Lloyd’s Register (LR) and Jurong Port have revised guidelines for the stowage and securing of steel and general cargo. The updated guidance aims to improve personnel safety. It also seeks to reduce cargo damage and make discharge operations more efficient. According to LR, poor stowage and inadequate securing remain a problem across the industry. Inconsistent cargo preparation can also lead to damage, delays and safety incidents. The new guidance therefore promotes a more consistent approach to cargo preparation, stowage and securing. Focus on safer cargo operations The guidelines provide practical recommendations for several parts of the supply chain. These include cargo owners, shippers, vessel operators, stevedores and terminal operators. LR focused its review on the practical challenges of transporting and discharging general cargo. The guidance covers cargo accessibility and segregation. It also addresses dunnage, bundling and lashing practices. In addition, the guidelines consider how cargo should be presented for safe and efficient stevedoring operations. They incorporate lessons from operational experience and common deficiencies found in general cargo shipments. “The industry continues to see avoidable cargo damage, safety risks and operational disruption resulting from poor stowage, inadequate securing arrangements and insufficient consideration of discharge requirements,” said Taylor Wamburg, Regional Advisory Lead, Lloyd’s Register. Guidelines assessed against international requirements LR assessed the revised guidelines against key international regulations. These include the International Maritime Organization’s Code of Safe Practice for Cargo Stowage and Securing (CSS Code). The assessment also covered IMO requirements for Cargo Securing Manuals and relevant provisions of the International Safety Management (ISM) Code. Recognised industry practices for handling general cargo were considered as well. Jurong Port said better cargo preparation can improv