Abstract: A method for determining a stowage plan is proposed which utilizes "genetic" or "evolutionary" search techniques. The method includes the steps of generating a multiplicity of "genotypes", each of which corresponds to one possible stowage plan. Each stowage plan is then evaluated in terms of the cost of implementing it. The cost is at least a function of the weight distribution of the vessel and the number of restows required. The initial genotypes and the cost function for evaluating them are provided to the genetic algorithm which operates to reduce the cost to one below a predefined threshold.