Container Ships Loading and Unloading

Cargo Shipping Study - Container Ships Loading and Unloading - Research Log- September 2020



A week into my research study on how cargo is shipped around the world, and I am finding it interesting just how hidden this industry is. Many of the loading and unloading goes on in specialised container ports that are inaccessible to the public.

Having looked at some kids literature that is available out there, hardly any at all feature cargo ships or container handling vehicles. Plenty of building and construction site stuff, ferries and cruise ship .. but how are these kids learning about the cargo industry ? Hmm , I guess that might also explain why so many adults dont really know how their stuff actually gets to them.

I have been really enjoying following along the journey of the MCS Feniks this week. This boat seems to manly navigate the canals and rivers around Amsterdam and Rotterdam and there are lots of opportunities to see neighbouring ships, different stations of unloading and loading. I am beginning to get a feel for the daily route of such a boat  or are these called barges? So much to learn, but I feel I have many a good start. Here some pictures of this weeks learning log journal. 

Sketching a bit of loading and unloading action at Waalhaven where MCS Feniks is travelling today ..
never bored looking at all the different cranes

Really interesting study time today watching a second boat pull up alongside and the large crane loading containers from one to another .. I can only imagine what the logistic handling organisation must be like .. fascinating

TO DO LIST: 

• Figure out names of different types of cranes for lodging and unloading
• What is t called when a boat pulls up along side you?
• When is a boat called a barge? When is a boat called a ship?
  

All for today ...
onward

feel free to follow along on instagram
#cargoexplorer
Cargoexplorer Instagram

Woke wondering where my ship was

 SEPTEMBER 14 - Illustrated Learning Journal #cargoexplorer

..........

Found myself waking up this morning wondering where "my" ship had moored



or whether it travelled all night. Barely awake I sprinted to the computer to find it being loaded in a port called Waalhaven, nr Rotterdam. How exciting. 

Having watched it cruise in the pitch dark, navigating locks and barely lit waterways I was feeling happy to see it in daylight again.

It is so interesting to me, that when I dont know something, everything appears fresh and exciting , a new discovery everytime I ask a question.

As promised I looked up the ships name. It is MCS Feniks, and started its journey yesterday in a port near Amsterdam. Here a link to the webcam if you'd like to take a peek

https://webcam-binnenvaart.nl/pages/cam-feniks.php

I pressed a few dutch buttons and ended up on the right place which told me all the journey information, mooring times and ports of destination.

Further information , with kind thanks to " vesselfinder" can be found on their ship tracking website
https://www.vesselfinder.com/vessels/FENIKS-IMO-0-MMSI-244139567

I am not quite sure what all the numbers mean yet, but I will learn in time.

At the time of writing this the position of the MCS Feniks is here.....

and my screen is almost pitched dark as it is now night time, but the boat is still travelling , having had lots of container loading and unloading stops in Rotterdam. I'll post some more pics later.
Now I am wondering how it navigates, radio? echo? Ah here comes thing to find out...

image: screenshot, webcam copyright webcam-binnenvaart.nl
Container Ship MCS Feniks, Transport Travel by Night

This is all the captain sees ... as the container ship is moving to its new destination. i am in awe of technology and skill levels right now ..


other images: screenshot, with thanks to webcam copyright vesselfinder.com