Enter a player name to begin or load your saved progress.
Break-bulk cargo is characterized by goods transported in individually counted units, distinguishing it from unpackaged bulk cargo.
Answer: True
Explanation: The source material defines break-bulk cargo as goods stowed in individually counted units, contrasting it with bulk cargo which is transported unpackaged.
Break-bulk cargo is typically handled and stowed in large, consolidated units, eliminating the need for individual item handling.
Answer: False
Explanation: Break-bulk cargo is handled and stowed piecemeal, often requiring individual item handling, unlike consolidated unit loads or containerized cargo.
The 'authority control' section of an article typically provides information on the cargo's origin and destination.
Answer: False
Explanation: The 'authority control' section of an article is used for cataloging and referencing purposes, providing standardized identifiers, rather than information about cargo origin or destination.
What is the fundamental characteristic that distinguishes break-bulk cargo from bulk cargo?
Answer: Break-bulk cargo consists of goods stowed in individually counted units, whereas bulk cargo is transported unpackaged.
Explanation: The fundamental distinction lies in packaging: break-bulk cargo is handled in individually counted units, while bulk cargo is transported unpackaged.
Which of the following is NOT a type of smaller container commonly used for break-bulk goods mentioned in the source?
Answer: Intermodal containers
Explanation: Intermodal containers are a distinct shipping method that largely replaced traditional break-bulk packaging like drums, pallets, and cartons.
Dunnage is used to secure break-bulk cargo and provide a protective layer between the cargo and the ship's structure.
Answer: True
Explanation: Dunnage serves the crucial function of securing cargo and acting as a protective buffer between the goods and the ship's hull or internal structures.
Bagged cargo, like coffee sacks, should be stowed directly on the ship's deck without any protective layering.
Answer: False
Explanation: Bagged cargo is stowed on dunnage and protected from ship's sides and bulkheads with matting or waterproof paper to prevent damage and contamination.
Baled goods that are stained or oily are typically accepted for shipping if they are securely packaged.
Answer: False
Explanation: Stained or oily bales are rejected for shipping because they pose a risk of spontaneous combustion, a critical safety concern in cargo transport.
Wooden barrels are ideally stowed upright on ships to prevent leakage.
Answer: False
Explanation: Wooden barrels are ideally stowed on their sides, with the bung facing upwards, and secured with quoins to prevent rolling and leakage.
Metal drums are typically stowed on their sides to maximize space utilization within the ship's hold.
Answer: False
Explanation: Metal drums are typically stowed on end, not on their sides, to ensure stability and prevent damage.
Paper reels or rolls are generally stowed vertically to maintain their shape during transit.
Answer: False
Explanation: Paper reels or rolls are typically stowed on their sides to prevent crushing and maintain their structural integrity during transit.
Motor vehicles are handled similarly on break-bulk ships and Ro-Ro vessels, both being driven aboard.
Answer: False
Explanation: Motor vehicles are handled differently: on break-bulk ships, they are lifted aboard, while on Ro-Ro vessels, they are driven on and off.
Steel girders and other long, heavy items are stowed across the width of the ship (athwart ships) for stability.
Answer: False
Explanation: Long heavy items like steel girders are stowed fore and aft to prevent dangerous shifting and potential hull damage during heavy seas, rather than athwart ships.
Corrugated boxes should be stowed with protection from moisture and ideally not stacked with dissimilar cargo.
Answer: True
Explanation: Corrugated boxes require protection from moisture and should ideally be stowed with similar items, avoiding stacking with dissimilar cargo to prevent damage or contamination.
What is the role of dunnage in break-bulk cargo stowage?
Answer: To secure cargo and provide a protective layer against the ship's structure.
Explanation: Dunnage serves the crucial function of securing cargo and acting as a protective buffer between the goods and the ship's hull or internal structures.
How are wooden barrels typically stowed on ships according to best practices?
Answer: On their sides on dunnage beds, with the bung facing upwards.
Explanation: Wooden barrels are ideally stowed on their sides upon dunnage beds, ensuring the bung faces upward and is secured to prevent rolling.
Which type of cargo is mentioned as being stowed on their sides to prevent crushing?
Answer: Paper reels or rolls
Explanation: Paper reels or rolls are typically stowed on their sides to prevent crushing and maintain their structural integrity during transit.
What is the main difference in handling motor vehicles on break-bulk ships versus Ro-Ro vessels?
Answer: Break-bulk ships lift vehicles, while Ro-Ro ships drive them.
Explanation: The primary difference is that break-bulk ships lift vehicles aboard, while Ro-Ro vessels utilize driving them on and off as the primary method of loading and unloading.
Why are long, heavy items like steel girders stowed fore and aft on ships?
Answer: To prevent them from shifting and potentially piercing the ship's side if the ship rolls.
