Cargo Securing Program

Interactive Cargo Securing Program

IMO has set requirements for all cargo vessels to have a cargo securing manual. The only exceptions are tankers and bulk carriers carrying bulk cargoes only.

Furthermore IMO emphasises that the lashing of every single cargo item is evaluated or calculated. This means, that the crew must be able to calculate the need for lashing for a cargo at any position within the vessel.

This requires the person responsible for the lashing to be very experienced in this area, and still there is a risk, that the cargo will either be lashed to much or too little. The first is expensive in labour and equipment, and the latter may lead to cargo damage.

The lashing manuals are required to contain directions for calculation of the necessary lashings, but most of these directions are difficult and time consuming to use, which means that they may not be used.

In order to reduce the calculation work for the person in charge of the lashing, ShipTech A/S has developed an interactive Cargo Securing Program, which is a price competitive alternative to the calculation schemes in the cargo securing manuals.

With this program you gain the following advantages:

• Reduced crew workload
• Improved safety
• Improved casualty statistics
• Improved carrier image
• Improved documentation (Cargo securing report)
• The pay-back period is estimated to be less than 6 months based only on the reduced crew work load.

The program is adapted to the ship in question in such a manner, that all the main particulars for the ship including the ship’s profile with all cargo decks indicated are included in the program. In the same way information on all types of portable lashing equipment is included, so that it is easy for the crew member to select the proper lashing equipment.

Finally different loading conditions may be given in order to calculate the right lashings based on the correct acceleration level.

The program has been developed for Windows 3.1x, Windows 95 and Windows NT.

A major effort has been put into the development work in order to make the program as logical and easy to use as possible. Persons with just a little experience with windows programmes will be able to understand and use the program right away. This is also indicated by the fact, that the user manual is only three pages.

The program is interactive in such a way, that the program will suggest input, which you may accept or alter as you please. To a large extent you may just choose between the data, that is already defined in the program, or you may alter the predefined values like for instance the weight of a trailer etc.. You do not need to look for information to give as input to the program, all the existing portable equipment on board will be predefined in the program.

If new equipment is bought for the vessel, it is also easy to include this in future calculations.