A professional who supervises and coordinates activities of workers engaged in loading and unloading of ship's cargoes. Responsibilities include:

• Studies bills of lading to determine sequence of loading operations, taking into consideration cargo space available, shipping instructions, and knowledge of cargo stowage.
• Calculates number of hours and personnel required for loading or unloading ship and places order for personnel.
• Inspects load-test certificates of ship's booms and cargo handling gear to ensure they meet safety regulations, and that cargo will not exceed specified load capacity.
• Directs activities of workers engaged in loading or unloading materials requiring special handling, such as explosives, locomotives, and other machinery.
• Supervises workers engaged in checking and loading cargo to ensure that cargo is loaded in specified sequence and in accordance with shipping instructions.
• Prepares report of stevedoring activities, such as time, hours, personnel, cargo handling gear used, and submits report to accounting department.
• Inspects dock areas to ensure safety regulations are being observed.
• May supervise and coordinate activities of workers engaged in loading and unloading barges.
• May supervise container-handling activities and be designated stevedoring container handling superintendent.