Before loading a container, it is necessary to prepare the tools and materials required for securing the cargo. The following are some commonly used tools and materials for containers.
Dunnage materials for securing cargo in sea freight containers are as follows
To protect and secure cargo, it may be necessary to add partitions, uprights, separators, or fences as dunnage. Common materials used for dunnage include planks, square timbers or blocks, and plywood.
1. Planks When mixing different types of cargo, temporary plank partitions are sometimes added between items to protect weaker packaging. When stacking cargo two or more layers high, planks may be inserted as dunnage to distribute the load of the upper layers.
2. Square timbers or blocks For cargo that does not fill the container, or when gaps must be left between the cargo and the container walls, square blocks are used to wedge or brace the cargo. Sometimes, vertical timbers or fences are erected at the ends of the cargo to prevent shifting or collapse.
3. Plywood Like planks, plywood can prevent concentrated loads and distribute the weight of upper-layer cargo. Although plywood is more expensive, it is easy to work with as partitions or dividers and offers good results.
The cost of dunnage materials used in containers, calculated per ton of cargo, is very small compared to that of conventional cargo ships. The reasons are as follows:
(1) The bottom of containers is usually fitted with a wooden floor, so cargo often does not need pallets underneath.
(2) A container's volume is very small compared to a cargo hold, so even when cargo needs to be sorted by port or bill of lading, large amounts of separation materials are generally unnecessary, as different stacking methods can usually distinguish the lots.
(3) For closed containers, if the internal space is fully filled, no dunnage is needed. For flat-rack or open-top containers carrying heavy cargo, much more dunnage is required than for closed containers.
Additionally, it must be pointed out that dunnage materials used for container loading differ from those on conventional ships, as they are generally non-returnable, whereas dunnage on conventional ships can be recovered and reused multiple times.
When selecting dunnage materials for securing cargo in sea freight containers, pay attention to the following:
(1) Knots hinder nailing; the dotted portion should be cut off as shown in the diagram.
(2) Large knots reduce the strength of the component; they should be cut off along the dotted line in the diagram. Short pieces can be used as small braces.
(3) Do not use cross-grained timber for components, as shown in the diagram above, because its strength is very low.
(4) Wood with a small amount of bark still present can be used without affecting strength.
Zhuhai Bofeng Logistics, domestic container sea freight, welcome to inquire and book: 13075678958 Manager Huang
Bofeng Logistics professionally provides one-stop logistics services including domestic container sea freight, international sea freight (FCL/LCL), Hong Kong and Macau logistics routes, and trucking, customs declaration, warehouse storage, etc. Contact: 130-7567-8958 (Manager Huang), call now for a exclusive quote!
Related Logistics Services
Bofeng Logistics offers the following related services, feel free to inquire:
