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こちら Japan flag を選択して頂くと、言語設定が日本語に切り替わります。設定変更後は以下の機能が利用可能です。

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閉じる 言語設定を切り替えたい場合には、国旗のマークをクリックして下さい。

By selecting Japan flag, you have now set your language to Japanese. This has several benefits, including:

  • Providing quick access to our Japan page, which collates all our Japanese content in one place.

  • Ensures that content is presented to you in Japanese first, if we have an article, publication or webpage available in Japanese. Look out for the Japan flag indicators across the site.

Close If you’d like to change your language preferences again, simply click on one of the other flags.

点击选择 China flag,可将网站语言设置为中文。这能帮助您:

  • 快速访问我们的中国区页面,该页面将有网站内容的中文汇总。

  • 在我们的文章、出版物或者网页有中文版本提供的情况下,确保首先向您展示的是中文版本的内容。您可关注站点上的 China flag 按键。

关闭 点击任意其他国旗,可切换您的语言偏好。

By selecting China flag, you have now set your language to Chinese. This has several benefits, including:

  • Providing quick access to our China page, which collates all our Chinese content in one place.

  • Ensures that content is presented to you in Chinese first, if we have an article, publication or webpage available in Chinese. Look out for the China flag indicators across the site.

Close If you’d like to change your language preferences again, simply click on one of the other flags.

Don’t Forget to Lash Your Equipment

Also available in these languages

When damage or an incident arises as a result of a shift of cargo or ship’s equipment on board a car carrier, the shipowner is expected to be able to demonstrate that it exercised due diligence to make the ship seaworthy and took all reasonable steps to properly care for the cargo.

In recent years we have seen serious claims arise where cargo was properly stowed, but the ship’s equipment – ranging from forklift trucks to deck handlers – received less attention. These items broke free while the ship was at sea.

Equipment on the loose

The consequences can be catastrophic. Cargo in the immediate vicinity may become damaged, and the impact of heavy moving objects can cause other cargo to break free, resulting in even more damage. The damage can also extend to the ship itself, such as deforming frames, penetrating the hull steel plating and rendering ramps out of service.

Losses can amount to millions of dollars, not to mention the risk to the safety of the crew.

Follow your manuals

The key document is the ship-specific Cargo Securing Manual (CSM). A CSM is a statutory requirement under the SOLAS Ch.VI Reg. 5. It must be approved by the administration of the contracting government (the ship’s Flag State) and should be suitably endorsed to that effect.

The CSM should specify where and how to secure “cargo units, containers, vehicles and other entities”, based on the different forces to which they may be subjected during adverse weather and sea conditions.

Although its title infers it relates only to cargo, the manual should also guide on the stowage and securing of ship’s equipment. This is addressed in IMO Resolution A.489(XII) where it defines “other entities” to include loading equipment which belongs to the ship but are not fixed to the vessel.

The vessel’s safety management system (SMS) should also provide sufficient guidance to the crew on stowage and securing techniques.

Take your time to get it right

The crew might feel there is commercial pressure to keep to sailing deadlines following long and tiring cargo operations. When the pressure is on at the end to secure the ship’s equipment as quickly as possible, this can be a recipe for mistakes.

Make sure you get it right. Think:

  • Are you familiar with how to lash the particular piece of equipment, the type of lashing to use and where to secure it on the ship?
  • Are all the lashing points still in good condition, or have they been damaged during loading operations?
  • If you are having to stow it in an unusual place, are you using enough lashings and securing to strong enough points on both the gear and the ship?

Don’t be afraid to check, question or even call a halt if what you’re being asked to do doesn’t seem adequate or correct and you have concerns. A few moments checking could save time, money and even lives.

Proper securing of ship’s equipment needs time and care.



This website, www.nepia.com, is now in archive and will not be updated with new content. The website will remain accessible for a short time as we complete the transfer of relevant content to the new NorthStandard website (north-standard.com).

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Please head to north-standard.com for the latest industry news, expert analysis and publications, club rules and contacts, and access to our newly launched digital tools specifically designed to support your operations.

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