Marble Blocks

Marble blocks that are not secured properly and/or not positioned in the center of container (preferably the center of gravity), may shift during the loading/discharge process, or during voyage and create considerable damage to equipment and cargo, once the considerable mass of the Block is moving it will generate considerable velocity and will be extremely hard to control.

Stuffing without supporting timbers will damage the container floor.

Imbalanced distribution of weight and location of the block in the vicinity of one side panel will result in cargo movement and unbalanced structural process on the container.

The absence of wedging/chokes to prevent movement will also result in cargo shifting during excessive rolling or pounding of the vessel.

Regular container inner Lashing points are not strong enough to take the stress from the weight of cargo.

Standard floor beams and small Bottom supports are not big enough or strong enough to properly distribute the weight over a large floor area and to prevent floor from being damaged or collapsed altogether under the concentrated weight of the block on a relatively small area.

Container side panel’s rear wall and door are also in danger of being damaged, therefore all blocks must be secured in the center of the container and protected from movement from all sides. Stopper timbers (or chokes) must be used on front& back sides and big timbers underneath the block over against the walls.

20’ DV tested containers, preferably not more than 6 years old are to be used.

Weight on floor max. 5 tones / linear meter.

The marble/stone block must not directly touch the floor (should slid and lay on long timbers block, timbers are spread underneath the block).

Example: 1 block of 20T = 4 meter long Timber.

Center of gravity of cargo, should be as close as possible to the center of the container.

Wedging (stoppers) are to be evenly positioned on all sides on the container.

Recommended wedging: height = 10% minimum as high as the Block.

Recommended wedging’s = 1 per 0.5 meter. (Example: 1.5 x 2 meters block = 3 wedges (chokes) minimum on each side and 2 wedges minimum on front and back.)

Lashing must also be used in addition to the above.

Single block must not exceed 20 tones.

Stuffing / lashing certificate to be given by the Customer.