To secure cargo in a container, in addition to dunnage materials, lashing tools, eye plates, nets, and buffers are needed to truly tie down and chock the goods securely. This article clarifies the features and usage of these securing tools and materials. For dunnage materials, see Dunnage materials for securing cargo in sea freight containers; for an overview of securing methods, see What are the methods for securing containerized sea freight cargo?.
1. Lashing Tools and Materials
The swaying and impact during transport can gradually loosen secured cargo. When packing, it is necessary to pull the lashing tight and use materials with a certain degree of elasticity as much as possible. When lashing, consideration should also be given to the strength of the packaging, and padding should be added at the edges and corners of the goods to prevent damage caused by concentrated loads. The commonly used lashing tools and materials are as follows.
1. Steel wire rope Practical experience has shown that steel wire rope is the most reliable rigging for securing heavy cargo. When tightening, a turnbuckle is generally added in the middle of the steel wire rope for ease of tensioning; both ends are either fixed with pressure plates or secured with hooks and shackles. The pressure plates and hooks and shackles must match the diameter of the steel wire rope.
2. Fiber rope Suitable for securing lighter cargo. For cargo that cannot be sufficiently tightened by manpower, such as automobiles, an equal-slope articulated lashing method may be used.
3. Steel banding Now steel banding is increasingly being used in place of steel wire rope. Although steel banding has a certain strength, it has little elasticity and tends to slip once the sealer is loosened, so the banding must be fully tensioned before fastening with the sealer. Special tools are used for tensioning and sealing steel banding.
4. Nylon webbing Nylon webbing has high elasticity and is a relatively ideal lashing material, but its price is higher. Commonly used lashing nylon webbing is about 77 mm (3 in) wide, with hooks at both ends and a length-adjusting buckle in the middle, and can be reused. M-type nylon webbing is often used on flat-rack containers: both ends have hook heads that can hook onto rings (with various types), and the center of the webbing has a ratchet buckle that is not easy to loosen once clamped and is convenient to operate, making it suitable for lashing heavy cargo.
2. Eye plates
An eye plate is a temporary lashing point installed on the container floor. Its tensile strength is generally about 1.2 tonne-force (approx. 11.8 kN). During installation, note that the direction of the lashing line should be aligned with the longitudinal direction of the eye plate; if the lashing line is at a right angle to the longitudinal direction, the strength of the eye plate will drop noticeably.
3. Nets
Wrapping cargo with nets is also an effective method of securing it, and is generally used for flat-rack containers; refrigerated containers sometimes also use this method when securing cargo at the door end.
4. Buffers
When goods with different packaging forms are mixed, gaps are left in various places inside the box, and these gaps are exactly what causes goods to move. In some cases, securing with lashing is not possible, and buffers can be used at such times—they not only prevent goods from moving but also cushion impacts. Common filling buffers include wood shaving bags, expanded polystyrene (EPS), and air cushions, among others.
1. Wood shaving bag Just put wood shavings into a bag. The materials are easy to obtain and the price is low, but the disadvantages are insufficient elasticity and poor compression resistance.
2. Polystyrene foam Lightweight, easy to cut to the required size, and provides a certain cushioning effect.
3. Air cushion First stuff the uninflated air cushion into the gaps between the goods, then inflate it with an air pump so that the cushion bulges. This both secures the goods and provides cushioning, and is safe and simple to operate. There are two common types:
(1) Synthetic rubber inflatable cushion Withstands pressure of about 1 kgf/cm², effective thickness about 350 mm over a 1300 mm × 2000 mm area; sometimes two are needed for a 20-ft container. Its disadvantages are high cost and current difficulty in recycling, so it is not yet widely used; however, it is very effective for securing high-value cargo.
(2) Disposable (consumable) inflatable cushion Made from air-tight polyethylene or specially processed kraft paper, it overcomes the high cost disadvantage of synthetic rubber inflatable cushions. It withstands pressure within 0.5 kgf/cm² and can bear a load of about 3 ton-force (approx. 29 kN). Common dimensions are 500 mm × 1000 mm, with a maximum thickness of about 300 mm. It is low-cost and can be discarded after a single use.
5. Other Tools and Materials
In addition to the securing equipment mentioned above, old tires, old pallets, and wooden frame fillers can also be used to secure cargo. If a container is frequently fully loaded with cargo of the same shape and size, a fixed gap will remain between the container walls and the cargo stack. A wooden frame matching the shape and size of the gap can be made in advance, and after the cargo is loaded, the frame is inserted into the gap—a labor-saving, material-saving, and effective securing method.
Data Notes: The lashing and cushioning plan should be determined based on the cargo weight, packaging, and container type; quarantine requirements for exporting wooden dunnage are subject to the destination country's regulations.
📖 Further Reading: Dunnage materials for securing cargo in shipping containers — use of partitions, wooden battens, and plywood; Container loading practices: loading sequence, center of gravity control, and reinforcement lashing.
Need loading and securing recommendations? Send us the cargo type, packaging, dimensions, total weight, and number of boxes, and Bofeng Logistics can help plan the lashing and cushioning details.
Loading Consultation: 13075678958 | info@zhbfwl.com
Securing Equipment and Cushioning Materials FAQ
Q: How do I choose between steel wire rope and nylon strap for lashing heavy cargo?
A: Steel wire rope is the most reliable rigging for lashing heavy cargo. It should be tightened with turnbuckles and secured with clamp plates or shackles, which must match the rope diameter. Nylon straps are elastic and easy to use; M-type nylon straps with ratchet buckles grip firmly and are not prone to loosening, making them suitable for heavy cargo too, but they are more expensive. For light cargo, fiber slings can be used.
Q: What should be used to fill the gap between the cargo and the container wall?
A: It mainly depends on the location of the gap and the cargo value: wood shaving bags are readily available and low-cost, making them suitable for general filling; polystyrene foam is lightweight and easy to cut; synthetic rubber inflatable air cushions are effective and can be inflated and deflated repeatedly, but they are expensive and hard to recycle, making them suitable for high-value cargo; disposable air cushions are cheap and single-use, making them suitable for bulk use. You can ask your freight forwarder or loading crew to recommend based on on-site conditions.
Disclaimer: This article was compiled by the Bofeng Logistics team, with content verified in September 2026. Specific equipment selection and load parameters may vary depending on the cargo, container type, and shipping company requirements. Please refer to the loading site and the shipping company’s guidelines.
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