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Stowage solution · Bulk carrier

Bulk carrier loading plan software

Build pour-by-pour loading sequences for bulk carriers and coal barges: tonnage per hold, the matching deballasting, and drafts, trim, GM and SF/BM at every stage, not only at the final condition. The bulk module is part of the third wave and is rolling out in stages.

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Vessel Planner · Demo vessel Illustration
Illustration with a fictional vessel and sample data — not a stability calculation result. Shore-side planning & decision support. The class-approved onboard loading computer remains the official reference.

Problems it solves

Intermediate stages go unchecked

The final condition may be fine while a stage in the middle of the sequence exceeds harbour shear force or bending moment limits. Manual stage-by-stage checks are rarely complete.

Loading and deballasting out of step

The loader or floating crane runs faster than the ballast pumps. Without an agreed sequence the ship waits for ballast or the trim drifts.

Final trim and draft miss the target

The final trimming pours are often estimated. A small error puts the draft over the channel limit or leaves the trim the master did not ask for.

Used by: Bulk carrier chief officersMarine superintendentsDraft and cargo surveyorsCoal transshipment plannersBulk barge operators

What is modelled

  • Holds with volumes and mass limits per hold
  • Ballast tanks, including a ballast hold where fitted
  • Fuel, fresh water tanks and constant
  • Frames with harbour and seagoing SF/BM limits
  • Bulk barges with deck cargo per segment

Checked on every move

  • SF/BM per stage

    Shear force and bending moment are calculated for every pour and compared with the harbour and seagoing limits from the ship’s strength data.

  • Mass per hold

    Cargo in each hold is compared with the hold mass limit and the permitted hold combinations in the ship’s loading manual.

  • Loading and ballast in step

    Each stage includes the ballast to be discharged, so pump rates can be compared with the loading rate.

  • Draft, trim and air draft

    Drafts and trim at every stage are checked against berth or anchorage depth and the air draft under the loader.

  • Stability

    Corrected GM, the GZ curve and the vessel’s applicable intact stability criteria are calculated for the final condition and each stage.

  • IMSBC cargo data

    Cargo name, group, stowage factor and shipper documents are recorded per parcel; cargo assessment still rests on the shipper’s certificates and declaration.

Shore-side planning & decision support. The class-approved onboard loading computer remains the official reference.

Workflow

  1. Set up the vessel model

    Import holds, tanks, hydrostatics, KN and SF/BM limits from the stability booklet and loading manual into the Vessel Builder.

  2. Set the cargo and targets

    Enter tonnage per parcel, stowage factor and the final draft and trim targets from the master or charterer.

  3. Build the pour sequence

    Split the tonnage into pours per hold with deballasting at each stage; drafts, trim, GM and SF/BM per stage show in the sequence table.

  4. Approve and monitor

    Send the sequence to the chief officer and master, then compare drafts read on site with the plan for the final trimming pours.

Outputs

  • Loading and deballasting sequence per stage (PDF)
  • SF/BM per stage against limits
  • Final condition: drafts, trim, GM, criteria
  • Initial and final draft survey worksheets

Example scenario

Illustration — fictional vessel, not a customer case study

Illustrative five-hold bulk carrier loading coal at anchorage

Situation

Illustration with a fictional five-hold bulk carrier of about 50,000 DWT loading 47,000 t of coal from barges by floating crane, with a final trim target of 0.5 m by the stern.

Steps in the planner

  1. 01The planner splits the cargo into nine pours with deballasting at each stage.
  2. 02Stage four shows a bending moment at 96% of the harbour limit; the hold 3 pour is reduced and part of it moves to the next stage.
  3. 03After the change, the highest SF/BM at any stage is below 90% of the harbour limit.
  4. 04The last two pours are kept for trimming and recalculated from draft readings before the final pour.

Result

Illustrative result: no stage exceeds the strength limits, deballasting finishes before the final pour, and the final trim meets the target.

Illustration with a fictional vessel and sample data — not a stability calculation result. Shore-side planning & decision support. The class-approved onboard loading computer remains the official reference.

See it with your vessel data

A demo video is coming. Meanwhile we schedule a live demo with a demo vessel or your own vessel data.

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Related guides

Related free tools

Vessel type guide

Frequently asked questions

When is the bulk module available?

The bulk module is part of the third wave and is rolling out in stages after the barge, LCT, general cargo and container modules. The free draft survey and stowage factor calculators can be used first.

Does this replace the bulk carrier’s loading instrument?

No. Sequences and SF/BM values are shore-side planning and decision support. The class-approved loading computer and the ship’s loading manual remain the official reference for the chief officer and master.

Can it be used for coal barges?

Yes. Bulk barges are modelled with cargo per deck segment so drafts and trim are visible; barge layouts and deck loads are also in the first-wave barge module.

Is the IMSBC Code copied into the app?

No. The app records cargo data and shipper documents per parcel; IMSBC Code content and cargo assessments such as TML still rely on the official source and the shipper’s certificates.

Other vessel types

Plan Cargo. Balance Vessel. Sail Safer.

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