New cargo securing guidance prioritises personnel safety and reduces damage risks

Lloyd’s Register (LR) has collaborated with Jurong Port in Singapore to revise its Best Practice Guidelines for Stowage and Securing of Steel & General Cargoes. The primary focus of the updated guidance is on personnel safety in cargo handling operations, while also aiming to minimize cargo damage and enhance the efficiency of discharge processes at ports and within supply chains.

Despite improvements in vessel design and cargo handling techniques, substandard stowage, insufficient securing measures, and inconsistent cargo presentation continue to lead to cargo damage, operational delays, and safety incidents.

The growing complexity of supply chains, coupled with the increasing size and value of project cargoes and steel products, underscores the importance of ensuring that cargo is prepared correctly at the port of entry. The new guidance seeks to tackle these challenges by advocating for a more uniform and practical approach to cargo preparation, stowage, and securing.

It offers actionable recommendations for cargo owners, shippers, vessel operators, stevedores, and terminal operators to mitigate risks across the cargo handling process.

The revised guidelines were evaluated against critical international regulations, such as the IMO Code of Safe Practice for Cargo Stowage and Securing, IMO MSC.1/Circ.1353 on Cargo Securing Manuals, pertinent provisions of the ISM Code, and established industry best practices for transporting and handling general cargo. LR’s review emphasized the practical aspects of transporting and discharging general cargoes, addressing aspects like cargo accessibility, segregation, dunnage arrangements, bundling methods, lashing practices, and cargo presentation for safe and efficient stevedoring operations.

Furthermore, the guidance integrates insights from operational experiences and common shortcomings identified in general cargo shipments. Taylor Wamburg, Regional Advisory Lead at Lloyd’s Register, emphasized that the industry often witnesses avoidable cargo damage, safety risks, and operational disruptions due to flawed stowage, inadequate securing arrangements, and inadequate consideration of discharge requirements.

He highlighted that robust guidance serves as a bridge between regulatory obligations and the practical realities of cargo operations. By partnering with Jurong Port to update these guidelines, LR aims to promote safer, more consistent practices that safeguard personnel, cargo, and vessels, while simultaneously facilitating more efficient port operations.

Willie Liao, Senior Manager at Jurong Port’s Strategic Port Planning & Transformation, noted that proper stowage, adequate securing, and meticulous planning for discharge are crucial for safe and efficient cargo operations. Collaborating with Lloyd’s Register to fortify these guidelines, Jurong Port seeks to foster industry-wide consistency in practices that reduce safety risks, cargo damage, and operational disruptions, thereby improving the productivity and reliability of cargo handling.