Container Maintenance - major concern for the line

Modern container is a rectangular structure of standardised dimensions, designed to carry unit loads, packages or bulk cargo, and which is quickly transferable as a complete module between a number of modes of transportation (IICL, Guide for Container inspection).

Container Inventory is the asset of the shipping company and the storage, maintenance and repair expenses are one of the major cost heads of the line.

A Successful containerized cargo shipment depends on

1. Matching the cargo to the correct type of container

2. Good condition of the container

3. Correct handling of container throughout the voyage

4. Correct method of stuffing / De-stuffing

Container Inspection at the depot

The container should be returned by the customer in an acceptable condition and all containers should be inspected thoroughly at the gate prior accepting to the depot. Accuracy and consistency in container inspection is the key to maintaining containers in safe and serviceable condition. Containers should be inspected for

1. Damages

2. Cleanliness

3. Out-of date labels

Container Damage

Damage is one or more physical defects in a container caused by a single event or series of single events, such as impact, abrasion, contamination, overloading and/or other events beyond the normal exposure to which the original design was intended. (IICL ,Container repair guide)

Common types of container damages are

1. Racking ( Twisting of the structural shell of the container)

2. Toppling

3. Container Collapse

4. Structural failure

5. Holes

6. Interior/Exterior contamination

Container Cleaning

The primary objective of container cleaning is to ensure that the cargo appropriate to those type of containers is not damaged due to the condition of the container. Also , containers provided must be clean enough to carry the type of cargo and must meet the customer requirements.

In general , cleaning is required when

- The material or odor is transferable to cargo

- And the transferred material or odor will damage the type of cargo

- Or prevent the safe operation of the container

- Or the general appearance and cleanliness of the container would not be acceptable to the customer.

Cleaning Methods

The depot must chose most economic and less complicated cleaning method which is effective and of minimal adverse environmental impact. Most recommended container cleaning methods are as under

1. Removal of debris, wire, rope, nails or other waste materials

2. Sweep out – Dust, dirt , and small remnants of cargo should be swept out of the container.

3. Spot Cleaning – This method is applied when only small area needs to be cleaned.

4. Scraping with a flat or shaped tool – This method used for removing labels, tapes or other adhesive material.

5. Power Sanding – This is an alternative spot cleaning method that can be used to remove oil stains or other materials from flooring.

6. Power grinding with an abrasive disk or wire brush /repainting – Heavy layers of dried adhesive and heavy wall scratches may be ground away to bare metal and repainted.

7. Washing – Wash with cold water at standard tap pressure to remove fine dust or other materials remaining on container floors or walls .

8. Cold / Hot high pressure wash – To remove dust/ materials which cannot be removed by ordinary wash. High pressure hot water wash is the most effective way to clean oil stains from container floors.

9. Over painting – Graffiti , wall stains , thin layers of dried adhesives, minor wall scratches etc can be painted over after cleaning the surface properly.

10. Component replacement – It is usually applied to oil soaked floors and/or flooring severely contaminated by odor.

Container Repair

The purpose of any repair is to restore structural integrity to the container, so that it may function safely in worldwide intermodal commerce as an instrument of international transportation. Repaired containers should meet all applicable requirements of ISO standards, the International Convention for safe Containers (CSC), the Customs convention on containers etc.