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Stevedoring involves loading and unloading ships, with some using heavy machinery while others perform manual labor or clerical work. Stevedores are also known as longshoremen. Stevedoring companies handle dock work and employ longshoremen, dockworkers, or docks. Container shipping has blurred the distinction between stevedores and longshoremen. Port operations are dictated by the country or area, with some outsourcing stevedoring to private companies. Union membership is required for stevedores in many ports, making it difficult to start a career in this field.
Stevedoring is an occupation that involves loading and unloading ships in addition to various other port duties and responsibilities. People in this occupation are generally known as stevedores in Europe, although their counterparts in the United States and other areas are also called longshoremen. In countries where stevedoring is commonplace, all cargo passing through domestic and international ports will usually be handled by people in this occupation. Some stevedores operate heavy machinery, such as tractor trailers and cranes, while others perform manual labor or clerical work. Firms that specialize in loading and unloading ships are sometimes referred to as stevedoring companies.
The word “stowage” entered the English language via Spanish or Portuguese, both of which have similar-sounding terms to describe people who handle the cargo of ships. Since it entered English, the term has had a number of slightly different meanings. The occupation of stevedore is often used interchangeably with others, such as “docker” in the UK and “docker” in the US, although stevedore can also refer specifically to highly skilled or experienced workers. Stevedoring companies are often contracted to handle dock work as well, in which case they often employ men and women known as longshoremen, dockworkers, or docks, depending on the location.
At one time, stevedores primarily boarded ships once they entered a port and worked to unload the cargo from there, at which point longshoremen or longshoremen would handle the goods once at the dock. This distinction has lost some of its rigidity with the advent of container shipping, as the cranes and other heavy equipment used to load and unload the modular containers are often located at the quayside. In this way, modern stowage can include the full range of cargo handling responsibilities.
How each port handles stevedoring is typically dictated by the country or area in which it is located. Some areas have ports run by the government or through a partnership between public and private interests, although others outsource all stevedoring operations to private companies. In many cases, all stevedores operating in a given port must belong to a specific union. The union then decides which stevedores receive the available jobs, usually based on some type of seniority. It is often difficult to start a stevedore career due to the large number of workers compared to the jobs available, plus the rigorous process required to join the union if you have one.
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