Nearly half of all transportation losses are due to handling, storage or stowing problems. Examples of this are:

• Rapid acceleration or deceleration while hoisting
• Turning or lowering goods during loading or unloading
• Failure of handling equipment
• Failure of equipment such as lift trucks, cranes or porticoes during lifting
• Rough handling / incorrect stowage

Damage can be caused when inadequate equipment is used to move the goods or the operators of the equipment lack the necessary training to use it correctly. When heavy packages are stowed on top of lighter ones damage is almost inevitable.

Two examples we have seen recently:

Exceeding the limit of stacking containers :

A maximum of nine full containers can be stacked. The most recent open container ships (ships where the deck is eliminated) can receive up to 13 stacked containers. There is thus a risk of crushing the container at the bottom of the pile.

Crushing goods by overloading :

This can be due to errors in the declaration of weight or to intentional overloading in an attempt to save money. Shipping lines regularly discover discrepancies of as much as 10%.