{"id":4235,"date":"2026-07-31T09:00:14","date_gmt":"2026-07-31T02:00:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vietmarinecontrol.com.vn\/?p=4235"},"modified":"2026-07-30T16:17:47","modified_gmt":"2026-07-30T09:17:47","slug":"when-the-lashings-remain-intact-but-have-stopped-protecting-the-cargo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vietmarinecontrol.com.vn\/en\/when-the-lashings-remain-intact-but-have-stopped-protecting-the-cargo\/","title":{"rendered":"WHEN THE LASHINGS REMAIN INTACT, BUT HAVE STOPPED PROTECTING THE CARGO"},"content":{"rendered":"<p data-path-to-node=\"3\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 130%;\">A Flat Rack container arrived at the port following a voyage transporting heavy industrial machinery.<\/span><\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"4\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 130%;\">Initial observations revealed no obvious abnormalities:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul data-path-to-node=\"5\">\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"5,0,0\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 130%;\">The cargo remained firmly in position.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"5,1,0\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 130%;\">No structural elements were deformed.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"5,2,0\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 130%;\">There were no visible signs of impact.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"6\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 130%;\">To many, this appeared to be a successful transit. However, as the <b data-path-to-node=\"6\" data-index-in-node=\"67\">VM Control<\/b> inspection team prepared for discharge operations, a subtle detail altered the entire perspective on the shipment.<\/span><\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"7\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 130%;\">All lashings were properly hooked in place, with no signs of snapping or tearing. Nevertheless, several synthetic <b data-path-to-node=\"7\" data-index-in-node=\"114\">web lashings<\/b> had lost a significant amount of their initial tension and required re-tightening before cargo discharge could proceed safely.<\/span><\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"8\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 130%;\">The lashing system was visually intact.<\/span><\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"9\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 130%;\">Yet, its restraint efficiency had degraded significantly compared to the start of the voyage.<\/span><\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"9\"><b style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 130%;\" data-path-to-node=\"10,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">A fundamental principle in marine survey:<\/b><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 130%;\"> The physical integrity of securing equipment does not guarantee that its function remains intact.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 data-path-to-node=\"12\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 130%;\">1. The Absence of Damage Does Not Mean the Risk Has Passed<\/span><\/h2>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"13\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 130%;\">In cargo loss cases, attention is often drawn only to obvious indicators such as:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul data-path-to-node=\"14\">\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"14,0,0\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 130%;\">Snapped lashings.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"14,1,0\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 130%;\">Shifted machinery.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"14,2,0\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 130%;\">Overturned cargo.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"15\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 130%;\">However, before these catastrophic consequences occur, there is always a <b data-path-to-node=\"15\" data-index-in-node=\"73\">transitional phase<\/b>. This is when the securing arrangement appears complete in form, but its holding capacity has substantially degraded.<\/span><\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"16\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 130%;\">The gradual loss of pre-tension diminishes the system\u2019s ability to restrain cargo movement. Should the transit encounter heavy seas, sudden braking, or severe vibrations, minor initial movements can easily escalate into critical cargo shifts.<\/span><\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"17\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 130%;\">In other words: <b data-path-to-node=\"17\" data-index-in-node=\"16\">The absence of immediate damage does not mean the risk is non-existent.<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<h2 data-path-to-node=\"19\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 130%;\">2. A Securing Plan Does Not End When Loading Is Completed<\/span><\/h2>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"20\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 130%;\">It is a common misconception that lashing work ends as soon as the cargo is fixed in place. The reality is quite different.<\/span><\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"21\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 130%;\">Throughout the voyage, the lashing system is continuously subjected to dynamic forces:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul data-path-to-node=\"22\">\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"22,0,0\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 130%;\">Acceleration and deceleration forces during braking or speeding.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"22,1,0\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 130%;\">Road surface vibrations during land transit.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"22,2,0\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 130%;\">Rolling and pitching motions of the vessel at sea.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"22,3,0\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 130%;\">Thousands of subtle vibration cycles sustained over multiple days.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"23\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 130%;\">These forces rarely snap lashings immediately. Instead, they progressively reduce initial pre-tension, creating micro-gaps between the cargo and the securing arrangement. Once gaps form, the cargo begins to shift millimeter by millimeter, altering weight distribution and further degrading the effectiveness of the entire system.<\/span><\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"24\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 130%;\">This is a subtle yet continuous process. Therefore, <b data-path-to-node=\"24\" data-index-in-node=\"52\">an intact lashing does not automatically mean a lashing capable of securing the cargo.<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<h2 data-path-to-node=\"26\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 130%;\">3. Technical Investigation: Going Beyond Visual Observation<\/span><\/h2>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"27\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 130%;\">For a marine surveyor, the critical question is not <i data-path-to-node=\"27\" data-index-in-node=\"52\">&#8220;Are the lashings still in place?