Explanation: Stowing long, heavy items like steel girders fore and aft is a safety measure to prevent dangerous shifting and potential hull damage during heavy seas.
What is the purpose of using 'quoins' when stowing wooden barrels?
Answer: To prevent the barrels from rolling or shifting.
Explanation: Quoins are wedges used in the stowage of barrels to prevent them from rolling or shifting out of position.
Why are bales that are stained or oily rejected for shipping as break-bulk cargo?
Answer: They pose a risk of spontaneous combustion.
Explanation: Stained or oily bales are rejected due to the inherent risk of spontaneous combustion, a critical safety concern in cargo transport.
How does break-bulk cargo handling differ from Ro-Ro vessels concerning vehicle transport?
Answer: Break-bulk ships lift vehicles after preparation, while Ro-Ro ships drive them on and off.
Explanation: Break-bulk ships employ lifting mechanisms for vehicles, whereas Ro-Ro vessels utilize driving them on and off as the primary method of loading and unloading.
How are corrugated boxes typically prepared for break-bulk shipping?
Answer: They are often loaded onto pallets to form unit loads.
Explanation: Corrugated boxes are frequently prepared for shipping by being loaded onto pallets, thereby forming unit loads for more efficient handling.
The term 'breaking bulk' historically referred to the process of loading a ship's entire cargo.
Answer: False
Explanation: Historically, the phrase 'breaking bulk' referred to the commencement of unloading a ship's cargo, not the loading process.
Ships primarily carrying break-bulk cargo are commonly known as general cargo ships.
Answer: True
Explanation: Vessels designed to transport break-bulk cargo are frequently referred to as general cargo ships.
Stevedores are primarily responsible for the automated loading and unloading systems used for break-bulk cargo.
Answer: False
Explanation: Stevedores are responsible for manually handling and competently stowing break-bulk cargo, not operating automated systems.
Break-in-bulk points are locations where cargo is transferred between different modes of transport.
Answer: True
Explanation: A 'break-in-bulk' point is defined as a location facilitating the transfer of goods between distinct modes of transportation.
Which term historically describes the action of starting to unload a ship's cargo?
Answer: Breaking bulk
Explanation: Historically, 'breaking bulk' referred to the commencement of unloading a ship's cargo.
What does the term 'general cargo ship' imply about the vessel?
Answer: It is designed to carry a variety of different types of goods, often in packaged units.
Explanation: A 'general cargo ship' is designed to accommodate a diverse range of goods, typically transported in packaged units, which is characteristic of break-bulk cargo.
What does the citation to 'Thomas' Stowage' suggest about the information provided?
Answer: It draws from an authoritative reference work on cargo operations.
Explanation: The reference to 'Thomas' Stowage' suggests the information is derived from a recognized and authoritative source on cargo operations and stowage practices.
What is the purpose of preparing ship holds before loading break-bulk cargo?
Answer: To remove signs of previous cargo, clean the holds, and repair damage.
Explanation: Ship holds are prepared by cleaning, removing residues of previous cargo, and repairing any damage to ensure the integrity and safety of the upcoming shipment.
Which of the following best describes the concept of a 'break-in-bulk' point?
Answer: A location where goods are transferred between different transport modes.
Explanation: A 'break-in-bulk' point is defined as a location facilitating the transfer of goods between distinct modes of transportation.
What is the primary function of stevedores in handling break-bulk cargo?
Answer: Manually handling and stowing the cargo.
Explanation: The primary function of stevedores involves the manual handling and meticulous stowage of break-bulk cargo.
The volume of break-bulk cargo has increased significantly since the 1960s due to advancements in handling techniques.
Answer: False
Explanation: Since the 1960s, the volume of break-bulk cargo has significantly declined worldwide due to the mass adoption of intermodal containers.
Containerization has led to higher shipping and loading costs compared to traditional break-bulk methods.
Answer: False
Explanation: Containerization significantly reduced shipping and loading costs, by an estimated 80% to 90%, making it far more economical than traditional break-bulk handling.
Containerization significantly reduced shipping and loading costs, by approximately 80% to 90%.
Answer: True
Explanation: Containerization reduced shipping and loading costs by an estimated 80% to 90%, making it a far more economical method than traditional break-bulk handling.
Historically, liquids were commonly transported using specialized tankers, a method that predates break-bulk shipping.
Answer: False
Explanation: Historically, liquids were commonly transported in barrels using break-bulk methods, a practice that predates the widespread use of specialized tankers.
Containerization makes cargo less homogenous, leading to greater standardization and efficiency.
Answer: False
Explanation: A primary advantage of containerization is that it makes cargo more homogenous, leading to greater standardization and efficiency, rather than less.
The primary advantage of containerization is that it makes cargo less uniform, allowing for specialized handling of each item.
Answer: False
Explanation: A primary advantage of containerization is that it makes cargo more homogenous, leading to greater standardization and efficiency, rather than allowing for specialized handling of each item.
