Final answer:
Unit supercargoes are responsible for overseeing loading and transportation of diverse cargos, ensuring proper handling, and managing logistics for a range of vessel types, from cruise liners to ferries, including specialized ships like refrigerated cargo carriers and roll-on/roll-off vessels.
Step-by-step explanation:
Unit supercargoes have several primary functions centered around the coordination, loading, and transportation of various types of cargos across different vessels.
Their role is crucial in ensuring that cargos such as containers, bulk cargos, refrigerated goods, roll-on/roll-off vehicles, and liquid or gas cargos like petroleum or LNG are handled properly.
The unit supercargo must be knowledgeable about the specific requirements of each cargo type, whether that entails maintaining certain temperatures for refrigerated cargo ships or securing wheeled cargo on roll-on/roll-off carriers.
Their responsibilities also include planning the stowage of cargo to optimize space and stability of the vessel, supervising loading and unloading operations, ensuring the safe and secure transport of goods, and sometimes managing the paperwork and customs requirements associated with international shipping.
In addition to conventional cargo ships, unit supercargoes may work with a variety of other vessels such as tugs, barges, drilling rigs, offshore supply vessels, cable layers, etc.
This diverse range of vessels, from cruise liners to ferries, requires them to be adaptable and well-versed in the particulars of each vessel type.