When is Freight charged on weight & when on its volume?
A ship is utilized most effectively when her holds are full as well as she is loaded down to her maximum draft. This means that she cannot load any more weight nor is there any space available to load cargo. If she loads more of a light cargo, the holds will be full before she gets down to her maximum draft, whereas a heavy cargo would bring her to her loaded draft before the holds are full.
A stowage factor of around 1.2 mºlt is used as the basis for charging freight. Cargoes with a SF above 1.2 mºt are charged on their volume while those having a SF less than 1.2 m’t are charged on their weight.
