General Cargo
Storage and containerisation
Storage facilities need to be secure for valuable goods, or
those on which there was a high customs duty. For instance, alcohol
and tobacco were placed in bonded warehouses, where customs
officials could keep an eye on them. Other less valuable but
delicate items had to stored under cover to protect them from the
weather. For these, tall warehouses were built, which can still be
seen at the Merseyside Maritime Museum [www.nmgm.org.uk/maritime]
at Liverpool`s Albert Dock. 
 `Oriental Bay` container ship |
General cargo carrying has changed enormously. Containerisation
now means much of it is protected by a box which is simply lifted
off by a container crane. Specialised ships often carry products
such as palm oil, latex or orange juice in tanks from which it is
simply pumped out into storage tanks on the dockside. Cars are now
simply driven on and off specially-designed ships. Today,
therefore, much of the skills, equipment and facilities once
required to handle general cargo are no longer needed.
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