ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book discusses the role of break bulk shipping, break bulk cargoes, Project Cargoes, and the chartering of the vessels carrying these cargoes. The progression towards global containerisation, however, spelled the end of the traditional general cargo ship as a standard global means of marine cargo transport. A multi-purpose vessel is a seagoing ship that is built for the carriage of a wide range of cargoes. Examples of these cargoes are: wood, steel, building materials, rolls of paper and bulk cargo. Multi-purpose vessels can be divided into four categories: vessels with and without cargo gear, coastal trade liners and sea/river vessels. Flexible and efficient cargo handling systems enable a ship to carry a variety of different cargoes and load and unload them within the shortest time possible.
