Cargo Shift Incident Report: Severe Weather and Potential Packaging Issues

Cargo Shift Incident Report: Severe Weather and Potential Packaging Issues

This report summarizes the preliminary findings of an investigation into a cargo shift incident that occurred on April 5th.

Lashing Assessment: Our initial analysis indicates that the cargo lashings were sufficient.

Weather Conditions: According to crew testimonies, deck log records, and weather forecasts, the vessel encountered severe weather with force 8 winds on the afternoon of April 5th. This resulted in significant pitching and rolling of the vessel.

Cargo and Dunnage Shift: Inspection revealed that a single row of dunnage had shifted to the starboard side, while the cargo had shifted to the portside. Our analysis suggests that the shift occurred first between the cargo and its steel skids.

Sequence of Events: It is believed that the support point of the cargo moved beyond the range of the wooden dunnage support due to the vessel's movements. This caused the steel skids to bend and exert force on the wooden dunnage, ultimately shifting the dunnage to the starboard side.

Potential Contributing Factors:

• Securing Bolts: The securing bolts of the steel skids may have been damaged prior to the shift due to large transversal cyclic stress caused by the heavy rolling.
• Packaging Deficiencies: It is also possible that the bolts were not sufficiently sturdy, had excessive preload, or were subject to a design flaw. This raises concerns about the overall packaging of the cargo.

Conclusions: While the lashings appear to have been sufficient, the incident suggests potential issues with the cargo packaging and the integrity of the steel skid securing bolts. Further investigation is required to determine the exact cause of the shift and to recommend preventative measures for future shipments.