History: Cargo handling in the 1950s and 1960s | Hapag-Lloyd

Loading and unloading before the container era Cargo handling looked very different in the 1950s and 1960s: ships used their own cargo gear and stevedores, dock workers specializing in loading and unloading ships, did much of the heavy lifting on board. This historical film clip follows two Hapag ships – the “Odenwald” on its voyage to Veracruz and other Mexican ports and the “Dresden” on its journey through the Suez Canal to Singapore, Hong Kong and Yokohama. Filmed in different ports, it shows how both ships were loaded and unloaded during this period. The 1950s and 1960s were a transitional period in which mechanization of cargo handling had already begun, but many aspects of the work still required traditional muscle power. After the cargo was lifted into the ship's hold, it had to be stowed in the lower decks of the ships. Sacks, crates and barrels were stacked in such a way that they could not move, even in rough seas. Stowage timber, posts, boards and wedges were also used to ensure that nothing slipped on the high seas. Sand, coal, and other bulk goods were distributed evenly with shovels to prevent the ship from tilting. The demanding profession of stevedore has almost completely disappeared since the introduction of containers in the late 1960s and has been replaced by other, more modern professions such as container crane operator, straddle carrier operator, bulk goods operator and cargo planner. Video and text by: Hapag-Lloyd AG Visit us on: http://www.hapag-lloyd.com/ Subscribe to our YouTube channel:    / hapaglloydag   Follow Hapag-Lloyd on: LinkedIn:   / hapag-lloyd-ag   Facebook:   / hapaglloydag   Instagram:   / hapaglloydag   TikTok:   / hapaglloydag_official   With a fleet of 302 modern container ships and a total transport capacity of 2.5 million TEU, Hapag-Lloyd is one of the world’s leading liner shipping companies. In the Liner Shipping segment, the Company has 15,200 employees and 400 offices in 140 countries. Hapag-Lloyd has a container capacity of 3.7 million TEU – including one of the largest and most modern fleets of reefer containers. A total of 133 liner services worldwide ensure fast and reliable connections between 600 ports on all the continents. In the Terminal & Infrastructure segment, Hapag-Lloyd has equity stakes in 24 marine terminals in Europe, Latin America, the United States, India and North Africa. 4,400 employees are assigned to the Terminal & Infrastructure segment and provide complementary logistics services at selected locations in addition to the terminal activities. Hapag-Lloyd: Your cargo, our promise.