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For the purpose of container handling and securing, a loaded
container is a container other than in the tare (empty) condition. |
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Unless otherwise confirmed, containers should be treated as
loaded. |
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The term loaded means the maximum gross weight rating of the
container. |
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Wind and other environmental conditions must be considered when
handling or securing containers. |
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The cargo shall be distributed throughout the container to ensure
that the centre of gravity is kept as central and as low as possible: |
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to avoid excessive tilting; |
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to avoid overstressing either the container or
the handling equipment; |
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to avoid unacceptable vehicle axle loading; |
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to avoid lack of vehicle stability; |
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to avoid unacceptable load concentrations. |
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Eccentricity of the center of gravity for the loaded container
varies with the distribution of load within the container; designers
of containers and handling equipment should take this fact into
account. As an example, when 60% of the load by mass is distributed in
50% of the container length measured from one end, the eccentricity
corresponds to 5%. |
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Care shall be taken to ensure that the equipment used
is suitable for the load and is safely attached to the container and
that the container is free to be handled. |
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In the case of a single-point lift, special attention
should be paid to the risk of the container tilting owing to
eccentricity of the centre of gravity. |
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Care shall be taken when lifting a container whose
centre of gravity is mobile or eccentric, e.g. a tank container, a
bulk container, a container with a liquid bulk bag, a container with
hanging cargo or a thermal container with a refrigerating unit
(integral or clip-on). |
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Containers may be handled by methods other than those
specified in the following section but only after careful evaluation
of the equipment by means of which the container is to be handled and
of the methods of operation envisaged, with respect to international
container standards. |
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