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Unit Aims, Objectives and Prerequisites
C.2.4. - Container terminal work schedules

1. Unit Aims

This Unit is designed:

1. To explain the need for detailed planning and control of terminal operations.
2. To describe the operations planning procedures for a container vessel, including berth allocation and the preparation of the strategic plan.
3. To describe the form and uses of a container terminal’s main work schedules — crane movement sheets, crane sequence sheets and discharge and loading sequence sheets — and explain how they are developed.
4. To discuss the procedures for the requisition and allocation of equipment, labour and gear.
5. To explain how container yard and other in-terminal movements of containers are planned and scheduled.
6. To discuss how operational work schedules are used for supervising and controlling container terminal operations.

2. Unit Objectives

After completing this Unit, the learner will be able to:

1. Explain why container terminal operations have to be planned and controlled in detail, and list the work schedules through which operational control is carried out.
2. Given a crane movement sheet, identify and interpret correctly the data contained within it, and list the uses to which the sheet is put during normal working and when emergencies occur.
3. Given a crane sequence sheet, identify and interpret correctly the data contained within it, and list the uses to which the sheet is put.
4. Given a discharge sequence sheet or a loading sequence sheet, identify and interpret correctly the data contained within it, and list the uses to which the sheets are put.
5. Explain the principles and process of allocating a vessel to a berth, and describe the form and content of a berthing plan.
6. Describe the features of a strategic plan, and explain the principles and practices used when preparing one for a vessel’s call.
7. Given a strategic plan pro forma for a vessel, and discharge and loading outline plans, transfer the relevant data, calculate the work content, allocate a suitable number of cranes, and estimate the time of completion of the operation.
8. Describe the processes of constructing the work schedule sets for a vessel’s call, listing for each schedule the sources of information available and stating the principles followed.
9. Given the appropriate data, construct a crane movement sheet, a crane sequence sheet, and discharge and loading sheets for the operation.
10. State how equipment, labour and gear are requisitioned and allocated for a shift, and describe the documents that are used in those procedures.
11. List the container yard and other in-terminal activities that need to be planned and scheduled, and name and briefly describe the documents used for scheduling those activities.
12. Explain the use of work schedules in supervising and controlling terminal operations, both for monitoring routine activities and for responding to emergencies and the unexpected.
13. Define, recognize the best definition of, or distinguish between true and false statements concerning, the technical terms used in the Unit, as listed in sections 3 and 4 below.

3. Unit Prerequisites

It is assumed that trainees will, before starting this Unit, have studied the following Units or will have demonstrated (eg by successfully completing the Tests for those Units) their understanding of the topics covered by them:

• Container terminal operations (C.1.1)
• Container ship loading and discharge operations (C.1.2)
• The container terminal quay transfer operation (C.1.3)
• The container yard operation (C.1.4)
• The container terminal receipt/delivery operation (C.1.5)
• Container ship construction (C.2.1)
• Container ship stowage plans (C.2.2)
• Container securing systems (C.2.3)
• Container numbering and marking (C.3.2)