Role of stevedores
Stevedores are the people who work on the wharfs and on the ships, loading and unloading the cargo. They operate derricks and cranes on the ship as well as the huge container cranes on shore. On container ships, stevedores take containers from the storage area to the crane and from the crane to the storage area. They secure containers to the ship and to each other. On some wharfs they may also operate conveyor belts or drive cars on or off ships. 
Many of the stevedores need to be strong and fit. Those that work outdoors need to wear warm clothes during winter and wet weather gear when it is raining. They work in shifts so that port can operate 24 hours a day.

In Australia stevedores are also called ‘wharfies’.