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Codes and Guidelines
In addition to the regulations, the industry leaders such as the IMO, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and others produce best practice guidelines for the securing of cargoes onboard. These aim to increase the safety of the operations for workers and the effectiveness of the operations for the security of the cargo.
IMO Publication - The CSS Code
Safe Cargo Stowage and Securing
In addition to general information on cargo securing, the Code of Safe Practice for Cargo Stowage and Securing (CSS Code) contains 12 annexes with instructions on how to secure specific cargo types on board the vessel, including, among others, rolling cargoes, heavy metal products and heavy cargo items. In addition, Annex 13 of the CSS Code provides two methods, one basic and one advanced, for assessing the efficiency of cargo securing arrangements.
Cargo on board vessels shall be stowed and secured according to the instructions in the vessel's Cargo Securing Manual (CSM), which is based on the principles in the CSS Code.
IMO publication - Code of Safe Practice for Ships Carrying Timber Deck Cargoes
Timber Deck Cargoes
Timber deck cargo; the Code of Safe Practice for Ships Carrying Timber Deck Cargoes has been developed. This code advises on how timber deck cargo shall be secured and how to calculate necessary lashing arrangements depending on specific vessel data, duration of the voyage and expected weather conditions.
Cargo Transport Units
The IMO/ILO/UN ECE Code of Practice for Packing of Cargo Transport Units (CTU Code) contains general information on safe stowage and securing of cargo on vehicles and in containers. It may also be relevant for the securing of cargo items inside boxes.
IMO/ILO/UNECE Code of Practice for Packing of Cargo Transport Units (CTU Code)
Quick Lashing Guide
The informative material of the CTU Code, IM 5, contains a quick lashing which is useful when a lashing arrangement is to be dimensioned. It gives specific instructions on the required number of lashings for different types of lashing equipment and sea areas. The quick lashing guide is a suitable instrument for evaluating the securing of cargo inside cargo transport units.
Quick Lashing Guide from the Informative Material of the CTU Code
Resolutions
The IMO committees, such as the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC), important resolutions are produced and sent to the IMO Assembly for adoption.
Circulars and Guidelines
Circulars and guidelines are often published to distribute general information and explanations to the concerned parties. Circulars and guidelines provide broader orientations and are normally less detailed and technical than codes.
The most important IMO circulars and guidelines regarding cargo securing include:
- A.489: "Safe stowage and securing of cargo units and other entities in ships other than cellular container ships" contains a basic definition of how a Cargo Securing Manual (CSM) shall be designed and constructed.
- A.533: "Elements to be taken into account when considering the safe stowage and securing of cargo units and vehicles in ships" contains elements that should be considered for the safe shipment of cargo units, including vehicles.
- MSC479(102): "Revised Guidelines for securing arrangements for the transport of road vehicles on RoRo ships." contains information about numbers, strength and placement of fixed securing equipment, the strength of portable equipment used, and the number and strength of lashing eyes on vehicles so it can safely be secured to the vessel.
Rules and Regulations of the Classification Societies
A vessel is subjected to rules and regulations for nearly all structural parts, which are examined by the designated classification society. In the cargo securing field, classification is mainly performed on securing arrangements for use in container vessels. However, some flag states have delegated the responsibility for approving Cargo Securing Manuals to the classification societies.
An example of a vessel's Cargo Securing Manual that may be found onboard.
The CSM specifies arrangeÂments and cargo securing devices provided on board the ship for the correct application to, and the securing of, cargo units, containers, vehicles and other entities, based on transverse, longitudinal and vertical forces that may arise during adverse weather and sea conditions. The cargo shall be secured following the CSM before the ship leaves the berth and throughout the voyage.
In a separate chapter, we will go through and show examples of the content in a CSM.
Summary
Through the work of IMO, international rules and regulations are developed for the safe transport of seaborne cargoes.
The securing of cargoes and cargo transport units to the ship shall be done according to the vessel's cargo securing manual, the content of which is mainly guided by the Code of Safe Practice for Cargo Stowage and Securing (CSS Code) and, in case of RoRo vessels, resolution MSC479(102): "Revised Guidelines for securing arrangements for the transport of road vehicles on RoRo ships."
Stowage and securing in and on CTUs are to be carried out following the “IMO/ILO/UN ECE Code of Practice for Packing of Cargo Transport Units (CTU Code), which contains general information on safe stowage and securing of cargo in cargo transport units as well as a quick lashing guide.