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International Shipping Terms and Definitions – Part 1

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International Shipping Terms and Definitions – Part 1

Have you noticed when you talk to an international moving company that there is a unique set of terms and acronyms that are used in this industry? Sometimes it is confusing to compare apples to apples because you are not even sure what the international moving companies are talking about. Here are some terms to get you started understanding the terminology used for shipping. Packing seems to be a simple term, but it may be necessary to clarify even a simple term like this. Packing refers to putting items into a box or wrapping, covering or protecting furniture in some way. This term should not be confused with the word loading. Loading refers to taking packed items and loading them into the truck or container. Loading is included in the cost, but packing is always an optional, additional cost. Cubic Foot (CFT or CF) is a unit of measure for volume (1 foot L x 1 foot H x 1 foot W) Volume is measured by the Length x Height x Width in feet of an item or group of items. Cubic Meter (CBM or CM) is a unit of measure for volume HHG is the acronym for household goods. You can ship your belongings in an FCL (full container load) shipment or an LCL (less than container load) shipment. An FCL shipment means you are taking either a 20 FT, 40 FT Standard or 40 FT HC (high cube) container for your shipment and your shipment only. This is also known as a designated container. The 20 FT and 40 FT Standard are the most commonly used containers. They are the most economical and readily available. A 20 FT container will comfortably hold 900 CFT of household goods or one standard vehicle and approximately 200-300 CFT of household goods. The interior dimensions are 7’8″ Wide x 7’10” High x 19’4″ Long and if it was filled with sand or water would hold 1161 CFT. The 40 FT STD (standard) container will comfortably hold 1800 CFT of household goods or one standard size vehicle and approximately 900 CFT of household goods. The interior dimensions are 7’8″ Wide x 7’10” High x 39’6″ Long and it was filled with sand or water would hold 2372 CFT. The term “self load” means that you load the packed items into the container yourself. Many of the ship lines no longer release containers to private residences. Many of the trucking companies that carry the containers from ship line’s container yard to the pick up location no longer will go to private residences due to insurance restrictions. For these reasons, the trend is to pick up your belongings in a truck, bring them to the warehouse and load the container at the warehouse. The containers belong to the ship line. The containers are not for storage. You can store the contents of the container but you cannot store the contents in the container. The container sits on a chassis with wheels that is about 4 feet above the ground. The container does not come with a ramp or lift gate (like a moving truck) so if you were thinking about the self load option, this alone would be a reason not to even consider it. At the warehouse, a loading dock, ramp or forklift is used to load the items into the container. An LCL shipment means your shipment will be loaded into a shared or consolidated container with other shipments. Your LCL shipment will either be palletized or put in a lift van to keep it separate from the other shipments in the container. When your shipment is palletized, the items are placed on a treated, wooden pallet (a platform without sides). The wood is treated to satisfy requirements in all countries. The items are then shrink wrapped (polyethylene or similar material heat treated and shrunk into an envelope around the items) to the pallet to secure them for shipping. A lift van is a treated, wooden crate that is used when items will not travel well on a pallet. A lift van will generally hold approximately 200 CFT of household goods. The lift van and the pallet are easily moved from place to place by means of a forklift. Look for more shipping terms in another article. Armed with all this information you are now in a better position to understand the terms used in the international moving process, and negotiate all the more better with your international movers. Certified International Movers Over the years, IntlMOVE has built up relationships and partnered with a network of reputable Origin Agents, On-Land Transportation Professionals, other NVOCC, Ship Lines, Customs Brokers, Overseas Destination Agents and other Relocation Professionals

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Points to Keep in Mind when Loading a Container

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Points to Keep in Mind when Loading a Container

Transportation of goods is a risky task having n number of challenges associated to it. Along with adopting measures to prevent cargo thefts, manufacturers and shippers have to take care of laws and rules too. To maintain transparency in the entire system, all associated parties have agreed upon a set of laws and rules. These rules cater to different sets of activities like loading, shipping, and unloading too. Here, we will limit our discussion to security container loading guidelines only. Why Should I Follow Loading Guidelines? Transparency is fine but one might think why to follow all these guidelines. They look complicated and burdensome. But, actually they are not. By following these guidelines, you can stay away from unnecessary security checks and save time. Also, it prevents your goods from getting damaged during the transit. All in all, Cargo Security and Loading guidelines are for your benefit and you must follow them. Key Points to Remember when Loading a Container Here below we have mentioned the key points that should be kept in mind while loading a container. ·Even Distribution of Weight – Weight distribution is one of the biggest challenges with cargo loading. The items should be placed in such a manner that weight of the container is spread evenly. If required, you can plan the placement of goods inside the container in advance. Another point to remember is the weight of the cargo should not exceed payload of the container. ·Optimum Utilization of Space – Another issue that needs to be handled with care is optimum utilization of space. Shippers should devise a plan on how to place cargos. Instead of stacking boxes on one another, try to place them in such a manner that no space is left empty. Also, the boxes should be fixed in their respective positions so that they do not topple and get damaged during the transit. ·Cargo Compatibility – Lastly, shippers should take care of cargo compatibility. Depending on the type of items shipped, the cargos should be chosen. For instance, if the products being shipped are fragile, special types of straps should be used to keep boxes in place. If you are shipping something highly valuable then security systems should be installed properly. Similarly, guidelines can be checked for different types of goods to be shipped to different parts of the country. The points mentioned above are not exhaustive in nature. To view detailed guidelines for shipping containers readers are encouraged to take help of Internet. Author Bio:- John Peter is Internet marketing consultant of TrakLok Corporation, provides the Cargo security and Cargo Storage Container. Checkout traklok.com for more info Related Articles – Cargo security, Cargo Storage Container, Shipping Container Storage, Trailer Security System, Cargo Protection System, Email this Article to a Friend! Receive Articles like this one direct to your email box!Subscribe for free today!

