Steel coils sea transport, as steel coil is heavy, roll-prone cargo, demand extremely stringent requirements for packaging and securing during containerized sea transport. Any negligence can lead to container damage, cargo shift, and even serious maritime incidents.
This guide, based on professional packaging standards, aims to detail the comprehensive considerations, standardized operational procedures, and reinforcement material specifications for the lying coil packing method, providing logistics practitioners with a rigorous and reliable reference.
Chapter 1: Core Considerations Before Packing
Systematic planning is essential before packing begins. The following elements are foundational to ensuring transport safety:
- Non-Standard Packaging Dimensions: Steel coil sizes are often not uniform, requiring custom-designed packaging for each shipment.
- Transportation Restrictions: Road transport regulations regarding weight, dimensions, etc., in the loading port, discharge port, and transit countries must be fully understood.
- Container Load Limits: The maximum point load of each container is the decisive factor determining the number and weight of coils loaded per box; overloading is strictly prohibited.
- Impact of External Forces: The significant inertial and impact forces on cargo caused by ship rolling and pitching in severe sea conditions must be anticipated.
Chapter 2: General Packing Guidelines
Prohibited Practice: It is strictly forbidden to use container walls and doors as cargo securing points, as their structure is not designed to withstand such stresses.
Securing Angle: The angle of all nails and fasteners should, as much as possible, align with the direction of the load. In principle, reinforcement should be directed towards the cargo’s center of gravity.
Primary Objective: All measures must focus on preventing the four main risks inside the container: rolling, toppling, bouncing, and sliding.
Chapter 3: Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for Lying Coil Packing
This chapter breaks down the packing process step-by-step, incorporating graphical cues.
3.1 Loading Preparation and Base Installation
To prevent container floor damage and distribute the load evenly, the following operations must be performed:
Positioning Principle: Coils should be placed centrally along the container’s length, with their central axis perpendicular to the container’s length, ensuring even weight distribution.
Weight Management: Heavier coils should preferentially placed at the container’s forklift pocket positions to utilize structural reinforcement points.
Floor Protection: If using forklifts with narrow wheels, thick timber must laid on the container floor to distribute pressure. The top of the loading ramp must have a flat section, allowing the weight transition to occur on the ramp rather than the container floor.
Installing Timber Rails: A row of base strips (timber rails) nailed to the floor, and We place the coils on them. This effectively distributes the concentrated load, ensuring the pressure on the floor is ≤ 5 tonnes per square meter.
3.2 The Seven-Step Securing Method: Preventing Rolling, Toppling, Bouncing, and Sliding
Step 1: Positioning and Fixing Base Strips
Plan the stowage based on the number and weight of the coils. Fix three base strips parallel and equidistant along the container’s length, spacing them according to the coil width. Key: The distance between the outer edges of the two side base strips and the ends of the coil must be maintained between 10-25 cm for optimal weight distribution. Nail each base strip uniformly with 3 sets (6 total) of nails.
Step 2: Pre-positioning Tapered Chocks (One End)
Align the centerline of the coil diameter with the centerline of the base strips to determine and fix the first set of tapered wooden chocks. Secure each chock with 2 nails.
Step 3: Placing the Steel Coil
Use a forklift to place the steel coil precisely onto the base strips, ensuring it rests firmly against the tapered chocks from Step 2.
Step 4: Fixing Tapered Chocks (Opposite End)
Fix the second set of tapered wooden chocks against the other side of the coil on the base strips. Special Attention: The nailing reinforcement direction must be as shown in the diagram, consistent with the anticipated force direction from the coil.
Step 5: Installing Cross Bars to Prevent Longitudinal Rolling
Against the chocks from Step 4, nail two cross bars on top of the base strips. Secure each cross bar to each base strip with 1 set (2 nails) to effectively prevent the coil from rolling along the container’s length.
Step 6: Installing Side Bars to Prevent Lateral Movement
On top of the cross bars, fix two side bars against the two ends of the coil. Secure each side bar with 2 sets (4 total) of nails to prevent the coil from shifting sideways.
Step 7: Final Lashing with Wire Ropes
Use two wire ropes with turnbuckles and wire rope clips for the final lashing of the coil. This step is the ultimate and crucial safety measure to prevent coil bouncing.
Professional Tip: During packing inspection, some reinforcement components (e.g., base strips, tapered chocks) may obscured by the coil. The responsible packer must strictly adhere to standard procedures and maintain visual records to prove that the reinforcement direction and quantity comply with specifications.
Chapter 4: Reinforcement Material Standard Specifications
To ensure securing strength, all materials must comply with the following specifications:
| Reinforcement for 3-5 Ton Coils | Dimensions (LWH) | Reinforcement for >5-8 Ton Coils | Dimensions (LWH) |
| Base Strip | 120*8*8 (CM) | Base Strip | 140*10*10 (CM) |
| Cross Bar | 160*8*8 (CM) | Cross Bar | 180*10*10 (CM) |
| Tapered Chock | 23.5*6*8*15 (CM) | Tapered Chock | 23.5*6*10*15 (CM) |
| Side Bar | 120*8*8 (CM) | Side Bar | 140*10*10 (CM) |
| Wire Rope | > Ø9mm | Wire Rope | > Ø11mm |
| Turnbuckle | M12 | Turnbuckle | M14 |
| Wire Rope Clip | Matched Standard | Wire Rope Clip | Matched Standard |
Conclusion
The safe transport of steel coils is an interlinked systematic project. Every step is critical, from accurate preliminary planning and meticulous execution during loading/unloading to using compliant and up-to-standard reinforcement materials. Strictly adhering to this guide not only maximizes the safety of the cargo and transport equipment but also demonstrates a company’s professionalism and sense of responsibility, fundamentally mitigating potential significant commercial risks and safety hazards.
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