Proper planning should be done before stowing. Stowing should be planned in a way that the cargo weight is distributed as evenly as possible, and total weight to be within the maximum payload limit.
The center of gravity of the stowed cargo should be at or below the half-height point of the container. In other words, heavy cargo should be stowed at the bottom of the container for better stability. The center of gravity should be at or close to the half-length position of the container for safer container handling.
When necessary, dunnage such as wood planks, plastic foam and paper boards should be used to protect against mechanical damage, such as the damage caused by the container corner post, or corrugation of the container wall or by the uneven surfaces of the load next to it.
When stacking cargo on top of each other, interlayer dunnage can be used to create a level surface for proper stacking.
When transporting moisture-sensitive cargo, desiccants can be used to protect the cargo from damp. Roof dunnage and floor dunnage should be used to dissipate moisture and to avoid accumulation of damp or sweat. In addition, wrapping moisture-sensitive cargo using plastic sheet, oiled paper and tarpaulins can effectively reduce the risk of the cargo being damaged by container sweat or cargo sweat.
Bottom and intermediate dunnage must be arranged in a way that it can easily be handled by fork, chains and other cargo handling equipment without causing damages.
