Lloyd's Register in cooperation with the Standard P&I club released guide on Container Securing. The Guide provides vital information on container security systems and the causes of lashing failures. It also offers advice as to how to minimize losses on container ships.

The Guide provides vital information on container security systems and the causes of lashing failures. It also offers advice as to how to minimize losses on container ships.

Accoring to the Guide, there are some Do's Dont's for containers as follows:

DO's

• Reject a container found overweight and likely to give rise to the permissible stach weight being exceeded

• Reject a buckled, twisted or damaged container

• Arrange stowage so that containers do not need to be unloaded at a port other than the designated discharge port

• Regularly check lashing components for condition and discard components that appear worn or are damaged

• Inspect D rings, ring bolts, cell guides and sliding socket foundations for wear or damage before containers are loaded and arrange for the necessary repairs

• Regularly check lashings during the voyage

• Inspect and tighten lashings before the onset of bad weather

DONT's

• Mix left-hand and right-hand twistlocks

• Apply fully automatic twistlocks without first checking the manufacturer's instructions for use

• Use corroded or buckled lashing rods

• Use twistlocks that are not certified

• Use improvised equipment to secure containers

• Load containers of a non-standard length except when the ship is designed and equipped for the carriage of non- standard leght containers

• Use twistlocks for lifting containers except where the twistlocks are specifically approved for this purpose

• Opean containers after they have been loaded