Index
Intro
Longshore workers transfer cargo throughout dock area and onto and from ships and other vessels. They are employed by marine cargo handling companies, shipping agencies and shipping lines.
Progression to foreman/woman or supervisor of longshore workers is possible with experience.
Main Duties
Longshore workers perform some or all of the following duties:
- Operate industrial trucks, tractors and other mobile equipment to transfer cargo, such as containers, crated items, automobiles and pallet-mounted machinery, around dock to within range of cranes and hoists
- Operate winches or other hoisting devices to load and unload cargo onto and from ships and other vessels
- Operate mechanical towers to load vessels with materials such as coal and ore
- Operate equipment to transfer bulk materials, such as grain, to hold of vessels
- Connect hoses and operate equipment to transfer liquid materials into storage tanks on vessels
- Perform other activities such as lashing and shoring cargo aboard ships, opening and closing hatches, cleaning holds of ships and rigging cargo.
Employment Requirements
- Some secondary school education may be required.
- On-the-job training is provided.
All Titles
- barge loader
- boat loader
- dock hand
- dockerman/woman – marine cargo handlingdockerman – marine cargo handling, dockerwoman – marine cargo handling, longshoreman, longshorewoman, wharfman – marine cargo handling, wharfwoman – marine cargo handling
- dockworker
- dockworker – marine cargo handling
- longshore worker
- longshore worker and tower-loader operator
- longshoreman/woman
- lumper – marine cargo handling
- ship loader operator
- shiploader operator
- stevedore
- stower
- tanker loader
- tanker loader – marine cargo handling
- tankerman/woman – marine cargo handlingtankerman – marine cargo handling, tankerwoman – marine cargo handling
- tower-loader operator – marine cargo handling
- wharfman/woman – marine cargo handling
Exclusions
- Longshore crane operators (See 7371 Crane operators)
- Material handlers (7452)
- Supervisors of longshore workers (See 7302 Contractors and supervisors, heavy equipment operator crews)