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Short course · Cargo and logistics

Container Handling and Stowage Course

This course gives you the essential tools to optimise efficiency and safety in cargo management. You will learn container handling, stowage planning, weight distribution and cargo securing, along with dangerous goods labelling and the documents used in cargo handling.

100% online300 hours5 modulesTaught in EnglishEnrol any time

What is this programme?

This short course gives you the tools to improve efficiency and safety in cargo management. Its aim is to teach you to plan and carry out container stowage, reducing risk and making the most of the available cargo capacity. The programme covers container types, international regulations, planning software and good practice in the logistics sector.

Its strengths are practical simulations to optimise stowage in different scenarios and ship types; hands-on use of the most widely used stowage planning tools; up-to-date knowledge of the international regulations on cargo safety and transport; risk management to identify and reduce the hazards of container handling; and optimisation of the logistics chain to make transport and storage more efficient.

Programme highlights

  • The foundations of safe stowage.
  • Characteristics and handling of the different container types.
  • Cargo securing techniques and materials.
  • Current legislation and safety protocols.
  • Space optimisation and cost reduction through planning.
  • Good practice to improve logistics operations.

Study plan

01Fundamentals of Port Inventories, Cargo Traceability and Operational Control in Terminals60 h
What an inventory is in the port environment and how physical stock differs from documentary stock, cargo in transit, stored cargo and operating equipment. The inventory types handled in a port: containers, bulk, general cargo, refrigerated goods, spare parts, consumables, equipment and dangerous goods. The actors involved (port authority, terminal, warehouse, logistics operator, shipping line, agent, customs, hauliers and customers) and how inventory relates to receipt, storage, dispatch, documentation, security, invoicing and traceability. The risks of poor management: losses, stock discrepancies, delays, extra costs, documentary errors, damage and holds.
02Receipt, Registration, Location and Classification of Goods in Port Facilities60 h
The cargo receipt process: document checks, visual inspection, weighing, identification and assignment of a reference. Recording arrivals through manifests, orders, delivery notes, terminal operating systems, codes, labels and associated documents. Classifying goods by type, customer, destination, customs regime, priority, hazard, temperature and storage conditions. Assigning locations in yards, warehouses, refrigerated areas, dangerous goods areas, depots and transit zones. Managing discrepancies between what is received and what is declared: documentation, seals, weights, units, damage and condition.
03Storage, Rotation, Physical Counts and Control of Port Stock60 h
Organising yards, warehouses, racks, depots, silos, tanks, temporary areas and zones separated by cargo type. Rotation methods (FIFO, FEFO, controlled LIFO), operational priority, expiry dates, dispatch windows and customs requirements. Physical counts, cycle counting, stock audits and reconciliation between the system and the physical reality. Specific control of refrigerated, perishable, dangerous, out-of-gauge, fragile, polluting or high-value cargo. Managing damage, shrinkage, shortages, surpluses, holds, abandoned cargo and operational blockages.
04Digital Systems, WMS, TOS, Automatic Identification and Real-Time Traceability60 h
Digital tools applied to port inventories: warehouse management systems (WMS), terminal operating systems (TOS), enterprise resource planning (ERP) and port community systems (PCS), together with handheld terminals, RFID, QR codes, optical character recognition (OCR) and IoT sensors. Integrating inventory with terminal operations, customs, land transport, shipping lines, warehouses and invoicing. Traceability of every movement: arrival, location, internal transfer, inspection, consolidation, deconsolidation, dispatch and departure. Designing dashboards with stock, occupancy, dwell times, alerts, expiry dates, holds and productivity data. Data security, role-based permissions, change auditing, backups and access control.
05Applied Project in Port Inventory Control60 h
A practical project in which you define a specific case, such as a container terminal, a port warehouse, a bonded depot, a refrigerated area, a bulk terminal, a dangerous goods area or a small port. You diagnose the flows of arrival, storage, internal movements and departures, along with documentation, systems and risks. You then design a model for classifying, coding, locating, rotating, counting and reconciling stock; build a digital flow with WMS, TOS, labels, traceability, dashboards, alerts, permissions and reports; and develop a plan of indicators, security, compliance, incident management, auditing and continuous improvement.

Duration and format

300hours in total
5modules of 60 hours
100%online, at your own pace
Openenrolment all year round

At 10 hours a week you would finish in about 30 weeks; at 20 hours a week, in about 15.

What you will learn

  • Optimise container loading and unloading.
  • Ensure cargo integrity during transport.
  • Apply stowage techniques that maximise space.
  • Comply with safety and quality regulations.
  • Inspect and document the condition of containers.
  • Choose and use the right equipment for container handling.

Career outcomes

  • Stevedore / lashing operative
  • Stowage planner
  • Head of stowage
  • Port crane operator
  • Logistics and transport technician
  • Container inspector
  • Container terminal supervisor
  • Cargo safety consultant

Entry requirements

  • Profile: background in logistics, transport or international trade, or demonstrable experience in loading, unloading and stowage.
  • Knowledge: dangerous goods regulations (e.g. IMDG), container types, stowage and lashing techniques, and stability calculations.
  • Skills: planning, attention to detail, handling of lifting equipment and teamwork.
  • Documentation: up-to-date CV, certificates of related courses, and identity document or passport.
  • Desirable: knowledge of warehouse management software (WMS).

How to enrol

Enrol online

Complete your enrolment on this page, or apply through admissions if you prefer to talk to us first.

Receive your access

We send you the details to enter the virtual campus and start the programme.

Study at your pace

Work through the modules when it suits you and complete the programme from anywhere in the world.

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