stowage factor

The stowage factor is a measurement used in shipping to determine how much space a specific amount of cargo will occupy in a vessel. It’s expressed as the number of cubic feet or cubic meters that one unit of the cargo (like a ton or kilogram) takes up. A lower stowage factor indicates a denser, more compact cargo, while a higher factor suggests a lighter, more spacious one. This helps in planning how to load ships efficiently, ensuring optimal use of space and balancing the vessel properly.