Dear Valued Customer,
In order to continue to provide our customers with outstanding service and supply chain partnership, we find it important to communicate guidance regarding a critically important issue – cargo and container damage prevention. We seek your cooperation in an effort minimize potential damage to your cargo, maintain the integrity of the ocean container, as well as reduce the risk of injury or death.Items discussed below include suggested activities to be performed by the trucker and loading facility to ensure suitability of the container, cargo load patterns, blocking and bracing, and appropriate hazardous material issues.
While it is “K” Line’s intention to provide you with containers that are structurally sound by conducting constant inspections, it is a very difficult process to manage considering all the external parties associated and a variety of other factors associated. In many instances, truckers fail to conduct their own visual inspections since they are paid by the load and are in a hurry. We ask that you assist in our initiative by issuing instructions to the trucking companies that you hire to ensure a visual check is made prior to choosing a container. It is “K” Line’s procedure that our nominated truckers for door moves inspect the container for suitability prior to leaving the facility.The following advice is an extracted from the Supplement of the International Maritime Dangerous Codes
(IMDG).
Suggestions for during Basic Visual Inspection of Empty Containers Prior to Interchange :
We ask that you assist in our initiative by issuing instructions to the trucking companies that you hire to ensure a visual check is made prior to choosing a container. It is “K” Line’s procedure that our nominated truckers for door moves inspect the container for suitability prior to leaving the
facility.
Container Exterior
If evidence is apparent that damaged corner posts, corner fittings, framework, walls, floor, roof or door closures weaken the container, it should simply not be used.
Holes: There should not be any obvious holes or tears. Standing inside the container and closing the doors will determine whether there are holes/tears if daylight can be seen. Holes/ tears can allow water entry causing significant damage to packaging and cargo.
Doors: No broken or distorted door hinges, locks. Door seals and gaskets should be in good condition.
Tilts: Where containers are fitted with removable roof tilts or side curtains, they should fit correctly, be equipped with tilt wires and have no tears in the fabric.
Placards, Labels and/or Marks: Any labels remaining on the outside of the container which refer to the contents of a previous shipments’ cargo must be removed to eliminate chance of regulatory
penalty. Cross Members: A quick view of the underside of a mounted container will reveal the cross members. There should not be any missing adjacent members.
CSC Plate: A Safety Approval Plate should be affixed.
Container Interior
Clean: Containers should be free of residue (liquids or solids), dust, dirt or dunnage. Floors should not have any protruding nails, bolts, special fittings from prior shipments that can result in punctures and tears.
Dry: The interior should be dry and free of any residue, sweat or frost.
No Infestation: There should be no evidence of pests, insects or rodents, which might contaminate cargo.
Taint-Free: For goods with the tendency to absorb odors, the container should be checked for foul odors upon opening of the doors when any residual odors would be at their strongest.
Watertight: There should be no obvious holes / tears. Take care when standing inside and closing the doors observing if any daylight can be seen. Holes/ tears can allow water entry causing significant damage to packaging and cargo. Also, daylight should not be visible through the doors or floors since water can enter during road transportation as well.
Suggestions for the Loading Facility:
The facility should also check the container for suitability prior to loading cargo. Cargo should be carefully planned and loaded to ensure proper weight distribution, adequate block and bracing of cargo to avoid the varying movements while on the ocean, rail and truck segments of transportation. (IE: rolling and pitching of a vessel, shunting of railcars, speed, turns and quick braking on highway)
Check Cargo Weight: The planned cargo should not weigh more than the maximum payload of the container. The maximum gross weight of the container (which includes the combined weight of the container and cargo) is marked on the CSC Safety Approval Plate.
Check Blocking and Bracing: It is essential to secure cargo from movement within the container to prevent damage. The walls and the doors are not to be considered blocking and bracing.
Suggested Guidance Tools for Proper Blocking and Bracing:
Dangerous Goods/Hazardous Materials Blocking and Bracing (1) Day Course - contact
Currie Associates at 518 761-0263 or click on the below link for details:
http://www.currieassociates.com/train.htm
Shipper's Guide to Loading & Securement of Packaged Hazardous Materials: highway, rail, water by Institute of Packaging Professionals - Cost: $35 plus actual shipping (Continental US, prices for shipments outside the US quoted separately) To Order: Call (518) 761-0263 or http://www.vohma.com/publications.htm
IMO Code of Safe Practice for Cargo Stowage and Securing: To Order: Call (518) 761-0263 or http://www.vohma.com/publications.htm
National Cargo Bureau (NCB): NCB trains and certifies in their classroom or your facility. NCB offices are throughout the USA. For a location nearest you, call NCB headquarters at 212-785-8300.
49CFR: Part 174.55; Part 176.69 found online: http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/index.html
Associated websites: Various rail vendors include guidance and suggestions on their websites based upon AAR (American Association of Railroads) specifications and historical analysis
http://www.uprr.com/customers/dam-prev/loading/intguide
http://www.bnsf.com/tools/reference/intermodal_equipment.html
Additional suggestions according to International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code (IMDG) –
Supplement for loading cargo (Do’s and Dont’s):
- Subject to booking request select the most suitable container type to accommodate the cargo.
- Never smoke during loading and unloading.
- Prepare a pre-stow plan before commencing stuffing so that weight/cubic considerations are covered and point loading limits are observed.
- Do not load by weight above the payload limits of the container.
- Distribute the weight of the cargo evenly over the floor of the container.
- Do not stow heavy goods on top of light goods.
- Stow and secure all cargo tightly.
- Observe all the handling instructions on cargo such as "This Side Up"
- Stow goods with sharp corners separate from other softer packages. Use dividers and separating material as appropriate such as plywood, airbags, and
dunnage.
- Where possible with mixed loads, place packages containing liquid cargo on the bottom tiers with dry on top.
- Do not load cargo in a container with if it is has damaged packaging or is leaking
- Follow all applicable rules concerning hazardous cargo. Use appropriate placards and marks to identify containers loaded with dangerous goods and ensure cargo compatibility.
- Stow hazardous cargo near the door where applicable.
Carefully Scan Container for Placards/ Marks: Dangerous Goods Placards/ Marks, if appropriate, should be affixed in the recommended positions.
It is also worth noting that USA railroads require placement of placards at least 6 feet from the bottom rail to ensure visibility in a rail car. Placards that are placed lower than the recommended height will result in delays and costs for re-applying the placards.
* * *Be sure to remove placards and marks from the container at once after the dangerous commodities have been removed from the container. |
