optimize capacity while ensuring safety and compliance

Bulk Carrier Services

HEC offers specialized consulting, engineering, and analysis services to improve the versatility, safety, and compliance of bulk carriers. From optimizing cargo stowage and securing specialized loads to assessing vessel stability and strength for deck modifications, our team supports shipowners, operators, and managers in adapting their vessels to handle a broader range of cargo types and port conditions.

  • Some of these types of projects and analyses include:


    • Container stowage for non-containerships – many bulk carriers can carry containers based on their Cargo Securing Manual (CSM). Bulk carriers equipped to load and discharge containers can operate at smaller ports without shore-based cranes, sometimes avoiding congestion at larger, busier container ports. HEC can develop specific dunnage and lashing plans aligned with the ship’s strength requirements, CSM, and Class Rules to ensure safe stowage and securing of containers on bulk carriers.

    • We also develop lashing, securing, strength, and dunnage analyses for specialized cargos such as wind turbine components, rail cars, road vehicles, construction equipment, and yachts.

    • HEC also offers stability and strength assessments for adding general deck load stowage to ships that were not originally designed or built with deck stowage capacity. GENCO Deckload Update Project >

    • Maximizing the stowage and safe securing of steel coils – Cargo Securing Manuals (CSMs) for bulk carriers often include minimal instructions for the stowage and lashing of steel coils, usually only specifying a single roll diameter and length. To enhance carrying flexibility, we have developed a comprehensive matrix of permissible steel coil stowage diameters and lengths that can be stowed on board in 1-, 2-, or 3-tier configurations.

    • Cargo Liquefaction – iron and other ores, if loaded wet, can liquefy due to the ship’s motions at sea, causing dangerous cargo shifting and stability loss. This risk is typically mitigated by not loading ore cargoes that exceed their Transportable Moisture Limits (TML). Some ships may sail with hazardous cargoes due to exceptional circumstances, such as incorrect or suspect moisture-content measurements at shore-side terminals. In these cases, we can assist in evaluating the potential risk of liquefaction and stability issues for the intended voyage and environmental conditions.

Whether navigating regulatory complexities, evaluating cargo liquefaction risks, or enabling containerized cargo operations on non-containerships, HEC brings decades of expertise, Class and flag approval experience, and customized design solutions to each project.

Building Bridges

We’ve cultivated strong relationships with key stakeholders, including Ports, State and Federal agencies, and environmental groups. Through our collaborative efforts, we’ve spearheaded engineering assessments to tackle complex environmental challenges head-on.