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Cases,Crates,Cartons, Drums,Barrels,Casks, etc.handling technics

Materials for cases,crates & cartons
crates
crates

Cases and crates are usually constructed of plywood or thin low grade timber. Heavier cases may be built up of 150mm×5mm (6×1) planks with strengthening pieces internally and externally while some are built in a skeletal fashion to allow air to permeate through the contents and/or to reduce the weight. Larger cases and crates will almost certainly have skids or bearers about 50mm (2") deep to allow a fork lift to gain entry, or for slings to be put in position.

wooden-case
wooden-case

Large cases with high density goods may be constructed with particular points specially strengthened for lifting. These will be marked on the outside and any slings, snotters, chains, etc., should be slung at those points; similarly any securing in stow should make use of the strong points. Wooden crates and cases may have to be treated to comply with quarantine regulations of the exporting and/or importing country.

Cartons are usually made of single or multi-wall fibreboard. Very often the contents provide part of the strength and shape for the carton, and this should be borne in mind when stowing. Some carton material is waxed or otherwise protected against moisture absorption.

carton
carton

Commodities

Cases and cartons are used for a very wide range of commodities depending on the requirement of the particular cargo. Canned goods are nearly always packed in cartons. Many refrigerated goods are packed in cartons or open-sided crates. Attractive items that may be vulnerable to pilferage are often packed in strong well-constructed cases.

Characteristics

Some large cased goods, e.g. C.K.D. (cars knocked down), may be stored outside prior to shipment. Thus, the crates (and sometimes the contents) are wet or damp on shipment and introduce moisture into the hold, container, etc., to the detriment of other cargo. Very large cases of construction equipment may be moved great distances after discharge and the packaging is most important for the protection of the contents as well as sometimes having a subsequent use as storage or even temporary accommodation. It should also be noted that crates or cases holding machinery may leak oil.

Cartons may absorb or give out moisture under varying atmospheric conditions and carton material will equalise with the moisture content of the air surrounding it in about 36 hours. Thus cartons of goods from a damp area may be relatively full of moisture when loaded into a hold or container. A moisture content of less than 12% in the fibreboard is usually considered safe from this particular problem.

It has been known for carton material to be wetted by the packers of goods to make the material more flexible and easier to put into shape prior to filling with canned goods. A container load or a compartment load of carton goods can therefore have a very high volume of moisture inherent in the cartons at the time of loading, with subsequent possible problems of condensation .

Handling

Where relevant, shipper's/charterer's instructions should be obtained as to how high particular cases, cartons, etc., may be stowed. It may be necessary to dunnage at intervals to avoid tier compression.

Hand hooks should never be used with cartons although they can sometimes be used to good effect on heavy crates. Very heavy crates normally require mechanical handling equipment. Cartons are best lifted on board or ashore by means of cargo trays. The slinging of heavy crates mentioned above should be undertaken with due regard to the strength points in the crates themselves. Metal strapping or banding round crates, cases and cartons should never be used as lifting points.

Stowage

Heavy cases should be reserved for bottom stowage where possible, with smaller packages on top. Small, very heavy packages should not be placed on top of and within the four corners of a larger, lighter package to avoid the risk of the lower case collapsing. Any marks or indications for upright or protected stowage should be carefully observed.

Light cases and cartons should be stowed one upon the other so that each one below bears the full weight of the one above and particularly in the case of cartons of canned goods, no overhangs should occur which might distort the cartons and rupture the contents. Refrigerated cargo requires special care to ensure that adequate air can move through and around the cases, crates or cartons as required for the particular commodity .

Any broken or holed cartons, cases or crates should be examined at time of loading and if the contents are intact they should be repaired prior to stowing. Pilfered or badly damaged cases, etc., should be rejected or the bills of lading claused accordingly.

casks
casks

Drums, Barrels, Casks, etc.

Drums may be made out of metal, fibreboard or rigid plastic. Casks are built of wooden staves bound by hoops.

Commodities

Liquids such as latex, chemicals, whisky, detergents, oils, molasses, casings, paints, etc., may be carried in drums and casks. Powders, granules and other solids such as chemicals, cement, some ores, swarf and scrap metal (usually in second-hand drums) may also be shipped in such containers. Some of the above may be classed as Dangerous Goods, in which case the packaging requires the appropriate approvals and labelling.

barrels
barrels

Characteristics

The bilge (the part with the greatest circumference) of a barrel or cask is the part least able to support external pressure, so the weight should be taken by the quarter­which is near the ends. Metal drums may have hoops to improve their strength and to facilitate rolling and manoeuvring by hand. Care should be taken to achieve a level stow as the bands or rims may produce chafe damage to adjacent drums or other cargo packaging. Light drums such as fibreboard can only take top weight when in the upright position.

