It should always be borne in mind that the side panels, the end panels, and the roof panels of an ISO
container are not normally strength members. Beneath
the floor timbers there are metal cross-bearers and it is generally those bearers which provide the floor’s strength. Additionally, the corner posts, front and rear headers and front and rear sills provide the internal strength members. (See Fig. A). Whenever bracing is to be used in vertical, horizontal or diagonal form, it must act against those members and the floor bearers, and no others. Bracing and/or end chocking against side, end, and roof panels will surely result in disaster (photos 3 and 4).
The great problem is that, unlike break-bulk cargo, the ship’s master and his officers do not sight, nor do they have any control over, the contents of containers or the methods by which the contents have been packed and secured. Hence, whenever and wherever containers are being packed, management and supervisory personnel should be properly trained and be provided with copies of the many relevant excellent handbooks and leaflets available from shipping companies engaged and specialising in container carriage by sea.
If the contents of just one container are improperly packed or lack adequate securing arrangements or are inappropriate for container carriage and, as a result, break adrift when the ship encounters heavy weather, the safety of many other containers, their contents, and the safety of the ship itself could be at risk. For instance, round steel bars, inadequately secured, broke adrift within a container third in stack on deck, pierced and went through the container’s side panels