Which Test Should I Choose for Ocean Freight Shipments?

When preparing your ocean freight shipments, it is crucial to test your packaging against the challenges of transportation. Standards like ASTM, ISTA, and ISO do not include vibration profiles (PSD) specifically for ocean transport, as studies show that vertical vibrations during sea transport are minimal. However, other factors can damage your products, such as shifting of goods during loading and unloading, extreme temperatures, high humidity, and compression forces caused by stacking.

Since ocean freight shipments often involve road, rail, or air transport to and from ports, it is common practice to simulate vibrations from these other transport methods. This covers the more intense vibrations that can occur in seaports and during distribution.

Shock Risks During Ocean Transport
At Sebert Trillingstechniek, we have extensive field measurements with 5T and 20T loaded sea containers in the ports of Rotterdam. Our data shows that the greatest shock risks occur:

During the loading and unloading of containers from the frame to the ship (and vice versa). During other handling points in the distribution chain. To mitigate these risks, we recommend the following tests:

• Increased impact forces and drop heights to simulate port handling.
• Flat drop tests, for example, to test handling with cargo nets.
• Rotational flat drop tests for enhanced robustness and pallet stability.
• Stacking under severe conditions, by increasing the "F-factor" (compensation factor).
• Extreme atmospheric simulations, including (salt)water spray, to test for damage caused by moisture and temperature.

Our Expertise, Your Assurance
With our comprehensive testing protocols, we ensure your packaging performs optimally, even in the toughest conditions. Explore our testing protocols and discover how we can help prepare your ocean freight for a safe and successful journey.

Contact us for more information!