Stevedoring vs. Freight Handling: What’s the Difference?

Posted on Mar 19, 2025 at 10:03 PM

The maritime industry includes many vital services and operations, and stevedoring services are one of the most important operations in terminals and ports regarding cargo handling.

Furthermore, an expert stevedoring company covers all loading/unloading of cargo from ships and vessels once they reach a port including sensitive and bulk cargo with advanced techniques that ensure safety and efficiency.

Today, we will share with you full information about stevedoring, including responsibilities and operations, and explain to you the main relationship between stevedoring and freight handling in USA ports.

Stevedoring Operations in the Shipping Industry:

What Is Stevedoring?

Stevedoring is a term that refers to the process of loading and unloading cargo from ships at ports, including a container, bulk cargo, and heavy material, in a way that ensures efficiency and safety in cargo transformation.

Let us break down the meaning of marine stevedoring services and operations to you, these leading services are mainly coordinated by stevedores who know how to manage required and specialized equipment, such as cranes, forklifts, and conveyor belts, to facilitate cargo, including bulk cargo, movement between the vessel board and the terminal or port.

What Does a Stevedore Do?

Stevedores are port workers and professionals with a license to operate heavy machines to secure, lift, transfer, load, and unload cargo from ships to ports and vice versa to ensure proper stacking, discharging, and storage of goods based on international safety regulations.

Thus, we can say that the stevedore role in the United States of America requires a person with special knowledge and capabilities to manage machines and provide stowage solutions for all cargo types and connected duties.

Main Processes in Stevedoring:

Cargo Loading and Unloading: 

The stevedore is an experienced operator who uses cranes and forklifts to move containers, bulk cargoes, and commercial products between ships and docks.

Cargo Securing Activity: 

All crucial stevedoring operational activities are employed to properly place cargoes on ships and vessels to prevent movement during shipping is one of the main stevedore tasks.

Inspection and Documentation: 

While loading and offloading, the stevedore is responsible for checking cargo conditions and recording key shipping contracts and details.

Storage and Staging: 

Commonly when unloading the cargo, the cargo stevedoring process includes professional organizing and planning of goods in multiple port facilities, warehouses, or terminals before further transport.

Equipment Maintenance: 

The stevedoring company needs to ensure all lifting and transport machinery used in stevedoring are properly maintained and working to protect operating stevedore and bulk, with a recognized team of professionals in all locations.

Freight Handling Services in the Shipping Industry:

What Is Freight Handling?

Freight handling involves the movement, storage, and management of cargo throughout the shipping and logistics process, in other words, it includes loading and unloading goods (stevedoring), sorting shipments and bulk cargo, and ensuring proper documentation for transportation.

So, based on the freight handling definition, the service occurs at ports, warehouses, and distribution centers, ensuring the company goods reach their destination safely and driving economic growth.

The cargo handling process requires coordination between various transportation modes, including ships, trucks, and rail to guarantee cargo safety, minimize damage, and optimize supply chain operations.

What Does a Freight Handler Do?

Freight handlers are responsible for loading, unloading, organizing, and warehousing cargo for transportation, so the freight handler can be a stevedore but a stevedore cannot be a freight handler.

Moreover, they handle stevedoring, inspect shipments, sort packages, and ensure goods are stored or transferred correctly to protect resources and deliver the best customer service to the corporation's customers.

Main Processes in Freight Handling:

Cargo Receiving and Inspection: 

The freight handling company must check shipments for damage and verify documentation options for all located cargoes, even the ones with heavy loads, like iron, steel, and military equipment.

Sorting and Labeling: 

Organizing and handling cargo and goods based on destination and shipping requirements.

Storage and Inventory Management: 

Placing cargo in a warehouse, port, or transit hub for efficient handling is facilitated by the company.

Loading and Unloading: 

Using loading/unloading equipment to transfer goods and bulk cargo between trucks, ships, and the port.

Dispatch and Delivery Coordination: 

Ensuring timely transport of cargo to its final destination.

To sum up,

After sharing with you the information and details in this article, we can say that stevedoring services are limited to ship-to-shore operations at the port, while freight handling covers the entire logistics process from port to final destination including stevedoring services.  

If you are interested in learning more about the stevedoring industry and port management then you need to join the port management and maritime logistics courses in UK as a USA student to boost your career and skills.