Dr. Marina AlcoverAcademic director focused on measurable results and operational excellence in maritime education. Integrates IMO/STCW regulations and ISO 21001/9001 f
Course · 300 h · 5 modules
Container Handling and Stevedoring Course
courseThis course provides you with the essential tools to optimize efficiency and safety in cargo management. Learn to plan and execute container stowage effectively, minimizing risks and maximizing load capacity. This program…
Duration300 h
FormatOnline
Starts28 December
Places20 / 20
Prior knowledge
Prior Knowledge Assessment
These are the skills this programme builds. Tick the ones you already have and we will tell you which part of the syllabus is really for you.
Your profile
Tick what you already know to see your result.
Programme overview
What is the Container Handling and Stevedoring Course?
The Container Handling and Stowage
course
This course provides you with the essential tools to optimize efficiency and safety in cargo management. Learn to plan and execute container stowage effectively, minimizing risks and maximizing load capacity. This program gives you in-depth knowledge of container types, international regulations, planning software, and best practices in the logistics industry.
Differential Advantages
- Practical Simulations: Learn to optimize stowage in different scenarios and vessel types.
- Specialized Software: Master the most widely used stowage planning tools in the industry.
- Up-to-date Regulations: Learn about the latest international regulations on safety and freight transport.
- Risk Management: Identify and mitigate the hazards associated with container handling.
- Logistics Chain Optimization: Improve efficiency in the transport and storage of goods.
Programme type
Course
Study mode
Online
Duration
300 hours
Modules
5
Start date
08-12-2026
Programme highlights
- Stowage Fundamentals: Learn the basics for proper and safe cargo stowage.
- Container Types: Master the characteristics and handling of different types of containers.
- Securing Techniques: Discover the best practices and materials for securing cargo during transport.
- Regulations and Safety: Understand current legislation and safety protocols to prevent accidents.
- Space Optimization: Maximize cargo capacity and reduce costs through strategic planning.
- Apply best practices in handling and stowage to optimize your logistics operations and ensure cargo safety.
Curriculum
Programme Structure
The programme is structured in 5 modules, listed below in order of study.
01
Port Inventory Fundamentals, Goods Traceability and Terminal Operational Control
- Port inventory concept and differences between physical stock, documentary stock, merchandise in transit, stored cargo and operational equipment
- Inventory typologies: containers, bulk, general cargo, refrigerated merchandise, spare parts, consumables, equipment and hazardous materials
- Actors Involved: Port Authority, Terminal, Warehouse, Logistics Operator, Shipping Company, Consignee, Customs, Carriers and Customers
- Relationship between inventory, reception, storage, dispatch, documentation, security, billing and traceability
- Mismanagement risks: losses, stock differences, delays, overruns, document errors, damages and withholdings
02
Reception, registration, location and classification of goods in port facilities
- Cargo receiving procedures, document verification, visual inspection, weighing, identification and reference assignment
- Registration of entries through manifests, orders, delivery notes, Terminal Operating Systems, codes, labels and associated documents
- Classification according to type of cargo, customer, destination, customs regime, priority, danger, temperature and storage conditions
- Assignment of locations in yards, warehouses, refrigerated areas, dangerous goods areas, warehouses and transit zones
- Control of discrepancies between load received, documentation, seals, weights, units, damages and declared conditions
03
Storage, rotation, physical counting and control of port stocks
- Organisation of patios, warehouses, racks, warehouses, silos, tanks, temporary zones and segregated areas by type of merchandise
- Rotation methods: FIFO, FEFO, LIFO controlled, operational priority, maturities, dispatch windows and customs requirements
- Physical counts, cyclical inventories, stock audits, reconciliation between system and physical reality
- Control of refrigerated, perishable, dangerous, oversized, fragile, polluting or high-value cargo
- Damage management, losses, shortages, leftovers, withholdings, abandonment of merchandise and operational blockades
04
Digital systems, WMS, TOS, automatic identification and traceability in real time
- Digital tools for port inventories: WMS, TOS, ERP, PCs, Handhelds, RFID, QR codes, OCR and IoT sensors
- Integration between inventory, terminal operations, customs, land transport, shipping companies, warehouses and billing
- Traceability of movements: entry, location, internal transfer, inspection, consolidation, deconsolidation, dispatch and exit
- Stock dashboards, occupancy, dwell times, alerts, expirations, withholdings and operational productivity
- Data Security, Permissions by Role, Change Audit, Information Backup, and System Access Control
05
Port Inventory Control Applied Project
- Case definition: Container terminal, port warehouse, tax deposit, refrigerated area, bulk, dangerous goods or small port
- Diagnosis of input flows, storage, internal movements, exits, documentation, systems and inventory risks
- Design of the classification, coding, location, rotation, physical counting and stock reconciliation model
- Development of digital flow with WMS, TOS, Labels, Traceability, Dashboards, Alerts, Permits and Operational Reports
- Development of the Indicator Plan, Security, Compliance, Incident Management, Auditing and Continuous Improvement
Workload
Study Time and Workload
300 hours of study, online and at your own pace. Move the slider to the hours a week you can really put in.
