Packing, Stowing and Securing For Maximum Protection

Cargo damage often occurs due to improper packing and stowing. Packing, stowing or securing that may appear safe under static conditions can become inadequate during land and sea transportation. This is because cargoes in containers are subject to a number of different stresses apart from normal static stress.

For example, acceleration or deceleration during road transportation exerts horizontal pressures on the sides of the cargo. During sea voyages, a container ship may result in rolling, pitching or swaying due to rough weather conditions. These ship movements may exert a combination of forces on the cargo it carries. In addition, vertical acceleration during port handling will increase stack pressure on cargoes in the containers.

Proper packing, stowing and securing of the loads in the container will offer maximum protection of the goods against all possible forms of stress . As a matter of fact, cargo that is properly secured before transportation will not only be protecting itself, but will also protect the container and the personnel handling the cargo. Condensation in containers is another main cause of damage to cargo.

Cargo in container must conform to the dimensional regulations and laws stipulated by the host country, thus payload capacity may be affected. For more information or assistance, please contact your local APL customer service representative.

For maximum cargo weight guidelines, please contact your local APL customer service representative as these are container weight capacity and might exceed local State/Country legal cargo weight limits.

For cargo weight guidelines in International Intermodal Containers for Transport on USA Highway System please visit OCEMA’s website here.

A good loading practice consists of the following three steps:

1. Packing
   The way goods are packed should be suitable for container loading, for example, palletized loads with dimensions that fit well in the container to be used. They should also be packed to minimize damage caused by condensation in containers.
2. Stowing
   Appropriate stowing of loads inside the container.
3. Securing
   Appropriate load securing to prevent load movements within the container.

Loading Guidelines for Special Cargoes:

1. Auto Loading Guidelines
   Guidelines for the proper loading and stowage of automobiles in containers.