Packaging & Consolidation
Making sure your cargo arrives safely and in excellent condition is a top priority at Bowhead. To achieve this, all cargo must arrive at the Terminal properly packaged and ready to go. Cargo to be loaded in a container should be palletized and shrink wrapped. Cargo that doesn’t go in a Container, needs to be “Export Packaged” for “Open Deck Transport”. It is the responsibility of the Shipper to have cargo properly packaged before delivery to Bowhead. “Export Packaging” usually requires a nominal charge, so this should be clarified when orders are placed. If you need help, or would like us to assist your supplier in preparing your cargo, call us at 800-347-0049 ext: 5301, or send e-mail to cargo@bowhead.com.
Below are some general guidelines for various cargo types:
Units of Building Materials (Lumber, Sheetrock, Plywood, etc.) require 4” of wood dunnage, banded to each unit. Sheetrock and particle board are not acceptable as dunnage—they soak up water and deteriorate.
The Units of Building Materials should be polybagged with 6 mil bags as appropriate. For Lumber and CDX Plywood a single “cover bag” provides protection from the elements. Sheetrock, A-sided Plywood, Hardwoods susceptible to water staining, etc. require double bagging. (The first bag wraps up from the bottom, and the second drapes over the top, creating a water tight package).
Sheetrock, Tongue and Groove plywood, anything with a specialized edge, requires Side Protection in the form of 3/8” plywood or equivalent. The sheets must cover the sides entirely and be banded into the package.
Platforms and Superbundles must be banded with 1-1/4” steel banding. (Steel Banding will rust during an ocean voyage, so if cargo can be damaged by corrosion, protection must be provided. Carrier is not responsible for corrosion damage).
Foam Panels require special packaging which most vendors understand. Please contact Bowhead for our requirements to ascertain that they are met, and the expense is allowed for in computing shipping costs.
Metal Pipe will corrode if unprotected. If this is an issue for your shipment, it must be addressed by: (a) securely attached end-caps for internal integrity, and (b) wrapping, crating or both for external protection (a package like this requires 4” wood dunnage banded to package for forklift handling).
Plastic Pipe that needs to arrive internally clean must have end caps securely attached.
Structural steel needs to arrive at the dock packaged as lifts, layered with like pieces and dunnaged between layers with wood stout enough to survive multiple forklift handlings, and open ocean barge travel. The bottom of the lift requires 6” dunnage. The lifts should come off the truck in a minimal number of picks, as opposed to arriving with loose pieces that need to be picked off one by one and built into a lift.
Superbundles/Insulation Foam board insulation is packaged for shipping as 8’ x 8’ x 8’ super-bundled units. Bowhead requires two wood stickers of 8’--4x6 s on edge, banded and nailed to plywood sheet protection on the bottom of the unit. Top sheet protection is required for the unit and this may be particle board. Side protection of the unit is at the discretion of the customer. 1-1/4” steel banding is required--2 running with the stickers and two crosswise.
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Packaging / Consolidation
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Ukpeagvik Inupiat Corporation