also check actual stowage and securing: consistency with the CSM, deck/tank-top limits, devices and their condition. The 2026 Cargo Securing CIC checks existing requirements; inspection is not limited to written procedures.

Paris MoU — CIC 2026 questionnaire

Operational Tips

Do not treat break bulk as an extension of container stowage logic: it requires dedicated piece-by-piece planning.
Always document the dunnage standard used, do not limit yourself to an unrecorded visual check.
Always verify the load-bearing capacity of the lower layer before adding further stacked layers of break bulk cargo.

Preparation checklist

Reliable weight/dimensions/CoG data obtained and checked
Engineering assessment required where necessary
Dunnage and deck/tank-top limits checked
Tally and apparent-condition records aligned
Draft survey used only where appropriate and agreed

FAQ

Must crew empirically calculate every item's CoG?

No. Obtain and verify reliable shipper/manufacturer data and require engineering assessment where necessary.

What evidence package supports a cargo claim?

It follows cargo and contract: accurate tally, mate's receipts and reservations, photographs, condition reports and any required independent survey.

Are repeated draft surveys required at every stage?

No. Use them only where an appropriate and agreed method for measuring cargo quantity.