Poor cargo lashing of maritime containers, mixed with a long trip in rough seas, can generate countless headaches for the export company that owns the cargo, for the stevedores responsible for lashing the cargo, and for the shipping company that carries the container. from port to port and for the insurers of all of them.
And not only for the value of the damage that the merchandise may have, but also for the opportunity cost because the cargo does not arrive ready to sell or manufacture, or for possible damage to merchandise that is not ours or the ship itself.
International regulations dictate that the shipping line is not responsible for any damage suffered by the cargo when the container arrives closed and sealed (in the majority of cases), so it cannot verify its corresponding stowage and lashing.
Jordi Moré from Gesica Trincajes y Cargas SL recommends 7 mistakes to avoid:
1. Hire an experienced and trusted company to load, stow, stack and secure the merchandise inside the container. The shifting and crushing of cargo on ships is related to the stowage and lashing of merchandise on board. The place on the ship where the merchandise is loaded is also important; traveling on deck in the open is not the same as traveling in the hold, where it is more protected and rocks much less.
2. Ensure that the merchandise is appropriate for transport in the container that has been supplied. Many materials require specific conditions of humidity, temperature, ventilation or protection.
3. Failure to carry out a thorough inspection of the container before loading it. A defective container that is not watertight can cause damage to the cargo due to wetting. Or if your refrigeration measurement systems are not working properly and therefore erroneous readings are being made.
4. Previously refrigerate, at the appropriate temperature for transport, loads that require traveling under correct temperature conditions. Let's think that refrigerated containers are not freezing, they simply maintain the temperature.
5. Confirm that the loader meets the load height requirements that allow air circulation in the refrigerated container, without blocking the ventilation ducts.
6. Check that the container is delivered by the carrier with the original seal intact. Except in documented cases of customs control.
7. Hire an external auditing company to verify that the quantities loaded correspond to those unloaded and that there have been no thefts during the journey. This point is especially relevant in the case of bulk.
For a shipment of tropical wood tables to travel 10,000 km and arrive in perfect condition is not an easy task, but with these brief tips, they can help us achieve our goal. In these cases, let us remember that, as Jordi Moré from Gesica recommends, good stowage makes it easier to lashing the load.
