Page 27 - Port of Hamburg | Port of Hamburg Magazine 1.2022

Vehicles like these tractors have to be secured individually before transport.
derestimate the weather. If the cargo on a flat rack is not properly covered, it can be drenched and be- come damaged. After all, a containership on voyage from Europe to Asia passes through three climatic zones. A powerful monsoon can soak wooden packaging, if the crate is in the open,” stresses Wol- newitsch. The sun’s rays also have to be taken into account when packing, he adds.
The second important issue when transporting car- go on a flat rack is the mechanical impact. “In the vertical direction a momentary acceleration of 4g can occur. This happens, for example, when a con- tainer lands badly on the quay or into the ship. This is a daily occurrence, says Wolnewitsch. To avoid damage being caused like that, just how the load is secured really matters. TCO Transcargo’s experts calculate exactly what load securing is needed for each shipment.
For each shipment the weight has to be evened out and distributed equally across the flat rack. As soon as the point load is too high, the shipment should no longer be transported on a flat rack. “In such cases, we frequently use a substructure to spread the weight. When it comes to this almost every product is unique. Then you need real experience during assembly,” says the CEO. Taking tractors as an example, it is very important to support them. This is done with a wooden frame. When securing cargo, wood is the predominant material.
TRUST IS IMPORTANT
Not every shipment is packed by TCO. Some come from the manufacturers or external packers. What really counts is that the packer doesn’t hold back with material. As soon as the wood on the crate’s side walls is inadequate, it may break while being lashed. “With each shipment we pay extreme at- tention to these subtleties, at times making im-
Rainer Fabian and Thomas Wolnewitsch
Managing Directors at
TCO Transcargo
provements,” says Wolnewitsch. Equally, the data has to be accurate. “It’s enough when the inter- section of the centre of gravity is mounted on the wrong side. This can lead to incorrect calculation of the load securing dimensions, with all the con- sequences,” stresses Wolnewitsch. His colleague Fabian adds: “Digitalisation has entered the world of securing cargo. For example, currently virtual reality applications are in the test phase, meaning that we can almost take a look inside the packag- ing.” However, it is the staff with their skill and ex- perience, who judge the cargo securing and carry it out reliably. ■
The company
TCO Transcargo
Founded in 1991, the company specializes in cargo handling, warehousing, distribution, and container logistics. With two locations in Hamburg-Wilhelmsburg on ‘Hohen Schaar’
and ‘Eversween’, TCO Transcargo provides a good connection to the terminals. The company owns 25 electronically-secured warehouses covering an area of more than 100,000 square metres. The team consists of 120 employees in commercial and blue collar areas.
Find more information at: tco-transcargo.de
CONTAINER WORLDS ■
Ralf Johanning (jh)
Port of Hamburg Magazine | June 2022 | 27
© TCO
© TCO