Broken Stowage

Broken stowage is the space in a cargo hold or container that is wasted and cannot be utilised because the shape, size, or packaging of the cargo prevents it from fitting together perfectly. It arises inevitably with irregularly shaped break-bulk items—round barrels, bales of varying sizes, or machinery with protruding parts—but also occurs with containerised cargo where the slot arrangement does not match the consignment mix. Broken stowage is expressed as a percentage of the total hold volume and is deducted when calculating the actual usable hold capacity for a given cargo. The CSS Code and the CTU Code acknowledge broken stowage as a planning variable. The chief mate estimates broken stowage from experience with the cargo type, from published tables, or from previous voyage records. A poor estimate leads to either under-loading (leaving revenue space empty) or over-commitment to cargo that cannot be accommodated. Dunnage itself contributes to broken stowage and must be accounted for in the space calculation. In general cargo ships with 'tween decks, careful arrangement of varied parcel sizes—alternating large and small units to fill gaps—minimises broken stowage and improves cargo out-turn. The OOW surveying the holds after loading verifies whether the actual stowage matches the chief mate's plan.