Written for: IT owners and operations leadership at RoRo and PCTC carriers
Contents
Two kinds of planning happen before a RoRo vessel sails. One is commercial: which cargo to sell, on which deck, to fill the ship profitably. The other is safety: whether the planned load keeps the vessel stable and within its limits. They use some of the same data and are often confused. They should not be.
Two jobs, two owners
| Commercial cargo planning | Stability and safety | |
|---|---|---|
| Question | What should we sell, and where does it fit? | Is this load safe to sail? |
| Owner | Commercial team, vessel operator | Ship's officers, certified onboard systems |
| Measures | Deck area, heights, cargo mix, revenue | Stability, stress, lashing, regulations |
| Output | A commercial load plan | An approved or rejected load |
Commercial planning optimises revenue. It does not calculate stability, and a commercial tool should not pretend to.
What passes between them
The commercial plan goes to the vessel in an agreed format, often as a stowage file the onboard system can read. The chief officer runs the safety check and approves or rejects. A rejection comes back with a reason, and the commercial planner re-plans.
Where problems start
- Different data. The commercial plan uses cargo dimensions from the booking; the vessel uses measured ones. Agree which is authoritative.
- Late changes. Cargo added after the plan was sent needs a new check. Define when the plan is frozen.
- Unclear status. A plan sent is not a plan approved. Track both.
Keep the line clear
A clear line protects both sides. Commercial teams can plan aggressively for revenue because the safety check follows. Officers can reject without being blamed for lost sales, because the commercial plan was always provisional until approved.
Why this capability matters
Confusing commercial planning with stability calculation creates risk on one side and lost revenue on the other. A clear handoff lets commercial teams sell space confidently and lets officers do their job without pressure, which is good for both safety and results.
Define the handoff
Write down what your commercial planners send to the vessel today, in which format, and how approval or rejection comes back. Bring it to a conversation about the handoff.
Cartagena builds these capabilities together with each customer, as tailored solutions on the Microsoft platform.
Discuss the handoff