Update on Loading Procedures of Container Shipments to EU

Purpose

This update serves as a reminder to exporters and loading facilities about the importance of correctly installing void plugs for the EU market. It also provides recommended procedures for loading fewer than 20 pallets for EU shipments.

1. Correct Installation of the Void Plug

Void plugs are highly effective at improving cooling performance during container shipping. They eliminate airflow short-circuiting at the door-end of the container, ensuring more cold air penetrates the packaged fruit. However, their effectiveness depends on correct installation.

• Positioning:
  The void plug boards must be positioned so that the end lines up exactly with the end of the T-bar floor (not longer or shorter).
  This ensures a small gap along the edge of the door (see Figure 1), allowing some cold air to flow past the door and remove heat build-up due to the less insulated door.
• Warning:
  Obstructing this gap has the same consequences as violating the redline—they are one and the same. Your ability to claim against the shipping line or insurers may be voided.
• Compliance:
  Under the FMS, PPECB should not sign off on containers unless fitted with a correctly installed void plug.

Figure 1:
A correctly installed void plug.

1. The void plug stops at the end of the T-bar floor.
2. All openings along the floor and pallet bases are closed.
3. There is no chance of the void plug moving or folding up during the voyage.

2. Procedures to Export Less Than 20 Citrus Pallets

Situations may arise when fewer than 20 pallets are ready for container loading. This leaves a substantial portion of the container’s T-bar floor exposed, allowing cold air to short-circuit the fruit and significantly decreasing cooling efficiency. It is important to seal off the entire T-bar floor to enhance cooling, especially for the EU market.

If only 18–19 pallets are ready for loading, the facility should follow these procedures (to be arranged with PPECB, including preloading alert and scrutiny, to secure approval):

Option 1: Use of Dummy Pallets (Figure 2)

• Dummy pallets are made up of a wooden pallet base and any empty citrus cartons stacked as a pallet.
• No labels must be placed on the business end of the cartons.
• The wooden base must be compliant with ISPM 15.
• A plastic sheet/wrapping must completely wrap the pallet, preventing air movement.
• The wrapping must not cover the sides of the wooden pallet base, to allow air movement under the slats.
• Corner pieces and strapping must be used to secure the stability of the dummy pallet.
• A dummy pallet must be at least half, but ideally full, pallet height.

After loading dummy pallets:
Install the void plug at the container door end to cover any additional open T-bar floor areas.

Option 2: Use of Wooden Pallet Base and Airbags (Figure 3)

• Place wooden pallet bases compliant with ISPM 15 in the open areas.
• On top of the pallet base, secure an undamaged piece of corrugated carton to prevent any air movement through this space.
• Inflate two airbags, positioned next to each other on top of the carton sheet, which is placed onto the wooden pallet base to:
  • Prevent the carton sheet from moving.
  • Secure the adjacent pallets from toppling over during transit.

After loading pallet bases and airbags:
Install the void plug at the container door end to cover any additional open T-bar floor areas.

Figure 2:
Examples of dummy pallet setups. Note the corner piece and the plastic wrapping not extending over the pallet base.

Figure 3:
Examples of a wooden base with corrugated carton and airbags. Note that one piece of undamaged corrugated carton has been placed onto the top of the pallet base.

Note:
These operations must be arranged with PPECB, including preloading alert and scrutiny, to secure their approval.

Afrikaans Summary

Opdatering oor laaiprosedures van houerverskeping van sitrusvrugte na die EU

Paul Cronje, Tarl Berry en Bernard Henning
Citrus Research International (CRI) en PPECB

Die FMS Houer-protokol skryf vereistes en prosedures voor vir die verskeping van sitrusvrugte, insluitend lemoene, na die EU onder die Sitrus FMS in integrale verkoelde houers. Die doel van hierdie Snykant is om uitvoerders en laaifasiliteite te herinner aan die belang daarvan om void plugs korrek te installeer. Daarbenewens word opsies verskaf oor hoe om minder as 20 palette te laai.

