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When stuffing LCL containers the following requirements of the Port Authority of the Cayman Islands should be adhered to. These requirements are a guide line to facilitate the un-stuffing process to be completed efficiently with the lowest potential for damage to cargo. The safety of the Port Authority staff also has to be taken into consideration.
The Port Authority reserves the right not to un-stuff any container that it deems unsafely packed. This will require the packing company or its agents to provide labor to do so at the Cargo Distribution Centre, but the Port Authority may assist with equipment and tallying of the unit. Units that are deemed difficult to un-stuff will be bumped to the back of the queue and an un-stuffing fee may be added.
Manifest, Stuffing Sheets, Bills of Lading, Southbound Loading Guide, North Bound Loading Guide must all be provided to The Port Authority 48 hours prior to the arrival of the vessel in Grand Cayman. Failure to provide these documents will result in the ship/container not being discharged/un-stuffed.
Please note that stuffing a container is generally easier than the un-stuffing. As a rule of thumb, if the stuffing takes a long time and is difficult, the un-stuffing will take twice as long with a higher level of difficulty due to cargo shifting. There is a very high volume of cargo being damaged due to shifting in the container and/or no attention being placed on what is loaded in front, side, back, top of other cargo. Better stuffing practices will help alleviate this costly situation.
LCL”s are normally un-stuffed by the Port Authority using the “first come, first un-stuffed” rule. However, during periods of emergency operations as may be determined by the Board of Directors the Port Authority will continue to discharge LCL”s in sequential order, but reserves the right to handle these containers as may be deemed appropriate.
Containers are to be loaded with the goal of getting greater than 80% of the container palletized which in turn allows the forklift to do most of the unloading. There are certain items that can not be palletized thus allowing the remainder of the cargo to be placed loosely in the container. No cargo should be placed directly onto the floor of the container. All cargo should be resting on a pallet to prevent damage that could be caused by liquid spills.
No cargo shall be placed in a container that requires it to be pulled out of the container. These items shall be loaded on a flat-rack. If the cargo has to be protected from the elements, it should be covered or loaded in a dedicated container.
Bundles of PVC pipes are not to be placed in containers. These items often fall apart and require to be pulled out. This type of cargo can get wet and requires unloading from the side. With side unload, the cargo is balanced correctly on the forklift and the bundles stay together protecting the customer”s cargo.
Bundles of lumber, sheetrock, plywood, metal pipes, and steel rods are to be carried on flat-racks.
Containers containing liquid (paint, food, chemicals, etc) must be palletized shrink-wrapped or strapped tight and on the bottom of the container. All effort to brace this type of cargo should be made. Caution should be used if containers of liquid require double stacking.
Consignees that have multiple Dock Receipt numbers in the same unit should be combined as much as possible on the same pallet(s). All attempts should be made to keep the same consignees cargo together.
Containerized cargo should be properly labeled with a barcode or easily identifiable markings to expedite the un-stuffing process and reduce errors.
Fragile cargo should be properly labeled to ensure care is given to these items during the un-stuffing process.
LCL containers containing Hazardous material should visibly display the HAZMAT sticker.
Items such as glass, granite, marble or other fragile products that are placed on flat-racks should be properly packaged (crated) to allow these items to be properly unloaded.
These guidelines may be subject to revisions from time to time. Revisions will be agreed and circulate to LCL importers prior to there implementation.
