Stevedores

A stevedore is a worker who specializes in loading and unloading ships, barges, and other vessels at ports. The term is often used interchangeably with dockworker or longshoreman in some regions, especially in North America, where organized labor unions such as the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) and the International Longshoremen's Association (ILA) organize many port workers. In other places, the term stevedore is the common descriptor for personnel or a firm that provides cargo-handling services at a terminal.

Duties and workflow for stevedores include directing and executing the transfer of cargo between vessels and shore facilities, inspecting goods, attaching slings and lashings, and ensuring proper stowage and securing to prevent movement during transit. They may operate or coordinate cranes, gantry cranes, winches, forklifts, and other handling equipment, and they handle related paperwork, labeling, and communication with ship crews and terminal staff. Stevedores work in teams, often on timed ship-loading or unloading operations, and must adapt to varying cargo types, vessel layouts, and weather conditions.

Equipment and cargo types commonly encountered include containers, breakbulk shipments, and bulk commodities such as grain, coal, or ore. Container handling relies on cranes and container handling equipment, while bulk cargo may require hoppers, conveyors, and specialized rigging. Rigging and dunnage are used to secure loads to prevent shifting.

History and regulation: Stevedoring developed with the growth of international trade in the 19th century and evolved with containerization in the late 20th century. The etymology traces to Spanish/Portuguese terms such as estibador or estiva, meaning stowage or loading. Working conditions, training, safety protocols, and labor relations are governed by national and local regulations and often by industry-wide unions and agreements.