Guidelines for Shipping Hides in Containers

Transportation of any item on an ocean liner is unsafe. The main reason behind this is the cruel climate that is displayed by the ocean and along with it rides the risk of unpredictability that transportation of product across ocean displays. This risk factors increases multifold when it comes to transportation of hides in shipping containers. One of the major reason behind this is the hides itself are hazardous in nature unless it is chemically processed for the final use. In case of transportation of hides they are usually send in brine and are mostly not chemically processed. In an event of transporting hides abroad, it is important to ensure development of thorough protection plan that will not only bring down the risk factor related to loss of hides but also to the loss that may happen because of the leakage in container carrying hides, pertaining to its hazardous nature. It is because leakage of containers carrying hides will not only increase service cost related to cleaning process but also can result in huge cost pertaining to damages on ship from leakage along with hazard it possess to the people on the container liner. It is because of this reason paving a thorough guideline for shipping hides is extremely important for a business, dealing with the product.

Let’s take a look at what Hides are and how it can affect shipping process, so that a thorough guideline can be materialized based on it!

What are Hides?

Hides are animal skin treated for human use. Hides include leather from cattle and other livestock animals, Snake Skins for shoes, alligator skins, and fashion accessories and furs from wild cats, bears and minks. In some areas, leather is produced on a small industrial scale or domestic level, but most leather making is done on a large scale. Various tannins are used for this purpose. Animal hides are stretched, dried and tanned. It is more cost-effective today to raise animals in captivity and then kill them. Large farms exist to raise mink and rabbit for fur while much fox, lynx, wolf and other animals are trapped for fur.

How Hides are sent during Transportation

Hides are shipped in bundles, bales, barrels, cask, bags, loose or palletized in freight containers. Any animal hide is of fibrous texture and from the moment of slaughter is liable to decomposition due to bacterial action. This decomposition is only completely stopped when the hide is tanned, but can be halted temporarily by salting and/or drying. Hides are shipped as Dry-Salted, Dry and Wet-Salted (Brine-Cured). These methods of preservation are effective for fairly long periods, provided that the curing or drying has been satisfactorily carried out, and conditions of storage and transit have not caused the curing or drying to become ineffective. One of biggest risk factor that transportation of hide contains comes from brine cured hides. The understanding of different risk related to brine cured hide and the impact it can have during transportation are listed below.

Risk with Transportation of Hides

The risks with transportation of hides in containers are thoroughly based on improperly treated or inappropriately stowed of the hides. The problem of wet hides carried in shipping containers is predominately due to the run-off of excess brine. This can often result in catastrophic ending for the shipping containers or the liners carrying it. Below listed are some of the major risk factors related to transportation of Hides:

• Leakage of brine from container can give rise accidents based on possibility of slipping
• Leakage of brine can have end result of damaging the container itself because of the salt’s corrosive nature
• During transportation of hides, leakage of brine can have an offensive odor and could possibly be deemed a health hazard to people on the board
• When the leakage of brine comes in contact with the interior of the container it can cause permanent damage of metal surfaces and rubber seals and contamination of timber floors.
• Lastly leakages of brine from containers carrying hides may contaminate containers stowed underneath and corrode the ship’s decks and fittings.

These risk factors clearly showcase the possible after effect of transporting hides unless proper care and necessary measures are taken, to control it.

Impact of Risk related to Transportation of Hides

Based on the identified risk factors it is thoroughly clear the large scale negative effect transportation of hides can have. In order to avoid such risk measures must be taken to avoid all possible leakage during hides’ transportation; else it can have grave impact on the business, some of which are as follow:

• Organization might have to pay for accident if any caused by the leakage
• If the leakage of brine from the container corrodes the metal surface, shipping companies can charge the organization sending the material
• Due to hazardous nature of brine, if leakage causes health hazard, the business might face penalty from legal stature. This may be pertaining to safety of human’s on board along with being penalized financially for damage or medical expenditure of people suffering due to leakage.
• Brine’s corrosive nature can end up damaging timber flooring of the ship along with other metal, or rubber structure, which can result in the organization to pay heavy fines for damages
• If hides carrying containers are stored above other containers from different business and leakage of brine causes damages to those cargos, then from legal stature the other organization can press financial penalty
• Lastly the organization might have to pay for the cost of cleaning up the brine affecting them financially.

These impact clearly highlights the significant economic impact transportation of hides can have on the business. Therefore it is of prime importance to take necessary measures in order to avoid such risk and impact that transportation of hides carry with itself. Below listed are minimal measures that can be taken by an organization to avoid such risk during transportation of hides.

Measures to be taken during Transportation of Hides

In order to avoid the possible risk and the impact transportation of hides can have below listed are some of important measures that should be rigorously followed:

Inspecting the Container

Before packaging of hides for purpose of transportation it is very important to inspect the internal parts of the containers. So that any sharp protrusions or any debris, which may puncture or damage the polythene liner could be avoided. This can help the transported cargo hides from leakage during the voyage.

Lining of the Container

In order to avoid leakage the next step is placing a liner inside the container. The liner should be unfolded and spread out inside the container. This will help in creating a sewn box form. The box formation highlights the liner being placed at the end of the container and then drawn all the way to the front wall. After that excess liner should be protruding 2.4m out of the doors on the open end. This will form a full envelope around the cargo to capture any moisture that originates from the cargo and prevent leakage. Further to secure the hide transit within the liner it is better to establish a fixing point on the side walls. To secure and create a proper fixing point it is better to establish a bail lash or 4mm rope on the internal three side of the container. This rope will run through the lashing points around the top of the container and tied off ensuring that the lash is tight. After threading plastic bungee clips through the lashing rings of the liner, starting at the front wall, the liner is clipped onto the lashing. Once the liner walls are connected to the lashing the floor of the liner should be spread out evenly and pushed into the corner of the container. This would ensure that the hides are thoroughly protected from all sides within the container, bringing down the possibility of it leaking to a very thin margin.

Placing an Absorbent Material

After placing the liner across the container: that includes the floor and three sides of the wall, it suggestible to place absorbent material on the floor of the container. The absorbent material may be fine grade absorbent sawdust to effectively soak up excess brine. However, avoiding coarse sawdust or wood shavings are suggested due to their mediocre absorbent qualities. This would ensure even if the brine spill happens on the floor inside the container it gets absorbed within the container, cutting down on all possibilities of leakage out of the container.

If these measures are thoroughly followed, it would ensure development of a safe structure that would counter balance the risk and impact associated with transportation of hides. If you are into hide business and looking for the perfect solution for your hide transportation, get in touch us, we would be happy to help you.

Why Choose Us?

Rishi FIBC is one of the leading container liners manufacturers with business across 42 different countries providing premium quality products to the users. The liners so manufactured by us meets all the necessary standards and quality parameters, thereby making sure that none of the users get even a single chance to complain. With our decades of experience and sheer level of expertise, Rishi FIBC makes sure to live up to the expectation of every user in the best possible manner. So what are you waiting for! Get in touch with us over our helpline number or our website to get proper guidance and fulfill your business inquiry related to Hides transportation requirements.