A Study on the Cargo Operations at Cochin Port Trust with Special Reference to Break Bulk Cargo

INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY

Project Title

A study on the cargo operations at Cochin port trust with special reference to Break Bulk cargo.

Statement of problem

In shipping, break bulk cargo or general cargo is a term that covers a great variety of goods that must be loaded individually, and not in intermodal containers. The term break bulk derives from the phrase breaking bulk—the extraction of a portion of the cargo of a ship or the beginning of the unloading process from the ship's holds. Break bulk cargo is transported in bags, boxes, crates, drums, or barrels.

Break bulk was the most common form of cargo for most of the history of shipping. Since the late 1960s the volume of break bulk cargo has declined dramatically worldwide as containerization has grown. Moving cargo on and off ship in containers is much more efficient, allowing ships to spend less time in port. Break bulk cargo also suffered from greater theft and damage.

Cargo handling is one of the main services offered by Cochin port trust. The major types of cargo handled are as follows:

1. Break Bulk – iron and steel, timber
2. Dry Bulk – fertilizers, sulphur
3. Liquid Bulk – liquid ammonia, petroleum products

This study focuses on finding the problems associated with the Break Bulk Cargo operations at Cochin Port Trust and to find out suggestions in improving the Break Bulk Cargo Operation.

Objectives of the Study

• To identify the traffic and cargo Profile at Cochin port trust.
• To identify the various problems faced during the operation of Break Bulk Cargo.
• To give suggestions to improve the efficiency of Break Bulk Cargo operations at Cochin Port Trust.

Methodology

The Research Methodology adopted for the study has been presented in the below paragraphs

In this study both primary and secondary data has been used.

Primary Data

The primary data was collected from the respondents by giving structured questionnaires and thereafter interpreting, compiling and analysing the data from the questionnaires.

Secondary Data

Apart from the primary data, secondary data was collected from the administration report, company websites and various reports.

Tools for Data Analysis

• Percentage
• Average

Statistical Tools

The statistical tools used in this study are as follows:

• Tables
• Pie Charts
• Bar Charts

Limitations of the study

• The respondents were busy with their own routine work, hence were not interested in spending time for filling up the questionnaires
• Unwillingness of the employees in filling up the questionnaires
• The availability of the respondents were low
• Some of the employees were reluctant in revealing their honest views for the questions answered

LITERATURE REVIEW

Introduction

In shipping, break bulk cargo or general cargo is a term that covers a great variety of goods that must be loaded individually and not in intermodal containers. Ships that carry this sort of cargo are often called general cargo ships. The term break bulk derives from the phrase breaking bulk—the extraction of a portion of the cargo of a ship or the beginning of the unloading process from the ship's holds. These goods may not be in shipping containers. Break bulk cargo is transported in bags, boxes, crates, drums, or barrels.

A break-in-bulk point is a place where goods are transferred from one mode of transport to another, for example the docks where goods transfer from ship to truck.

Break bulk was the most common form of cargo for most of the history of shipping. Since the late 1960s the volume of break bulk cargo has declined dramatically worldwide as containerization has grown. Moving cargo on and off ship in containers is much more efficient, allowing ships to spend less time in port. Break bulk cargo also suffered from greater theft and damage.