What is the primary reason cited for the significant decline in break-bulk cargo volume since the 1960s?
Answer: The mass adoption of intermodal containers.
Explanation: The primary driver for the decline in break-bulk cargo volume since the 1960s has been the widespread adoption of intermodal containers, which offer greater efficiency.
How does containerization primarily improve efficiency in shipping compared to break-bulk?
Answer: By enabling economies of scale and reducing ship turnaround times.
Explanation: Containerization enhances shipping efficiency by facilitating economies of scale and reducing the time ships spend in port through streamlined loading and unloading processes.
Why are tankers and bulk carriers considered to have contributed to the decline of break-bulk cargo?
Answer: They reduced the need for break-bulk methods for transporting liquids and grains.
Explanation: Specialized tankers and bulk carriers diminished the necessity for break-bulk methods by efficiently handling liquids and grains directly, thereby reducing the reliance on traditional barrel and sack packaging.
Which of the following is a reason for containerization's cost-effectiveness over break-bulk?
Answer: Greater economies of scale and reduced handling costs.
Explanation: Containerization achieves greater cost-effectiveness through economies of scale and reduced handling expenses, making it more economical than traditional break-bulk methods.
What is the primary advantage of containerization regarding cargo characteristics?
Answer: It makes cargo more homogenous.
Explanation: A key advantage of containerization is that it renders cargo more homogenous, facilitating standardized handling and logistics.
Break-bulk shipping is advantageous in areas with underdeveloped port infrastructure because it requires extensive specialized equipment.
Answer: False
Explanation: Break-bulk shipping is advantageous in areas with underdeveloped port infrastructure because it requires minimal shore facilities, not extensive specialized equipment.
Break-bulk cargo cannot be transported into ports inaccessible to larger container ships or bulk carriers.
Answer: False
Explanation: Break-bulk cargo can be offloaded onto smaller vessels or lighters, enabling transport into ports inaccessible to larger container ships or bulk carriers.
A major disadvantage of break-bulk cargo is its requirement for fewer resources at port compared to containerized cargo.
Answer: False
Explanation: A major disadvantage of break-bulk cargo is its requirement for more resources at port, including labor, equipment, and space, compared to containerized cargo.
Break-bulk cargo handling is generally less labor-intensive than containerized cargo handling.
Answer: False
Explanation: Break-bulk cargo handling is typically more labor-intensive than containerized methods because each unit requires individual attention and manipulation.
Break-bulk cargo handling requires minimal warehouse space at the docks.
Answer: False
Explanation: Contrary to the statement, break-bulk cargo handling is noted to require more resources at the wharves, including significant warehouse and dock space, due to the need to handle individual units.
What is a key advantage of break-bulk shipping in less developed areas?
Answer: It requires minimal shore facilities like wharves and warehouses.
Explanation: A key advantage of break-bulk shipping in areas with underdeveloped port infrastructure is its minimal requirement for specialized shore facilities.
What is a significant disadvantage of break-bulk cargo concerning port operations?
Answer: It requires more resources at the wharves, such as cranes and warehouses.
Explanation: A major disadvantage of break-bulk cargo is its higher resource requirement at ports, necessitating more labor, equipment, and space for handling individual units.
How does the handling of break-bulk cargo compare to containerized cargo in terms of labor intensity?
Answer: Break-bulk is generally more labor-intensive as individual units require handling.
Explanation: Break-bulk cargo handling is typically more labor-intensive than containerized methods because each unit requires individual attention and manipulation.
The image by Lewis Hine circa 1912 shows stevedores loading packaged goods onto a train.
Answer: False
Explanation: The Lewis Hine photograph from circa 1912 shows stevedores loading barrels of corn syrup onto a barge, not packaged goods onto a train.
The *Gladstone Star*, built in 1957, is an example of a modern container ship.
Answer: False
Explanation: The *Gladstone Star*, built in 1957, is described as a refrigerated general cargo ship, representative of the era before container ships became dominant.
Loading paper rolls in Finland in 2016 is presented as a historical example of break-bulk cargo handling.
Answer: False
Explanation: The loading of paper rolls in Finland in 2016 is presented as a modern example of break-bulk cargo handling, not a historical one.
What does the image of wind turbine towers being unloaded illustrate about break-bulk cargo?
Answer: A type of large, indivisible cargo typically handled as break-bulk.
Explanation: The illustration of wind turbine towers being unloaded highlights a category of large, indivisible items that are characteristically transported using break-bulk methods.
Which historical photograph mentioned in the source depicts stevedores handling liquid cargo in barrels?
Answer: Lewis Hine photo circa 1912
Explanation: The Lewis Hine photograph from circa 1912 specifically depicts stevedores loading barrels of corn syrup onto a barge, clearly illustrating the handling of liquid cargo in barrels.