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How to Load and Unload Sea Containers Safely

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How to Load and Unload Sea Containers Safely

Research shows that approximately 90% of the world’s non-bulk cargo moves in containers stacked on transport ships. They improve port handling efficiency, help lower freight handling charges, and boost trade flows. Almost every manufactured product humans consume spends some time in a container. Sea containers are essential to the shipping industry, but can be dangerous to load and unload. Each year hundreds of port workers worldwide sustain severe sprain or strain injuries through incorrect or improper manual handling. Known as musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and usually occurring in the neck, back or legs, these are often long term and extremely painful. MSDs have devastating health implications, and affect employees’ work, everyday lives and families. Associated costs to companies, including lawsuits, lost productivity and training replacement staff, are enormous. Manual handling activities to consider Manual handling includes any tasks that require an individual to lift, move or support a load. Most countries have safety regulations that protect workers from excessive or dangerous manual handling. It is the employer’s responsibility to be aware of these regulations and implement measures to reduce the risk of injuries. Loading or unloading sea containers may involve a number of manual handling activities, including: Delivering items to a sea container from a warehouse or storage area for loading Transporting goods to the rear of a sea container Stacking items within a sea container Removing goods from stacks within a sea container Transporting items out of a sea container Workers carrying out any of these activities risk sustaining MSD injuries through actions such as repetitive heavy lifting, awkward postures (e.g. stacking or removing items from above shoulder height or below knee height, and sustained movement (e.g. carrying items in and out of the container). Using mechanical aids to reduce manual handling Mechanical aids, such as telescopic boom conveyors, significantly reduce manual handling requirements and the associated risk of workers sustaining MSDs. They allow ports to load and unload sea containers efficiently, which leads to a quicker cargo ship turnaround, significant cost savings, and short payback periods. Telescopic boom conveyors Fixed telescopic boom conveyors stay in one position and are not easily moved, ideal for loading docks in busy ports. They extend into sea containers and transport items on powered belts or rollers to an operator for loading. As the container fills, the operator retracts the boom and adjusts its height to maintain an ergonomic working position. Travel direction is reversible to allow both loading and unloading. Users can equip fixed telescopic boom conveyors with ‘droop snoots’, short conveyor sections at the end of the boom that operators can raise or lower to further complement their loading position. When not in use, droop snoots fold upright, leaving the front of the conveyor unobstructed for forklift trucks and pedestrians. Mobile loaders Mounted on large swivel castors or wheels, mobile loaders are manoeuvrable, enabling them to meet a port’s varying needs. They usually comprise a powered roller conveyor fixed to an incline belt conveyor. Items travel up the inclined conveyor and transfer onto the roller conveyor, which extends into the sea container and transports items smoothly to the operator for loading. Again, travel direction is reversible to allow both loading and unloading. Mobile loaders are height adjustable and fully counterbalanced. This makes them ideal for ports, where containers typically sit higher than normal dock level during loading and unloading. Both fixed telescopic boom conveyors and mobile loaders are available with varying extension lengths, allowing operators to reach the rear of twenty foot and forty foot sea containers comfortably. Users can specify different belt widths to ensure the safe transportation of large, heavy or awkwardly shaped items. A range of conveyors to choose from There are many conveyor models to choose from, many of which incorporate a range of additional features. Some have LED (light emitting diode) or halogen lighting at the front of the boom, which provides clear visibility in dark sea containers and further reduces the risk of injury. Roller shrouds eliminate nipping points (areas of the conveyor that could trap parts of a person), and emergency stop controls provide immediate switch-off in the unlikely event of an accident. Fixed telescopic boom conveyors and mobile loaders are fast becoming standard equipment at busy ports. By using them, shipping companies can minimise the risk of workers sustaining MSD injuries through loading and unloading sea containers, and improve efficiency and productivity levels.

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