What’s it like working as a Ship Cargo Planner?

A ship arriving at a port may be loading tons of cargo, discharging tons of cargo, or supplementing cargo that is already loaded onboard. And it is crucial for stability and safety that any loading or discharging is done in the correct way, otherwise there is a risk of harm to the ship, to its crew and to port operatives.

A Ship Cargo Planner essentially ensures that the goods and cargoes loaded or uploaded from a ship reach their end destination in the correct state. For container ships, planning container positions gives the added benefit of maximising space on the ship and minimising the ship unloading time at the next port of discharge.

This role is usually covered by shift work, and some weekend work is to be expected.

What kind of work can I do?

Roles that the Ship Cargo Planner might be expected to do include assessing loading/discharging suitability of the ship, allocating quay handling equipment, organising adequate storage if needed, and communicating with port operatives to assign destinations for the cargo. Ship Cargo Planners are also proficient on computer systems and usually use sophisticated cargo planning software to remove the risk of planning errors.

Ship Cargo Planners also need to be aware of the different properties of cargoes, for example heavy containers should be positioned at the bottom of the stack, while liquid cargoes need to be held in tanks to reduce the free flowing surface of the cargo which could lead to ship instability. Likewise, if incompatible cargoes are being loaded, good planning will remove the risk of contamination or damage.

Additionally, Ship Cargo Planners must take the working loads of the ship structure into account, and adhere to international safety codes for cargoes, if applicable. A Ship/Cargo Planner may also coordinate vessel schedules.

Where can I work?

Ports and terminals offer the most employment opportunities for Ship Cargo Planners, although positions are also be available in major shipping companies and some ship agencies.

A Ship Cargo Planner performs an important role in the safe and secure stowage of cargo to protect both people and ships.

Lee Lay Khoon, Ship Planner

“1,800 is the number of vessels Lay Khoon’s company handles in a year”

The year was 2003. It was with an uneasy mix of excitement, anxiety and anticipation that Lay Khoon decided to leave the publishing firm where she had been working for the past two years. What she was gearing herself up for was a new career path in the maritime industry, as a ship planner at Evergreen Shipping Agency (Singapore) Pte Ltd.

Looking back, she considers that the turning point in her life where she mustered the courage to leave her former job. ”I took the plunge and swam upstream to where I am today!” she says with a hearty laugh.

168 – is her office extension number. She considers that as the first sign that she had made the right decision. In Cantonese, (the language that the Perak-born Singaporean PR speaks fluently), the numbers ’Yat-Luk-Fatt’ auspiciously sounds like ’Path to Prosperity’. It has since become an anecdote that she enjoys telling clients and friends alike.

When it comes to her job, Lay Khoon turns all serious. Ask her about her official work duties,and she can rattle off in a single breath, ”I start the day coordinating closely with the ship masters, ship owners and my Head Office in Taipei on vessel schedules. Next, I undertake the planning of containerships for maximum slot utilisation and cost-effectiveness. Of course, I need to liaise with port authorities, coordinate with our partner shipping lines and attend to any cargo ’change of destination’ requests. Then, I prepare and send ispatch reports to my head office and agents.”

Just when you think that the multi-tasker is done with her list, Lay Khoon quickly adds, ”I also take note of the vessels’ schedules and berth monitoring with the port terminal. Last but not least, I ensure my Head Office’s Operations Department and terminals are kept up-to-date regarding vessel performance.”

There are days when she clocks in more than her regular work hours and has to be on a 24 -hour standby. After knocking off at 5.30pm, she can easily log on to her company’s Virtual Private Network (VPN) server from home to access her data files. That means that even at 2.00am, she can easily resolve her ships’ urgent berthing issues from home.

Lay Khoon understands that it is all part and parcel of her job to provide impeccable service to her clients, so that they will continue to hold her company in high esteem. Make no mistake, this is a company that deploys 1,800 vessels spanning more than 50 countries that underscores Evergreen Shipping Agency’s commitment to meet the challenges of the maritime industry. For Lay Khoon, she figures that she is ready to progress alongside the company, charting one milestone at a time.

SOURCE: Singapore Maritime Careers

How big is this sector?

There are many international opportunities for Ship Cargo Planners and applications should be made directly to the port, terminal or shipping line.