Development of Working Technological Documentation for Loading and Unloading Operations

Working technological documentation (WTD) regulates the loading and unloading operations (L&U) processes established at a given port (at the transshipment complex or cargo area) and is subdivided into:

• Working flow charts (WFC);
• Temporary technological instructions for handling (TTIH);
• Local instructions on standard methods for working practices (LISM).

WFC and TTIH are developed for each cargo (group of technologically similar cargo) and, taken together, must cover the entire range of cargo handled. WFC is developed based on standard technological process charts and TTIH, which regulate the L&U processes implemented at the port.

TTIH is a technological document regulating a technological process (or its individual operations) in the following cases:

• testing and development new (experimental) technological processes (or their elements) under operational conditions;
• handling cargo arriving at the port sporadically or in small batches;
• handling cargo with new transport and technological characteristics.

LISM is a working technological document regulating the methods and techniques for performing individual elements of technological operations (primary and auxiliary) specific to certain cargo (groups of cargo) and types of work (e.g., handling using specific handling devices, loading/unloading various vehicles, forming/breaking up cargo stacks, installing and removing wagon bridges, weighing cargo, etc.).

LISM is developed in cases where the methods and techniques used in a particular port are not regulated by departmental instructions on standard methods and techniques of loading and unloading operations (DISM) or differ from those methods and techniques regulated by DISM. Working technological documentation must ensure compliance with all occupational health, fire, and environmental safety requirements. Its development should be aimed at ensuring the safety of cargo transportation by sea.

For a long time the International Dangerous Goods and Containers Association (IDGCA) and its subsidiaries, including the International Staff Training Center (ISTC), have been developing working flow charts for a wide variety of cargo operations carried out with packaged, bulk, and liquid (including petroleum products and LNG) cargo under contracts with enterprises. The quality of the documentation has never raised any concerns or comments from either customers or regulatory and licensing authorities.