 |
NAUTICUS LLC
|
|
NAUTICUS LLC
|
While often cargo damages/losses sustained to shipments incurred while in the transit are attributable to "improper handling while in transit", the undernoted four (4) recent cases handled in this office will illustrate that improper preparation of a shipment can be the cause of damage or loss.
An importer of containerized reels of printing paper experienced on the majority of his shipments water damages. In most instances, damages were restricted to a couple of reels in 10 to 20 containers in a shipment totaling 40 to 60 containers each. The attending surveyor had established that these water damages were due to fresh-water contact only. As the shipment had been devanned much prior to request for survey, and all containers had been placed in service by the steamship line, the surveyor did not have the opportunity to examine any of the containers.
The surveyor recommended both underwriters and consignees that it may be advantageous to have a surveyor in attendance during the devanning.
On the second survey attendance, again, the surveyor was requested to conduct his survey much after the devanning had been completed; however, during this attendance a next shipment was being delivered, giving the surveyor the opportunity to examine two container loads. During his examination, it was established that the reels of paper in both containers had been blocked and braced with timbers. The timbers were however found to be black stained and covered with heavy mold. In addition, much sweat was in evidence in the containers.
A sample of timber was removed and tested for moisture content when it was discovered that the timber contained 24 percent moisture. It was very apparent that the use of this "Water Logged" or "Green Lumber" was the cause of the sweat condition and the resulting wetting of the reels of newsprint.
Shippers elected not to use timber blocking and bracing materials on subsequent shipments and no further water damages due to sweat have been experienced since.
A tank container with bourbon was delivered to a container terminal in Oakland, California, and at the time of delivery liquid was found to be oozing from the container. The surveyor in attendance confirmed the tank container to be an old insulated container of which the outer skin was found to be holed and punctured in several areas. No visual evidence of leakage was noted while and the container was found free of any odors.
It was concluded by the attending surveyor that sweat present between the two (2) skins of the tank container escaped thru holes in the outer skin when the container was manipulated during the delivery at the vessel's loading dock.
No loss or damages were sustained to the shipment; however, the steamship line incurred additional labor charges for extra handling of the container.
Two separate shipments of structural steel were delivered in a CY/CY container to a container terminal in Oakland, California. In both instances the front container wall was holed, whereas the container doors were found to be badly cut, bent and torn.
Upon opening of the container doors, it was confirmed that the shipment of structural steel had shifted in stow during the overland rail transit but had not sustained any apparent damages. In both containers there was a void of approximately 3" to 4". It was apparent that if shippers had used blocking materials to fill up these voids, delay in transit could have been avoided, and containers would have been free of damages. The non-use of blocking and bracing materials resulted in delay and severe damages to the ocean containers.
A yacht was loaded aboard a container vessel on the U.S. East Coast which was placed on a shipper's cradle, the whole being secured on a CY/CY flatrack container.
In order to facilitate the loading operation at Oakland, the flatrack container with the yacht was moved on board the vessel when it was discovered that all four (4) vertical legs of the shipper's steel cradle were bent outward, thereby allowing free movement of the yacht within these legs. An additional wooden cradle was thereon built underneath the yacht to prevent any damages.
While no apparent damages were sustained to the yacht, much delay in transit and labor expenses were incurred as shippers had used a "storage cradle" which type cradle is not strong enough to withstand the normal rigors of ocean transit.
It is very apparent that preparation of shipments for transit should be prepared by experienced and knowledgeable people. As more shipments are being prepared by shippers without the experience or knowledge, it is very likely that underwriters and/or carriers will be settling losses that could have very well been prevented.
Return to Articles Page