An external container damage inspection examines the side walls, roof, floor, corner posts, corner castings and doors of a container for dents, holes, cracks or deformation, and records every finding against the container number. It is normally carried out at the point of handover, just before the box is loaded or immediately after it is discharged.
Why inspect at the moment of handover?
A large share of container damage happens during handling, when boxes are lifted by crane, placed in a stack or loaded onto a truck. If damage is not recorded at that moment, it becomes difficult to say whether it occurred at the terminal, on board or on the road.
External damage is also a warning about the cargo inside. A hole in the roof or an inward dent in a side wall suggests the contents may be wet or crushed, prompting the consignee to open the box with care and, if needed, call for a joint survey.
Many terminals and lines issue an equipment interchange receipt (EIR) when they take over a container and note visible damage on it. An independent supervision record provides a separate log, kept on behalf of cargo interests, that can be compared with those documents.
How is a container number verified?
A container number consists of a three-letter owner code, an equipment category letter (usually U), a six-digit serial number and a check digit. Because the check digit is calculated from the preceding characters, it shows whether the number has been misread.
In the field, the number should be the same on the doors, side walls and roof. A single-digit difference between the list and the box can lead to the wrong container being shipped or a search for a missing one.
What are the most common types of container damage?
Damage is classified by location and cause. Types frequently seen in field reports include:
- Dents: inward or outward deformation of side, roof or door panels
- Holes and tears: openings that may let in light or water
- Cracks: especially along welds and around corners
- Corner post and rail damage: bending or buckling of load-bearing members
- Corner casting damage: cracks or deformation at lifting and securing points
- Door damage: bent locking bars, missing handles, damaged hinges or gaskets
- Understructure damage: bent cross members or gaps visible in the floor
In what order should the inspection be done?
Following the same sequence on every box reduces the risk of missing something. Many surveyors walk around the container in a fixed direction and inspect each face in turn.
- Door end: number, seal, locking bars, handles, hinges and gaskets
- Right side wall: dents, holes, patches and weld marks
- Front wall: panel condition and corner posts
- Left side wall: dents, holes, patches and weld marks
- Roof: holes, dents and signs of standing water, as far as access allows
- Understructure and corner castings: cross members and all four corners where accessible
- Labels: old dangerous goods placards and inconsistent markings
What is the CSC plate and why is it checked?
The CSC plate is the metal safety approval plate required under the International Convention for Safe Containers (CSC), usually fixed to the door. It shows manufacturing details, maximum permitted gross mass and stacking values, among other data.
A missing or illegible plate raises questions about the container's safety approval. The surveyor notes it as a nonconformity; whether the container remains fit for use is for the line and the container owner to decide.
How should damage be recorded?
Each item of damage should be recorded with the container number, location, type and approximate size. Photographs should include a close-up of the damage and a wider shot in which the container number can be read.
Clues to whether damage is old or new also matter. Rusted edges, painted-over dents and old patches point to existing damage, while bright metal and fresh scrape marks suggest a recent event.
Does an external inspection cover the inside of the box?
Standard container supervision covers the exterior; opening and inspecting the inside is a separate request that usually needs the parties' consent. For packing and securing cargo inside the box, the CTU Code is the industry's widely used code of practice.
Karan Gözetim provides container loading and discharge supervision from Gemlik; the scope is agreed at the quotation stage.
Frequently asked questions
Should minor dents be recorded?
Yes. A small dent may look trivial but can be the start of larger damage or be confused with a later incident. Complete records reduce the scope for argument later.
Can the roof always be inspected?
Not always, as the roof may not be fully visible while the box is in a stack or being lifted. Where access is not possible, the report says so; an area that was not checked is never presented as checked.
Can a damaged container still be loaded?
That depends on the line's and container owner's assessment. The surveyor records and reports the damage; loading, replacing or sending the box for repair is a decision for the authorised parties.
Topics
- container damage inspection
- container damage types
- container inspection checklist
- CSC plate
- container number check digit
- corner casting damage