• Packing in sea transport

• Packing is the science, art, and technology of enclosing or protecting products for distribution, storage, sale, and use

• Packing has at least three functions:

(a) To protect the goods;

(b) To keep a consignment together;

(c) To prevent the goods from damaging the environment.

i. Physical protection

ii. Barrier protection

iii. Marketing

iv. Security

v. Convenience

vi. Information transmission

vii. Portion control

PLASTIC

BOXES

BUBBLE WRAP

SHRINK WRAP

TISSUE PAPER

METAL

GLASS

Nature and type of goods

Volume

Weight

Number of packages

Types of packages

Mode of transport

Final destination

A shipping container is a container with strength suitable

to withstand shipment, storage, and handling.

Containers are built to standardised dimensions, and can

be loaded and unloaded, stacked, transported efficiently

over long distances, and transferred from one mode of

transport to another

(a)THE GENERAL CARGO CONTAINER:

This is the most representative type for general cargo( packed cargo) that does not require temperature.

(b)THERMAL CONTAINER:

Thermal container are classified into three types:

(i)Refrigerated(or reefer)Container (for cooled foodstuffs,meat,fish,vegetables,etc.)

(ii)Insulated containers for fruit,vegetables etc. Here dry ice is used as the cooling medium.

(iii)The ventilated container allows for the passage o

f air by means of apertures on sides or ends. This type is used for cargo such as fruit or vegetable which requires respiration.

(c)SPECIAL CONTAINERS:The third category of containers is “Special Containers”. Prominent types in

this head include:Bulk containers, Open top containers, side open containers, flat tracks, Car

containers, Pen containers.

• used to carry fluids cargo

• Tank containers must be at least 80% full, to

prevent dangerous surging of the liquids in

transit.

• Packaging has to be designed and constructed to United

Nations (UN) specification standards

• UN approved packaging is marked with the prefix 'UN' and

followed by codes that are listed

• The Vehicle Certification Agency Dangerous (VCA)

* Bulk commodities - heavy equipment, machinery, etc

*Goods of high value-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

*Live animals-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.

• Destination

• Handling instructions

• Dangerous goods