Final answer:
The primary function of the shipping department is the efficient loading of goods for transport. While picking, packaging, and receiving are important functions, loading is the final and essential step for transporting goods through modes like cargo ships in the global economy.
Step-by-step explanation:
The key function of the shipping department in any logistics or distribution company typically encompasses activities such as loading, picking, packaging, and receiving. However, the primary responsibility is to ensure that goods are loaded onto transport vehicles like trucks, ships, or airplanes in a timely and efficient manner. Actions like picking and packaging might be considered preparatory steps before the actual process of sending off or loading the goods takes place.
In the context of maritime shipping details provided about large container ships carrying goods across vast stretches of ocean, the shipping department plays a crucial role in ensuring that these ships are correctly loaded with containers meeting weight and balance standards for safe long-haul travel. Cargo ships like those operating between Shanghai and Los Angeles are essential in the global economy, carrying massive loads, like the 100,000 tons mentioned, over significant distances.