Hours a week8
Weeks to finish—
You finish around—
Who it is for
Logistics and maritime transport professionals seeking to optimize container management and stowage efficiency.Dockworkers, foremen, and port terminal personnel wishing to deepen their knowledge of safe stowage techniques, current regulations, and equipment handling.Shipping companies and logistics operators interested in reducing operating costs, minimizing risks, and improving cargo transpor
Faculty
Academic direction and faculty
The teaching team at Navalis: working professionals who deliver and oversee the institute's programmes.
Eng. Diego Cifuentes
Cap. Javier Abaroa (MCA)
Dr. Pau Ferrer
Dr. Nuria Llobregat
Eng. Javier Bañuls
Eng. Sofía Marquina
Eng. Tomás Riera
Verified reviews
Student Reviews
Reviews collected and verified by Opynio, not written by us.
Outcomes
Learning Outcomes
- 01Optimize the loading and unloading of containers
- 02Ensuring the integrity of the cargo during transport
- 03Apply efficient stowage techniques to maximize space
- 04Comply with safety and quality regulations in container handling
- 05Inspect and document the condition of the containers
- 06Select and use the appropriate equipment for handling containers
Careers
Career Opportunities
01Stevedower/Lattice Worker: Responsible for securing cargo on ships, trucks, or trains.
02Stevedor: Designs efficient and safe loading plans to optimize space and vessel stability.
03Stevedor Supervisor: Oversees loading and unloading operations, coordinating teams and ensuring compliance with safety regulations.
04Port Crane Operator: Operates cranes for loading and unloading containers.
05Logistics and Transportation Technician: Manages the flow of containers from origin to final destination.
06Container Inspector: Verifies the condition of containers and their contents, ensuring compliance with regulations.
07Container Terminal Supervisor: Coordinates the Terminal operations, optimizing container movement.
08Cargo Security Consultant: Advises companies on best practices for securing cargo and preventing accidents.
09```
Questions
Entry Requirements
Stowage is the act of placing cargo in a transport unit safely and efficiently.
Yes. The itinerary includes ECDIS/Radar-ARPA/BRM with harbor, ocean, fog, storm, and SAR scenarios.
Online with live sessions; hybrid option for simulator/practical placements through agreements.
Maximize the available space inside the container and secure the cargo to prevent damage during transport.
Recommended functional SMCP. We offer support materials for standard phraseology.
Yes, with a relevant degree or experience in maritime/port operations. The admissions interview will confirm suitability.
Optional (3–6 months) through Companies & Collaborations and the Alumni Network.
Simulator practice (rubrics), defeat plans, SOPs, checklists, micro-tests and applied TFM.
A degree from Navalis Magna Institute + operational portfolio (tracks, SOPs, reports and KPIs) useful for audits and employment.
Online admissions
Admissions Process
No waiting for a phone call. If your documents are complete, you can pay in the same session.
Entry requirements
Academic/Professional Profile:Professional training in logistics and transport, international trade, or similar; or demonstrable experience in loading, unloading, and stowage operations.Specific Knowledge:Regulations on the safe handling of goods (IMDG, etc.), types of containers and their characteristics, stowage and securing techniques, load stability calculation.Skills:Planning and organizational skills, attention to detail, operation of lifting equipment (forklifts, cranes), teamwork.Documentation:Updated CV, certificates of related courses (forklift operation, etc.), ID
Questions?
Frequently Asked Questions
Leave your details and admissions will write back. If you already know this is the one, go straight to the application and pay in the same session.