1. Korrekte installasie van die void plug

Void plugs is baie suksesvol om die uniformiteit en doeltreffendheid van verkoeling tydens houerverskeping te verbeter. Void plugs skakel lugvloei-kortsluiting by die deurkant van die houer uit. Meer verkoelde lugvloei is dus beskikbaar om die verpakte vrugte binne te dring. Die doeltreffendheid daarvan hang egter af van hoe goed hulle geïnstalleer is.

Die void plugs moet presies so geposisioneer word dat die rand van die karton presies in lyn is met die einde van die T-staaf vloer (nie langer of korter nie). Dit verseker dat ‘n klein gaping langs die rand van die deur aanwesig is (Figuur 1), wat ‘n bietjie koue lug by die deur laat verbyvloei, en hitte-opbou, as gevolg van die minder geïsoleerde deur, vermy. Neem asseblief ook kennis dat enige versperring van hierdie gaping dieselfde gevolge het as om die rooilyn bo aan die kant van die houer te oortree (dit is een en dieselfde). Jou vermoë om teen die skeepsredery of versekeraars te eis, kan onsuksesvol wees.

Volgens die FMS mag PPECB nie houers afteken nie, tensy dit toegerus is met ‘n korrek-geïnstalleerde void plug (Figuur 1).

2. Opsies vir die laai van minder as 20 palette

Situasies kan ontstaan waar minder as 20 palette vir die laai van ‘n houer beskikbaar is. In so ‘n geval laat die laai ‘n aansienlike gedeelte van die houer se T-staaf vloer blootgestel, wat toelaat dat koue lug die vrugte kortsluit, en sodoende die verkoelingsdoeltreffendheid aansienlik verminder. As sodanig is dit belangrik om die hele blootgestelde oppervlak van die T-staaf vloer af te verseël om verkoeling te verbeter vir uitvoer van sitrus na alle markte, maar veral na die EU. Die bedoeling van hierdie stap is om die T-staaf vloer af te sluit en die stabiliteit van die nabygeleë palette tydens vervoer te handhaaf.

In gevalle waar 18–19 palette gelaai moet word, kan die uitlaaifasiliteit die volgende opsies gebruik:

Gebruik van fop palette (Figuur 2)

• Fop palette bestaan uit ‘n houtpaletbasis en enige leë sitruskartonne wat as ‘n palet gestapel is.
• Geen etikette moet op die besigheidskant van die kartonne geplaas word nie.
• Die houtbasis moet aan ISPM 15 voldoen.
• Die palet moet heeltemal in ‘n plastiekvel/omhulsel toegedraai word om lugbeweging te voorkom.
• Die omhulsel moet nie die kante van die houtpaletbasis bedek nie om lugbeweging onder die dwarslatte toe te laat.
• Hoekstukke en bande moet gebruik word om die stabiliteit van die fop palet te verseker.
• ‘n Fop palet moet ten minste half, maar ideaal volle, palethoogte wees.

Na laai van fop palette:
Installeer die void plug aan die einde van die houerdeur om enige bykomende oop T-staaf vloer-areas te bedek.

Gebruik van houtpaletbasis en lugsakke (Figuur 3)

• Plaas houtpaletbasisse wat aan ISPM 15 voldoen, in die oop areas.
• Maak ‘n onbeskadigde stuk geriffelde karton bo-op die paletbasis vas om enige lugbeweging deur hierdie spasie te voorkom.
• Blaas twee lugsakke op, wat langs mekaar bo-op die kartonvel geplaas word, wat op die houtpaletbasis geplaas word om:
  • te voorkom dat die kartonvel gedurende verskeping skuif.
  • die aangrensende palette teen omval tydens vervoer te beveilig.

Na laai van palette en lugsakke:
Installeer die void plug aan die einde van die houerdeur om enige bykomende oop T-staaf vloer-areas te bedek.

Let wel:
Gebruik van hierdie prosedures moet met PPECB gereël word, insluitend vooraflaai-waarskuwing en ondersoek, om hul goedkeuring te verseker.