Drums Handling

Drums are normally handled with rope slings, nets or trays. Metal drums may be lifted using drum handling attachments or mechanical equipment which grips the top rim of the drum. Care by the operator is needed to avoid puncturing the drum when gripping or carrying in this way. Side clamps and barrel handlers are also standard attachments for mechanical handling equipment and are used if drums and barrels are sufficiently robust to take this type of treatment.

drums
drums

Drums and barrels should not be balanced on the tines of a fork lift truck for positioning and stowage as this system is prone to accidents and spillages. If drums or barrels are placed on pallets there will be a loss of space particularly if the pallet is not square and does not have plan dimensions which are multiples of the diameter of the drum. While it is not recommended, it may occasionally be necessary for drums to be dropped, e.g. while unloading a container on a trailer to ground level. In this case some form of protection should be provided on the ground (e.g. old tyres) to break the fall.

Drums Stowage

Drums stowed on their side should not have other cargo stowed on top. Drums holding liquids should always be at the bottom of the stow with the bung or lid uppermost. Barrels stowed on their sides should be "bung up and bilge free", i.e. the bilge of the barrel should not support any weight, and quoins (shaped wedges) should be used to support the weight at the quarter.

As a general rule, fibreboard drums should always be upright. When more than one tier of metal drums are to be stowed, particularly into a container where vibration may be experienced during inland transport, it is prudent to lay soft dunnage (wood, hardboard, chipboard) between each tier. This may not be necessary if drums are designed to nest one above the other, although it is usually prudent to provide intermediate dunnage in a container, which allows the rings of the drums to bite in and grip and also protects against chafe. Since some rolling hoops on metal drums form part of the drum wall itself, these hoops may be very vulnerable to chafe, and in some instances may need protection with soft dunnage to prevent them rubbing one against the other and rupturing while in transit.

The tops of drums which have been standing out in the open may hold rain water, frost or snow trapped within the rims. This should be tipped out and if possible the damp areas allowed to dry before loading into a compartment or stuffing into a container­particularly if other cargo in that compartment can be affected by moisture.

Returned empties (i.e. drums, barrels, etc., which have been emptied of their cargo and are being returned to source) should be treated as far as contamination, source of liquid, dust, etc., is concerned as though they still held the original contents, unless a certificate is provided to say otherwise. In particular, empties being returned after carrying Dangerous Goods should be treated as dangerous unless a chemist's certificate declares that they are free of residue from the previous cargo .

Drums and casks discharging

Drums and casks should not be dragged out from wings or out of a tight stow using snotters or slings as any damage sustained at this stage will be to the ship's account. .




Summarized below some more details on general cargo ship cargo handling procedure and operational info:
  1. Cargo handling procedure for general cargo ship

  2. Suitable safety nets or temporary fencing should be rigged where personnel have to walk or climb across built-up cargo, and are therefore at risk of falling .
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  3. Various cargo handling techniques

  4. (a) Technological advances in ship design and lifting equipment (b) Rapid development and increase in the tonnages of bulk cargo (c) The impact of unitisation, and (d) The new and modern techniques of refrigeration, particularly with container carriage.
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  5. Cargo information rules

  6. The MS (Carriage of Cargoes) Regulations 1999 (SI 1999/336) [Regulation 4(1)] specifies that the shipper must provide such information to the operator or master sufficiently in advance of loading to enable them to ensure that: • the different commodities to be carried are compatible with each other or suitably separated;.
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  7. Cargo packaging - general cargo ships procedure

  8. To achieve compatibility between cargo owners and the owners of the means of transport requires knowledge of the cargo-handling procedures in transport. These procedures are described with reference to major characteristics of commodities and cargoes. .
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  9. Cargo stowage plan

  10. The copies are forwarded to agents at ports of discharge to allow the booking and reservation of labour, as appropriate. Relevant details of cargoes, i.e. total quantity, description of package, bales, pallets etc., tonnage, port of discharge, identification marks and special features if and when separated .
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    Cargo handling procedure for heavy indivisible loads
    Heavy indivisible loads may be defined as those which, because of their mass and/or shape cannot be handled by the normal gear available on board ship or on the quay alongside.
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  11. Livestock handling brief procedure

  12. The transport of animals is subject to legislation in many countries. Where risk of disease may exist this legislation is rigorously enforced. In most cases the legislation not only covers the importation of animals, but also the transit of animals, through a port.
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  13. Unitised cargo handling technics for general cargo ship

  14. A grouping together of two or more items (usually of a homogeneous nature) and securing them with banding, glue, shrinkwrap, slings (e.g. clover leaf), to form a unit which, .
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  15. Bagged Cargo handling procedure for general cargo ship

  16. Bagged commodities need to be sufficiently robust to withstand external pressure and compression, as the bag is designed to contain the contents rather than provide any substantial protection against external damage. .
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  17. Bales & bundles handling procedure for general cargo ship

  18. Most baled commodities are impervious to damage from rolling or dropping from limited heights. However, it can be dangerous to drop bales of rubber due to their ability to bounce in any direction..
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  19. Cases,Crates,Cartons, Drums,Barrels,Casks, etc.Handling technics

  20. Cases and crates are usually constructed of plywood or thin low grade timber. Heavier cases may be built up of 150mm×5mm (6×1) planks with strengthening pieces internally and externally while some are built in a skeletal fashion to allow air to permeate through the contents and/or to reduce the weight. .
    More .....

