Episode 7: The incoming inspection of the container

A considerable part of all global general cargo transports is handled by container. Millions of such metal boxes are on the move by sea, rail and road.

Everywhere they are subject to special transport stresses and when loading, sometimes shippers have no inhibitions about handling them with little care for the material.

Although there are globally applicable rules for testing and repairs for the container and actually everyone should be okay, at least in theory, all boxes have more or less major blemishes.

Therefore, it is mandatory to subject the container to incoming inspection before loading.

Episode 7: The incoming inspection of the container

The CTU Code 2015, the international regulations for handling containers, assigns responsibility for this to the shipper or packer in Chapter 4.2.3. It states:

"The packer shall ensure that the CTU is inspected prior to packing and that the condition of the CTU is suitable for the cargo to be transported". More stroke enumerations follow.

What would a customer think if he received his rather expensive goods in such packaging? He would probably think: hopefully my goods are undamaged and take a much closer look to see if everything is in order.

In chapter 8.2, the regulations explain the control of the cargo transport unit, but remain diffuse in the details.

Therefore, it is necessary for the loading company to study the matter and determine for its needs which type of CTU is suitable and what other characteristics must be met.

The following statements are the result of many container inspections or loading escorts on the practice front.

Here, the decisive switch is often already set incorrectly by the truck driver, who opens the doors of the container after arrival, folds it and then drives it to the ramp.

The important check of the CSC sticker is then no longer so easily possible. The driver does it this way because it is common practice with many shippers/packers and an incoming inspection is not carried out.

An incoming inspection is an integral part of professional load securing.

Container control should be considered in two steps:

1. the incoming inspection with the aim of bringing about a decision whether to accept or reject the container.
2. documentation of loading with the loading sequence, load securing measures, load distribution and securing against falling out, if this would be necessary.

These two phases should be described unambiguously for the controller, with clear criteria, in order to make control easier for him.

The following considerations deal with input control.

It is not uncommon for companies to have to pay for repairs to containers even though they did not cause them.

Conversely, if the incoming inspection is not carried out and therefore no defects are found, this means that the container was in order when it was accepted and the damage was caused by the packer during its service life.

After that, the whole container should be visually inspected. Check not only all sides from the outside, but also the bottom from below.

Such damage should be documented in any case, especially since it can lead to problems when using dunnage pads.

This is because the hard rust surface can cause loss of pressure in the dunnage due to scuffing.

A container must also be tested for leaks. Here, the best solution is the two-man method. One climbs into the container, the other locks the door completely. Now it must be completely dark inside.

Diffuse light may penetrate through the pressure compensation openings in bright sunlight, but this is not critical. Otherwise, any leakage, no matter how small, would be detected by the incidence of light.

Damage to the door seals in particular can be detected in this way, e.g. if the door is warped and no longer closes correctly, even though the seal is in good order.

Some shippers/packers also come up with unusual ideas and make the container fit their purposes.

Here, the lashing bars on the door were cut out and relocated. This means that the container has been structurally modified.

The container must also be clean and odorless. If the container needs to be aired before loading, the time required for this should not be counted towards the loading time in consultation with the shipping company.

The CTU Code gives guidance on this in various places, but especially in item 12.1.6.

Particular attention must be paid to indications as to whether a container has been fumigated. This is because some packers do not fulfill their labeling obligation in this respect.

Taped-off pressure equalization openings are a clear sign of gassing. They are often also sealed from the inside. Caution is therefore always advisable.

Taped pressure equalization opening.

The aim must be to ward off claims for damages for defects that were already present.

Deficiencies should therefore be recorded in a checklist and, if necessary, photographed. In addition, it may also make sense to agree with the shipowner or forwarder on how to proceed. After all, this is always cheaper than having to pay the costs of expensive repairs afterwards due to a lack of evidence.

Your Sigurd Ehringer.