Today, the vast majority of non-bulk cargo is transported in intermodal containers,[3] which are loaded and unloaded using specialized cranes.
[4] People normally board and depart a ship via a gangplank (gangway), a movable structure usually consisting of a ramp with stairs and railings.
The gangplank may lead to either a dock or a small boat (or lighter) that connects to the shore.
[6][7] In addition to routine operations, debarking can be conducted under fire as part of amphibious assaults, such as that of the Normandy landings during World War II.
In such cases, it is vital that cargo be loaded so it can be unloaded in the order needed, rather than simply to maximize the use of space.