The Cargo Stowage and Securing code

Cargo stowage & Securing

The proper stowage and securing of cargoes is of the utmost importance for the safety of life at sea.

Improper stowage and securing of cargoes has resulted in numerous serious ship casualties and caused injury and
loss of life, not only at sea but also during loading and discharge.

In order to deal with the problems and hazards arising from improper stowage and securing of certain cargoes on
ships, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has issued guidelines in the form of either Assembly resolutions
or circulars adopted by the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC)

The accelerations acting on a ship in a seaway result from a combination of longitudinal, vertical and predominantly
transverse motions. The forces created by these accelerations give rise to the majority of securing problems.

The hazards arising from these forces should be dealt with by taking measures both to ensure proper stowage and
securing of cargoes on board and to reduce the amplitude and frequency of ship motions.

BACKGROUND
In this regard IMO Code of Safe Practice for Cargo Stowage and Securing, or CSS Code as it is known, was first
published in 1992, following IMO resolution A.714(17) of November 1991. That edition of the CSS Code incorporated
general principles for the safe stowage and securing of cargoes. Annexes 1 to 12 contained guidance upon the
stowage and securing of particular types of cargoes and appendices 1 to 5

 In this regard, the CSS Code has undergone subsequent changes through the years as follows:  MSC/Circ.664;
MSC/Circ.691; MSC/Circ.740; MSC/Circ.812; MSC/Circ.1026; MSC.1/Circ.1352; MSC.1/Circ.1352/Rev.1.

In 1994/1995 three amendments to the original text of the CSS Code and a new annex 13 were published.

Annex 13 gives methods to assess the efficiency of securing arrangements for non-standardized cargo.

In 2003 a new edition of the CSS Code was published that incorporated all the amendments, annexes 1 to 13 and
changes in the contents of annex 13. The amendment to the  CSS Code Annex 14, “Guidance on Providing Safe
Working Conditions for Securing of Containers on Deck”, as set out in the annex of MSC.1/Circ.1352, was approved
by the IMO in 2010 and revised in 2014 (MSC.1/Circ.1352/Rev.1).

(CSS Code) (2011 Edition)

This publication presents amendments to the CSS Code, as amended. The most recent amendments, approved at the
eighty-seventh session of the Maritime Safety Committee (12 to 21 May 2010), include a new annex 14 on Guidance
on providing safe working conditions for securing of containers on deck. Also included are:

Revised guidelines for the preparation of the Cargo Securing Manual approved in May 2010;

Elements to be taken into account when considering the safe stowage and securing of cargo units and vehicles in
ships, as amended in 2010; Amendments to the guidelines for securing arrangements for the transport of road
vehicles on ro-ro ships, as amended in 2010.

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PURPOSE
The purpose of the code is to provide an international standards to promote the safe stowage and securing of
cargoes by drawing the attention of ship owners/operators to the need to ensure that

The ship is suitable for its intended purpose.

Providing advice to ensure that the ship is equipped with the proper cargo securing means
Providing general advice concerning the proper stowage & securing of cargoes to minimize the risks to the ship
and personnel.
Providing specific advice on those cargoes which are known to create difficulties and hazards with regard to their
stowage and securing.
Advising on actions which may be taken in heavy sea conditions and
Advising on actions which may be taken to remedy the effects of cargo shifting.
In providing such advice, it should be borne in mind that the master is responsible for the safe conduct of voyage
and the safety of the ship, its crew and its cargo

General principles of stowage and securing as per CSS

Principles of safe stowage and securing of cargoes
Suitability of cargo for transport
Cargo carried in containers, road vehicles, ship borne barges, railway wagons and other cargo transport
units should be packed and secured within these units so as to prevent, throughout the voyage, damage or
hazard to the ship, to the persons on board and to the marine environment.
Cargo distribution
It is of utmost importance that the master takes great care in planning and supervising the stowage and
securing of cargoes in order to prevent cargo sliding, tipping, racking, collapsing, etc.
The cargo should be distributed so as to ensure that the stability of the ship throughout the entire voyage
remains within acceptable limits so that the hazards of excessive accelerations are reduced as far as
practicable.
Cargo distribution should be such that the structural strength of the ship is not adversely affected.
Cargo securing arrangements
Particular care should be taken to distribute forces as evenly as practicable between the cargo securing devices.
If this is not feasible, the arrangements should be upgraded accordingly.
If, due to the complex structure of a securing arrangement or other circumstances, the person in charge is
unable to assess the suitability of the arrangement from experience and knowledge of good seamanship, the
arrangement should be verified by using an acceptable calculation method.
Residual strength after wear and tear
Cargo securing arrangements and equipment should have sufficient residual strength to allow for normal
wear and tear during their lifetime.
Friction forces
Where friction between the cargo and the ship’s deck or structure or between cargo transport units is
insufficient to avoid the risk of sliding, suitable material such as soft boards or dunnage should be used to
increase friction.
Shipboard supervision
The principal means of preventing the improper stowage and securing of cargoes is through proper
supervision of the loading operation and inspections of the stow.

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 As far as practicable, cargo spaces should be regularly inspected throughout the voyage to ensure that the
cargo, vehicles and cargo transport units remain safely secured.
Entering enclosed spaces
The atmosphere in any enclosed space may be incapable of supporting human life through lack of oxygen or it
may contain flammable or toxic gases. The master should ensure that it is safe to enter any enclosed space.
In Short
Cargoes are to be stowed and secured so that the ship and persons on board are not at risk.
Stowage and securing should be planned, executed and monitored properly.
Persons carrying the task should be qualified and experienced.
Personnel planning and executing the tasks should have a sound and practical knowledge of application and
content of the “Ship’s cargo securing manual”
Stowage and securing must be planned with the most severe weather conditions that could be expected during
the voyage.
Ship handling decisions in bad weather must be carefully considered.

