When a container is not fully loaded, goods are prone to shifting, rolling and damage during transit due to bumps and inertia. Proper filling and strapping are essential to keep cargo stable. Here are standard operating methods:
1. Fill Empty Gaps Completely
Eliminate loose space first to prevent basic movement.
- Use wooden battens and plywood to wedge gaps for heavy cargo and wooden cases. All wooden materials for international shipping must have valid IPPC marks.
- Apply inflatable air bags for cartons, daily goods and fragile items. They provide soft cushioning without scratching products.
- Fill small gaps with hard cardboard or foam blocks. Wrap stacked goods tightly with stretch film to combine separate packages into a solid unit.
- Place empty pallets or spare boxes to occupy large vacant areas for heavy loads.
2. Fasten Cargo with Straps
Use container lashing rings on walls and floors for firm fixation.
- Choose proper straps: Polyester lashing belts for general cargo, steel bands or wire ropes for heavy machinery and metal products, and nylon webbing for irregular goods.
- Carry out cross and diagonal lashing: Fasten goods horizontally and vertically as a whole. Add diagonal strapping from cargo to container front and rear rings to resist forward and backward rolling.
- Fix each stack individually if goods are divided into multiple piles. Tighten all straps with tensioners until the cargo has no shake or displacement.
- Attach corner protectors on sharp edges to avoid strap breakage.
3. Key Protection Rules
- Reinforce the area near container doors with extra wooden stops. Never leave large gaps here, as cargo may crash doors during transportation.
- Level uneven cargo with pads to avoid unbalanced center of gravity.
- Do not rely merely on mutual extrusion of goods. Combine gap filling and strapping for double safety.
