In its latest article on the “Good Catch” series, the American Club focuses not on a specific incident, but on container losses in general; a phenomenon that becomes much too common lately.
The incidents
Containers are being lost at sea from container ships, from barges, and from non-cellular vessels carrying containers. There are several causes including incorrect container weight declarations by shippers, improper weight distributions in the stow, cargo misdeclarations, inadequate packing of cargo inside the containers, inadequate stowage plans, and inadequate cargo securing.
Great care should be taken whenever containers are loaded and secured on vessels not designed to carry containers. Particular attention should be paid to the condition of deck fittings and whether there is a sufficient number of securing points. The deck fittings may be unsuitable if poorly maintained. When deck fittings become heavily corroded, they can lose much of their strength. Additionally, the twist locks used to secure the containers to the deck fittings may not hold properly due to corrosion or wastage of the deck fitting.
The vessel may not have sufficient quantities of lashing gear. Lashing gear should be inspected frequently to ensure it is in good condition. Some vessels have tried to use alternative lashing gear that is not designed for the task or not verified to be sufficiently strong to ensure the containers remain securely stowed. When in use, lashing gear must also be checked regularly to ensure it remains tight and has not become loose due to cargo shifting and shipboard vibration.
Containers lost overboard are rarely recovered successfully. The contents are almost always a total loss. But some containers lost overboard remain afloat for days. Since they are unlit and tend to float low in the water, they are serious hazards to navigation for both large commercial vessels and private vessels. Some containers with toxic cargos have released toxins and killed marine life.
Lessons learned
- Is there an adequate number of container securing points and sufficient lashing gear to properly secure the containers?
- Are the deck fittings adequate for the load and anticipated dynamic forces?
- What should you do if you see a deck fitting that appears to be in poor structural condition or is heavily corroded?
- What should you do if the lashing gear is in poor condition or insufficient in quantity?
- What training has been provided to your crews related to stowing and securing containers on non-cellular cargo vessels that do not regularly carry containers?
Maybe the shipowners should spend more of ship’s preventative maintenance to avoid some of the recommended points contained within the article. In addition, there should be a reintroduction of Bridge Clamps on containers. A practice that was discontinued some years ago by the ship owners so as to speed up departure times.