&#8221;<\/i>, but rather <b data-path-to-node=\"27\" data-index-in-node=\"99\">&#8220;Why has the system lost its holding capacity?&#8221;<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"28\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 130%;\">Answering this requires a comprehensive evaluation of the securing design:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul data-path-to-node=\"29\">\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"29,0,0\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 130%;\"><b data-path-to-node=\"29,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Lashing angles:<\/b> Do they generate optimal force vectors?<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"29,1,0\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 130%;\"><b data-path-to-node=\"29,1,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Restraint capacity:<\/b> Is there adequate restraint in both transverse and longitudinal directions?<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"29,2,0\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 130%;\"><b data-path-to-node=\"29,2,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Friction coefficient:<\/b> Does the friction between the machine base and the Flat Rack floor meet calculation criteria?<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"29,3,0\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 130%;\"><b data-path-to-node=\"29,3,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Dunnage system:<\/b> Does the timber dunnage maintain its structural integrity throughout the voyage?<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"29,4,0\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 130%;\"><b data-path-to-node=\"29,4,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Settling effects:<\/b> Has natural cargo settling under continuous vibration led to the loss of pre-tension?<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"30\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 130%;\">Individually, these factors may seem minor. But when they coincide, the overall efficiency of the securing system can deteriorate drastically \u2014 even while every single lashing remains visually intact.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 data-path-to-node=\"32\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 130%;\">4. The Value of Detection Before Loss Occurs<\/span><\/h2>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"33\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 130%;\">The true value of this survey was not in identifying damage that had already occurred. The real value lay in <b data-path-to-node=\"33\" data-index-in-node=\"109\">recognizing that the securing system was transitioning from a safe state to a high-risk condition<\/b> \u2014 just before cargo movement or commercial loss materialized.<\/span><\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"34\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 130%;\">This marks the core distinction between a <b data-path-to-node=\"34\" data-index-in-node=\"42\">routine status check<\/b> and a <b data-path-to-node=\"34\" data-index-in-node=\"69\">technical investigation<\/b>:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul data-path-to-node=\"35\">\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"35,0,0\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 130%;\"><i data-path-to-node=\"35,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Status check:<\/i> Merely records what is visible.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"35,1,0\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 130%;\"><i data-path-to-node=\"35,1,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Technical investigation:<\/i> Uncovers what is actively occurring, even before consequences become visible.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"36\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 130%;\">In many cargo claims, this <i data-path-to-node=\"36\" data-index-in-node=\"27\">&#8220;pre-incident&#8221;<\/i> phase is the most critical window for loss prevention.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 130%;\"><strong>\ud83d\ude9b\u2693EVERY GATEWAY \u2013 ONE SPEED<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 130%;\">\ud83d\udccd\u00a0Ho Chi Minh City \u2794 Ba Ria \u2013 Vung Tau \u2794 Cai Mep \u2794 Quy Nhon \u2794 Da Nang \u2794 Hai Phong\u2026.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 130%;\">\u26a1\u00a04 HOURS: On-site Attendance\u00a0\u26a1\u00a012 HOURS: Survey Completion\u00a0\u26a1\u00a024 HOURS: Certificate Issuance<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 130%;\"><strong>CONTACT INFORMATION<\/strong><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 130%;\"><strong>VIET MARINE CONTROL JOINT STOCK COMPANY \u2013 VM CONTROL<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 130%;\">\ud83d\udccd Address: 1831\/10\/9 Huynh Tan Phat Street, Quarter 2, Nha Be Commune, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 130%;\">\ud83d\udcde Hotline: +84 981 600 440 \/ +84 918 114 742<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 130%;\">\ud83c\udf10 Website:\u00a0www.vietmarinecontrol.com.vn<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 130%;\">\ud83d\udce7 Email: survey@vietmarinecontrol.com.vn<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 130%;\">\ud83d\udd35 Linkedin:\u00a0www.linkedin.com\/in\/vm-control-234252386<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Because in ocean freight, the greatest risk is not always a broken lashing strap. Sometimes, it is an entire system that looks perfectly fine&#8230; yet stopped protecting the cargo long ago.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":4233,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[22],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4235","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vietmarinecontrol.com.vn\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4235","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vietmarinecontrol.com.vn\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vietmarinecontrol.com.vn\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vietmarinecontrol.com.vn\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vietmarinecontrol.com.vn\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4235"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/vietmarinecontrol.com.vn\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4235\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4237,"href":"https:\/\/vietmarinecontrol.com.vn\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4235\/revisions\/4237"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vietmarinecontrol.com.vn\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4233"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vietmarinecontrol.com.vn\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4235"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vietmarinecontrol.com.vn\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4235"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vietmarinecontrol.com.vn\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4235"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}