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Packaging guidelines for various special types of cargoes carried at sea

Packaging rules for special cargoes

Various types of packages need to be designed for special commodities moving by different forms of transport. For example, there are special types of packages for air shipments of commodities like fresh vegetables, meat etc.

Again the unit load device (ULD) system adopted for air transport includes containers of metal and fibre-glass as well as lightweight pallets. In regard to shipments of ready-made clothes, the latest development, garments on hangers (GOH), is that they are carried on hangers inside containers for delivery in the same condition as they left to the consignees' premises or to the department stores at their destination.


Special cargoes fall into the following categories:

Bulk commodities - heavy equipment, machinery, etc.

Bulk commodities like ore and food grains, heavy equipment and machinery, locomotives and structures, do not require packing. They require suitable vessels with suitable handling gear and the like.

Goods of high value

Goods of high value such as gold and platinum in all forms, coins, jewellery, live animals, legal banknotes, securities, at present are mostly moved by air. They need special care and protection. Direct delivery to the vessel and direct collection upon arrival of the vessel is advisable.

Perishables and refrigerated cargo

Perishables and refrigerated cargo like fruits, fresh vegetables, cheese and meat, are usually carried in suitable ventilated packages in temperature-controlled holds or in thermal containers. Loading or unloading operations in respect of such cargoes have to be carried out quickly or on a priority basis when the vessel calls at the port, and this is an aspect to which freight forwarders need to pay special attention.

Live animals

The carriage of live animals requires special arrangements, such as the erection of cages, the provision of necessary attendants as well as the right type and amount of animal food. Possible quarantine regulations in the countries of origin and destination must be taken into consideration.

Dangerous/Hazardous cargo

This kind of cargo requires special packing, marking and labelling, which is a task undertaken by the shippers themselves. There is a separate section on the carriage of dangerous goods later in this manual.




Other useful articles :
  1. Transport of dangerous goods at sea

  2. No packaged dangerous goods may be offered for carriage or taken aboard any ship unless a dangerous goods declaration or marine pollutants declaration (or a combined declaration) has been given to the master or operator as per the the MS (Dangerous Goods and Marine Pollutants) regulations 1997 .
    More .....

  3. Hazardous cargoes -loading precautions /monitoring

  4. Check the details of the goods including the labelling, the respective UN Number, the condition of the package, together with any special stowage requirements prior to loading the cargo.
    More .....

  5. IMDG code

  6. IMDG code brief guideline & regulatory requirement
    More .....

  7. The documents of compliance (DOC)for carrying dangerous goods

  8. Document of Compliance (regulation 22) applies to: • passenger ships built on or after 1 September 1984; • cargo ships of 500gt or over built on or after 1 September 1984; and • cargo ships of less than 500gt built on or after 1 February 1992.
    More .....

  9. Gas detection equipment

  10. An appropriate instrument for measuring the concentration of gas or oxygen in the air must be provided together with detailed instructions for its use. The instrument must be of a type approved by a Certifying Authority, and the crew must be trained in its use..
    More .....



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