The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has issued a safety alert regarding structural failures and improper stowage of cargo transport units in Australian ports.
As stated, the safety alert aims to raise awareness of structural and stowage requirements for shipping containers and other CTUs in Australian ports. This is in response to an increase in improperly stowed cargo transport units (CTUs) and structural issues identified during inspection.
The guidance is relevant to any person who packs, sends or stows cargo, packers of shipping containers, shippers, container owners and ship owners.
Incidents
Two recent incidents involved improperly packed CTUs which led to catastrophic structural failures.
These incidents highlight the critical need for ship and container owners, shippers and packers to understand their regulatory obligations and put effective controls in place.
Australian requirements
Ships entering Australian ports must meet these requirements for packaging and securing of cargoes within cargo units and CTUs.
Cargo
Requirement: Persons that pack, send or stow cargo must reasonably ensure that the cargo does not:
- damage the vessel
- risk the safety of a person
- damage the environment.
This is a requirement under Section 114 of the Navigation Act 2012.
Requirement: Shippers are required to provide cargo that is safe and suitable to transport. Cargo carried in containers, road vehicles, shipborne barges, railway wagons and other cargo transport units should be packed and secured within these units. This will help prevent, throughout the voyage, damage or hazard to the ship, to the persons on board and to the marine environment.
This is a requirement under the Code of Safe Practice for Cargo Stowage and Securing (CSS Code).
Cargo packing
Requirement: Cargo, cargo units and cargo transport units must be packed and secured within the unit to prevent, damage or hazard to the ship and the persons on board, during the voyage.
This is a requirement under Marine Order 42 which implements the SOLAS Chapter V regulation 5.2.
Requirement: Follow the guidance in the IMO/ILO/UNECE Code of Practice for Packing of Cargo Transport Units (CTU Code) when packing and sending cargo to ships. (SOLAS does not mandate specific standards for packing and securing of cargo, cargo units and cargo transport units.)
The CTU Code is intended to assist the industry, employers’ and workers’ organisations as well as governments, in training their staff on the safe stowage of cargo in containers.
Containers
Requirement: Shippers and packers must ensure that containers are not defective when packing and sending cargo to be loaded on a ship.
You are prohibited from loading or unloading containers that are:
- defective
- not fitted with a safety approval plate
- not marked with a current periodic examination scheme date
- not marked with Approved Continuous Examination Program (ACEP) or administration
- exceeding the maximum operating gross mass.
This is a requirement under Marine Order 44 which implements the requirements of the Safe Container Convention. Section 21.
What you should do
Shippers and packers must:
- ensure that containers used in maritime transport meet minimum safety standards to prevent accidents and protect the marine environment
- check CTUs are free from damage prior to packing
- ensure cargo is packed and secured safely inside a CTU
- discontinue use and advise the owner to undertake repairs where CTUs are found damaged
- not accept a CTU for shipment where there is a reason to suspect that it has not been packed safely.
Container owners must keep their containers in good condition through:
- regular inspections
- timely repairs
- proper documentation of all maintenance activities.
Any container found to be damaged or unsafe must be withdrawn from service until appropriately repaired.