  21. DG Cargo handling procedure for general cargo ship

  22. The IMDG Code recognises nine broad classes of Dangerous Goods. For the correct classification and labelling of Dangerous Goods reference should be made to the IMDG Code. .
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  23. Methods of ventilation used in general cargo ships

  24. Ventilation of cargo may be necessary to remove heat, dissipate gas, help prevent condensation and/or remove taint. Heat may be generated by live fruit, wet hides, vermin, and commodities liable to spontaneous combustion .
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  25. Methods of stowage used in general cargo ships

  26. The stowage factor of any cargo is the volume which a certain amount in weight of that cargo occupies. It is usually measures in cubic feet per long ton or alternatively in cubic metres per metric ton. If the stowage factor is 20, it indicates a heavy cargo. If it is 100, it indicates that the cargo is light.
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  27. Special cargo handling in general cargo ships

  28. Ventilation of cargo may be necessary to remove heat, dissipate gas, help prevent condensation and/or remove taint. Heat may be generated by live fruit, wet hides, vermin, and commodities liable to spontaneous combustion .
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  29. Intermediate Bulk Containers ( I.B.C.)handling technics - general cargo ship procedure

  30. An I.B.C. is a disposable or re-usable container designed for the carriage of bulk commodities in parcels of between 0.5 and 3.0 tonnes.
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  31. Dunnage requirement for general cargo ships

  32. The traditional reasons for the use of dunnage have been largely superseded with the introduction of containers and general cargo ships with shallower decks and holds.
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  33. Methods of refrigeration used in general cargo ships

  34. Refrigeration is essentially the removal of heat through the process of evaporation. We choose to refrigerate commodities such as fruits and vegetables because we want to prolong their “practical shelf life” – the time from harvest until the product loses its commercial value.
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  35. Deck Cargo handling procedure for general cargo ship

  36. A large variety of goods, because of their inherent properties (length, height, weight, etc.) may be carried on deck. "On deck" means an uncovered space and includes deck houses having doors which can be continuously open (except in heavy weather)..
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  37. Shipment procedure for cargoes in different forms

  38. General cargo is a term that covers a great variety of goods. In regard to modern cargo handling it refers to loose cargo that has not been consolidated for handling with mechanical means such as unitised or containerised cargo. It refers to individual items of any type of cargo, bagged or baled items, cases or crates, individual drums or barrels pieces of machinery or small items of steel construction. .
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  39. Information exchange on cargo stowage and planning

  40. Advance planning, exchange of information, and continuous ship to shore communication are all critical. All cargoes should be stowed and secured in a manner that will avoid exposing the ship and persons on board to unnecessary risk.
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  41. Lifting and carriage of deck cargo

  42. The safe securing of all deck cargoes should be checked by a competent person before the vessel proceeds on passage. The master is responsible for ensuring that it is correctly stowed and adequately secured for the intended voyage. Areas on the deck which are not to be used for cargo stowage should be clearly marked or otherwise indicated. .
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  43. Safe use of pesticides on board cargo ships

  44. Ship's personnel should not handle fumigants and such operations should be carried out only by qualified operators. Fumigation should only be carried out with the agreement of the ship's master..
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  45. Types of packaging & stowage methods for break bulk cargo

  46. The rigging time being negligible, and the crane is able to pick up and land permitted loads anywhere within its working radius. .
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  47. Various commodities carried by general cargo ships

  48. Cargoes should be stowed and secured in a manner that will avoid exposing the ship and persons on board to unnecessary risk. The safe stowage and securing of cargo depends upon proper planning, execution and supervision by properly qualified and experienced personnel. .
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  49. Methods of ventilation

  50. The holds of most dry cargo ships are ventilated by a mechanical supply and natural exhaust system .
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  51. Carriage of containers on cargo ships

  52. The process of loading and securing of goods into a container should follow the IMO/ILO/UN/ECE Guidelines for Packing of Cargo Transport Units (CTUs). Special care should be taken when lifting a container the centre of gravity of which is mobile, e.g. a tank container, bulk container or a container with contents which are hanging..
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  53. Working in cargo spaces safely

  54. Safety arrangements prior to working cargo should ensure that adequate and suitable lifting plant is available, in accordance with the register of lifting appliances and cargo gear, .
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  55. Cargo handling procedure for general cargo ship

  56. Suitable safety nets or temporary fencing should be rigged where personnel have to walk or climb across built-up cargo, and are therefore at risk of falling .
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