Structure of CSS code

There are 7 Chapters, 14 Annexes & 5 Appendixes

Chapter 1
General information including definitions, forces, cargo behaviour, cargo equipment and the required shipment
information

Chapter 2
Details the principles of safe stowage and securing of cargoes. Deals with following points:-
Structure of CSS code
Suitability of cargo for transport
Cargo distribution
Cargo securing arrangements
Residual strength after wear and tear
Friction forces
Shipboard supervision and inspection
Structure of CSS code

Chapters 3 & 4
Standardised and semi standardised stowage and securing
Includes securing arrangements for the stowage and securing of vehicles

Chapter 5
Non standardised stowage and securing
This includes advise for cargoes not covered by chapters 3 & 4 such as
Containers on non-cellular ships (annex 1)
Portable tanks and receptacles (annex 2)
Special wheel based cargoes (annex 3)
Heavy cargoes (annex 4)

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 Coiled sheet steel (annex 5)
Heavy metal products (annex 1)
Anchor chains (annex 1)
Scrap metal in bulk (annex 1)

Chapter 6
Actions which may be taken in heavy weather

Chapter 7
Actions which may be taken once cargo has shifted

Annexes
Annex - 1. Safe stowage and securing of containers on deck of ships which are not specifically designed and
fitted for the purpose of carrying containers
Annex – 2. Safe stowage and securing of portable tanks
Annex – 3. Safe stowage and securing of portable receptacles
.
Annex - 4. Safe stowage and securing of wheel based (rolling) cargoes
Annex – 5. Safe stowage and securing of heavy cargo items such as locomotives, transformers etc.
Annex –6. Safe stowage and securing of coiled steel sheet
Annex –7. Safe stowage and securing of heavy metal products
.
Annex - 8. Safe stowage and securing of anchor chains
Annex – 9. Safe stowage and securing of metal scrap in bulk
Annex –10. Safe stowage and securing of flexible intermediate bulk containers
Annex –11. General guide lines for the under deck stowage of logs
Annex - 12. Safe stowage and securing of unit loads
Annex – 13. Methods to assess the efficiency of securing arrangements for non standardized cargo
Note on Annex –14.
Annex –14. Guidance on providing safe working conditions for securing of containers on deck

Appendices
Appendix—1. Safe stowage and securing of cargo units and other entities in ships other than cellular
container ships
Appendix—2. Revised guide lines for the preparation of Cargo Securing Manual
Appendix—3. Elements to be taken into account when considering the safe stowage and securing of cargo units
& vehicles in ships
.
Appendix—4. Guide lines for securing arrangements for the transport of road vehicles on Ro-Ro ships
Appendix—5. Recommendations for entering enclosed spaces aboard ships

Definitions as per CSS Code

“Standardized Cargo” means cargo for which the ship is provided with an approved securing system based
upon cargo units of specific types.

“Non-standardized Cargo” means cargo which requires individual stowage and securing arrangements.
Maximum securing load" (MSL) is a term used to define the allowable load capacity for a device used to secure
cargo to a ship. Maximum securing load is to securing devices as safe working load is to lifting tackle.

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Cargo Securing Manual
The CSS Code in line with SOLAS Chapter VI and VII, requires the carriage onboard of an approved CARGO SECURING
MANUAL.

The cargo securing arrangements in this manual should be based on the forces expected to affect the cargo carried
by the ship, calculated either in accordance with methods described in ANNEX 13 of CSS code, or an acceptable
alternative. CSM or Cargo Securing Manual is Ship specific manual and is approved by Flag state.

It is mandatory for all the ships engaged in carriage of cargoes other than ships carrying Solid Bulk cargoes or Bulk
Liquid cargoes. Cargo Units and cargo transport units must be loaded, stowed and secured throughout the voyage in
accordance with this Manual.

All crew engaged in the stowage and securing of cargo must be trained and instructed in the safe and efficient
operation of the lashing and securing devices.

Contents of CSM
Chapter 1

General information

Ship’s Data

Definitions

Stowage and securing of cargoes by stevedores

General Stowage and securing

Provision of portable securing devices

Contents of CSM

Chapter 2

Securing equipment

Specification for fixed securing devices

Specifications for portable securing devices

Inspections and maintenance schemes

Chapter 3

Stowage and securing of non-standardised cargo

Handling and safety instructions

Instructions on the proper handling if the securing devices

Evaluation of forces acting on cargo units

Application of portable securing devices

Stowage and distribution of deck caargo

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Chapter 4

Stowage and securing of containers Handling and safety instructions

Safety instructions related to handling of securing devices

Stowage and securing principle on and under deck

Warnings of possible consequences from misuse of securing devices

Container securing

Other stowage patterns

Forces acting on cargo units

Chapter 5

Cargo Safe Access Plan

Annex 1 Record book

Annex 2 Stowage and securing of portable tanks

Annex 3 Stowage and securing of heavy cargo items

Annex 4 Safe stowage and securing of flexible intermediate bulk

Annex 5 General guidelines for the under-deck stowage of logs

Annex 6 Methods to assess the efficiency of securing

Annex 7 Guidance on providing safe working conditions

Annex 8 Container securing arrangement plan

Annex 9 Instructions on handling and servicing of securing devices

Annex 10 Cargo safe access plan (CSAP)

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