a method for rapid transportation and loading of stacks of cartons aboard vessels is provided which may include the mounting of slings about the stacks of cartons , transporting the cartons to the dock by a flatbed vehicle , hoisting the stacks of cartons off the flatbed vehicle and into the hold , depositing the cargo onto a landing pad , lifting the cargo off the landing pad with a lift truck , preferably a load push type lift truck , and depositing the cargo in the hold at the appropriate location . a sling pallet and a landing pad for use with the method are also disclosed . the method provides the advantages of improving the quality of the product by , inter alia , reducing the risk of thawing or spoilage , reducing costs by eliminating labor , eliminating the need to remove pallets and debris from within the vessel , reducing the likelihood of injury to workers , saving demurrage charges and speeding the transportation to and loading of the vessel .