A Masters Guide to Container Securing

The Standard Club, Charles Taylor & Co Limited, London, 2012. 46 p.The Standard Club series - A Master's Guide to Container Securing. The Standard P&I Club’s loss prevention programme focuses on best practice to avert those claims that are avoidable and that often result from crew error or equipment failure. In its continuing commitment to safety at sea and the prevention of accidents, casualties and pollution, the club issues a variety of publications on safety-related subjects, of which this is one.The development of containerisation was a giant step forward in carrying general cargo by sea. At the time, it was correctly predicted that unit costs would fall and cargo damage become a thing of the past.In the early days of containerised transport, ships carried containers stowed on hatch covers, three or four high. A variety of lashing systems were in use. However, the most reliable system consisted of stacking cones, twistlocks, lashing rods and turnbuckles (bottle screws). These systems were effective in lashing containers carried on deck to the third tier. Today, ships are bigger and a post-Panamax container ship will carry containers on deck stacked up to nine tiers high. However, while the ships are able to carry containers stacked higher, the lashing systems are still only capable of lashing to the bottom of the third tier containers or the bottom of the fourth or fifth tier containers when a lashing bridge is fitted. Ship design has developed but methods to secure containers have not.A classification society will approve a ship for the carriage of containers. Regulations stipulate that the ship must carry a Cargo Securing Manual. This will contain instructions as to how cargo should be secured. However, approval of the arrangements in the manual will not necessarily mean that
cargo securing arrangements will withstand foul weather.ContentsIntroduction
Basic advice
Do’s and don’ts
Lashing systems
Safe working
Ships
Containers
Container construction
Lashing components
Principles of stowage
Ships’ behaviour
Consequences of failure