Right before the actual loading of a ship at the quay of steel production company Tata Steel IJmuiden starts, the ship management has to agree upon the stowage plan containing the stowage method and order. However, the company experienced the stowage plan approval was more often accompanied by complex discussion with the ship management. This is expected to cause delays which result in extra costs and severe plannings disruption at the harbor. A data analysis is executed to find several trends influencing the stowage difficulties regarding product types, information availability, ship compliance and regulation restrictions. Furthermore, the current system is analysed theoretically and practically (case studies) and the power of the stevedoring department is mapped to find solution boundaries. A multi criteria analysis combined with thorough understanding of consequences showed that distributing the cargo weight over the tanktop would prevent a quay discussion and is the recommended solution for Tata Steel IJmuiden.