PACKING AND LASHING ARE KEY FACTORS IN SUCCESSFUL TRANSPORTATION OF CARGO

WHAT IS THE INTENT OR EXTENT OF PACKING?

‘LASHING’ IS MORE DEFINITE!“CARGO MUST BE FIRMLY

IMMOBILIZED” FMCSA

It is a privilege to be here and commenton Packing and Lashing.

Packing (including bracing or chockinginside the ‘package’) is discretionary.There are various guidelines andrecommendations published by entitiessuch as the US Military or largeCorporations for packing.

Lashing or securing of cargo to the carrier – ship,railcar, truck, etc. on the other hand, is governedby Authorities like the the IMO for SignatureCountries in Shipping; AAR; Department ofTransportation in the USA and so on. (Countriesmay have their own Authorities!)

So the required ‘action’ is partly discretionary?

IN A NUTSHELL: EXPEND MINIMUM COST TOMAXIMIZE SUCCESS IN OUT-TURN -MINIMUM DAMAGE!

Ramifications of inadequate packing:

Poor carriage, stowage, handling

Poor rendering or ‘access’ of package to securing!

(Influence of packing on lashing and vice versa?)

The shipper eventually pays:

Higher freight – ship expends more monies!

Miscellaneous charges – handling difficulties?

Increase in damages!

VENDOR APPROVAL (BOILER-PLATE CRITERIA!)

(OR, included in the nominated Forwarder?)

EXPERIENCE

Technical; Supervisory; Hands-on (labor)

How do they handle Hiccups! (LESSONS LEARNED!)

SPECIFIC COMMODITY KNOWLEDGE/FAMILIARITY?

Specialties

Peculiarities

Characteristics

WORKMANSHIP

Global consistency – APPLICABLE?

RESOURCES

Global/Local

Labor

Equipment – cranes, forklifts, power-saws, etc.

Facilities – loading dock, security, storage areas (covered/uncovered)

Convenience – location, etc.

SERVICE CAPABILITIES

Location – truck, water, rail accessible?

24/7/365!

Systems Capabilities – Bar coding, Electronic transfers, etc.

SAFETY RECORD

QA/QC

INSURANCE

CAN PACKER EXECUTE YOUR EXPECTED PACKINGSTANDARDS?

BASIC CONSIDERATIONS:

Commodity/Contents

Weather

Transport

Handling

Storage

Costs

GENERAL:

Out-turn/Goal/Objective (Acceptable loss/Tolerances)

OVERDESIGN IS COSTLY! - USDA

“Extreme and/or excessive stresses cannot be the basis for designing standard packaging units.” HPE

HAZMAT!

Country Specifics/Regulations/Criteria

Marks – Shipping/Do/Do-not/Color codes/Lift/Etc.

- International Marking Standards

Packing Lists

CONSIDER COUNTRY SPECIFICS SERIOUSLY!

WRONG MARKINGS CAN RESULT IN SERIOUS PENALTIES!

Center of Gravity

Rigidity and stability

Special needs versus frequent/identical packages?

Over-packs

Prepping – reduce dims/weight; surface protection; preservation; anti-corrosion;

Shape/form/appendages? Eliminate wastage of space and help in ease of stowage

TESTS – Handling, edge, top, corner, swing,etc.

Summarize the USDA guidelines for crating to all packing:

1. The packing must protect its contents from the hazards of weather, transport, storage and handling

2. The materials used should be of suitable quality

3. Materials to be ‘light and strong’

4. Take up minimum space

AGAIN FROM THE USDA (but applied generously toall packing!):

The advantage from good packing is that the shippergains better protection; lower shipping costs; lowerspace requirements!

The carrier gains lower liability costs!

And, the consumer gains from LOWER PRICES!

SUMMARY OF GOOD PACKING: TO CONTAIN AND PROTECT

DECIDE ON REQUIRED TYPE OF PACKAGE

BASE/BOTTOM/SKID

SIDES

TOP

ACCESS TO HANDLING AND LIFTING

STACKING (LIKE-ON-LIKE?)

MARKS

MISCELLANEOUS PROTECTIONS/PROOFS/ETC.

CRUSHING & CURLING!

MACHINE HANDLING:

‘CORNERS’ at lift and secure points!

OOPS!

BASE FAILURE?

DESIGN FOR INTENDED PACKAGE

LIFTING/SLINGING INSTRUCTIONS

CENTER OF GRAVITY CAUTIONS!

SHIPPING SADDLES?

OPEN CRATE (USDA)

Floor fundamentals! (USDA)

INTERNAL:

No moving parts!

Base/bottom

Strength; load distribution; anchoring of item

Chocking/bracing

Cushions

Consequences of/from vibrations/shocks!

CONTAINER LOADS!

EXTERNAL: (Relationship between packing and lashing?)

Lash points?

Access?

Adequacy?

Crush-proof/Damage-proof?

Corners/softeners!

MODE OF TRANSPORTATION (Load Assumptions)

ROAD 0.8 FWD, 0.5 RWD, 0.5 LAT, 0.20 VERT

RAIL 3.0 LONG, 2.0 LAT, 2.0 VERT

AIR RANGE 1.5-2.5 IN EACH AXIS (3)

BARGE 0.4 PITCH, 0.6 ROLL, 0.3 VERT

SHIPS 0.3 PITCH, 0.8 ROLL, 0.8 VERT

FUNDAMENTALS:

Procedure? Arrest/Immobilize – stop/push/pull!

Strength of materials

Friction

Forces to counter

EXPERIENCE – to formulate Industry Standards

RULES/REGULATIONS BY AUTHORITIES!

CONSISTENCY! (Example: Annex 13 – WORLDWIDE!)

OCEAN CARRIAGE (Annex 13)

OCEAN CARRIAGE (Annex 13)

OCEAN CARRIAGE (Annex 13)

OCEAN CARRIAGE (Annex 13)

SHIP – DECK & UNDER-DECK

SHIP - DECK

SHIP – UNDER-DECK

SHIP - DECK

ASTM – American Society for Testing of Materials

ANSI – American National Standard Institute

API – American Petroleum Institute

HPE – German Federal Association for…Packaging

(www.hpe.de)

USDA – Wood Crate Design Manual

DSC/DLA – Defense Supply Center/Logistics Agency

IMO – International Maritime Organization – Code of Safe Practice for Cargo Stowage and Securing

DoT – Department of Transportation

FMCSA – Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

AAR – American Association of Railroads