Cargo Handling in the 1950s and 1960s

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.

The historical film clip below 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of stevedore has almost completely disappeared since the introduction of containers in the late 1960s and has been replaced by other, more modern professions such as container crane operator, straddle carrier operator, bulk goods operator and cargo planner.

Click the video below to watch loading and unloading as it unfolded on deck and alongside the ship.