Guides to containers, cargo & export-import
Practical guides written and reviewed by our editorial team: container sizes, load calculations, export-import documents, Indonesian trucks and ship operations. Every number can be tried straight away in our tools and the 3D Planner.
50 guides
Vessel stowage
Bay plans, stability, trim, restows, VGM, DG, BAPLIE, barges, LCTs, heavy lift and multi-port planning for ship planners.
BAPLIE EDI Explained: SMDG 2.x vs 3.x, Segments and Bay Plan Validation
What BAPLIE is, how the UN/EDIFACT bay plan message works, SMDG 2.x vs 3.x, key segments such as LOC, MEA, EQD and DGS, validation checks and related messages.
5 min readBridge Visibility and Line of Sight: SOLAS V/22, Deck Stack Height and Trim
How to check container ship bridge visibility under SOLAS V/22, how deck stack height and trim affect it, a similar-triangles worked example and the air draft link.
6 min readBulk Carrier Loading Sequence: Pours, Deballasting, Longitudinal Strength and Draft Survey
How to build a bulk carrier loading sequence under the IMSBC and BLU Codes, from pours and deballasting in step to shear force, bending moment, trimming and draft survey.
6 min readContainer Lashing on Ships: Twistlocks, Lashing Rods, Stack Weights and Roll Forces
How container lashing works on ships, from twistlocks, rods and lashing bridges to stack weight limits, roll forces, the Cargo Securing Manual and parametric rolling.
6 min readContainer Restows: Causes, Costs and How to Reduce Them in the Bay Plan
What container restows (shifting moves) are, what causes them from overstows to hatch covers, what they cost, and how multi-port planning and optimizers cut them.
6 min readContainer Ship Bay Planning: Pre-stow, POD Blocks and Stack Limits
How a planner builds a container ship bay plan, from pre-stow by POD, stack weights, hold vs deck, reefers, OOG and 45ft boxes to hatch covers.
6 min readDangerous Goods Stowage on Ships: Classes, Segregation, Stowage Categories, DG Manifest
How dangerous goods fit into a vessel stowage plan, from IMDG classes, segregation and stowage categories to deck vs hold, heat sources and the DG manifest.
6 min readDeck Cargo Barge Stowage (180–330 ft): Deck Load, CoG, Trim and Sea-Fastening
A guide to stowing 180–330 ft deck cargo barges in Indonesia, covering deck load in t/m², zones, CoG targets, trim and heel, sea-fastening, dunnage and a worked example.
6 min readDeck, Hatch Cover and Tank Top Strength: UDL, Point Loads and Load Spreading
How to read t/m² limits for decks, hatch covers and tank tops, why point loads differ from UDL, spreading loads with dunnage and steel beams, with worked examples.
5 min readGeneral Cargo and Breakbulk Stowage: Holds, Stowage Factor and Discharge Order
How to plan general cargo stowage in holds and tween decks, work out stowage factor and broken stowage, check tank top loads and set a clean discharge order.
6 min readHeavy Lift Cargo Stowage: Ship Cranes, Heel During the Lift and Sea-Fastening
Heavy lift on MPP ships, from crane SWL and outreach, tandem lifts and GM with a suspended load to ballast compensation, grillage, sea-fastening and a worked example.
6 min readLCT Loading Guide: Bow Ramp, Heavy Equipment Order, Axle Loads and Beaching Trim
How to load a Landing Craft Tank (LCT) in Indonesia, from ramp limits, vehicle and heavy equipment order and deck axle loads to trim when beaching and lashing.
6 min readMetacentric Height (GM) Explained: Calculation, Corrections and Limits
A deeper look at a ship's GM, from hydrostatic KM, loading KG and free surface correction to worked examples and the risks of too little or too much GM.
6 min readMulti-Port Stowage Planning: POD Sequencing, Reserved Slots and Per-Leg Conditions
How to plan stowage across a port rotation, POD sequencing, forecast bookings and reserved slots, per-leg departure checks and an Indonesian domestic rotation example.
5 min readOnboard Loading Computer vs Shore-Side Planning: Class Approval and Reconciliation
What a class-approved loading instrument is (IACS UR L5, Rec. 48), type vs ship-specific approval, and how to reconcile shore-side stowage plans with it.
5 min readRo-Ro and Ferry Stowage Planning: Lane Metres, Axle Loads, Ramps and Vehicle Lashing
How to plan Ro-Ro, ferry and PCTC loading, from lane metres and free height to axle and lane loads, ramps, vehicle spacing, loading order and lashing.
5 min readShear Force and Bending Moment: Hogging, Sagging and Longitudinal Strength Limits
Longitudinal strength for planners, shear force and bending moment, hogging vs sagging, sea and harbour limits, reading % of limit, with a simple worked example.
6 min readShip Stability Basics for Planners: Displacement, KG, GM and the GZ Curve
Intact stability for cargo planners, covering displacement, KG, KM, GM, the GZ curve, righting moment, free surface and the IS Code 2008 general criteria.
6 min readShip Trim and Draft: TPC, MTC, LCF and a Worked Example of New Drafts
How to work out forward, aft and mean drafts, trim, TPC, MTC and LCF, with an example of loading off the LCF, hog and sag correction and air draft.
6 min readVGM in Vessel Stowage Planning: Discrepancy Thresholds, Hold Status and VERMAS
How planners use SOLAS VI/2 VGM in the stowage plan, VGM vs booking weight thresholds, the no VGM no load Hold status, VERMAS EDI and the effect on stability.
6 min readContainer sizes & capacity
Inner dimensions, doors, payload and special container types.
20ft Container Dimensions: Inside, Door Opening and Payload
Inside, door and outside dimensions of a 20ft dry container, its 33.2 m³ capacity, 28,250 kg payload, pallet and carton counts, and common loading mistakes.
6 min read40ft Container Dimensions (40GP): Size, Capacity and Weight Limits
Inside and door dimensions of a 40ft dry container, its 67.7 m³ capacity, 26,730 kg payload, when a 40GP beats two 20GPs, and the risk of weighing out.
6 min read40ft High Cube Container (40HC): Dimensions, Door Height and When to Use It
40ft high cube container dimensions, the extra 305 mm of height, the 2,585 mm door, 76.4 m³ capacity, double-stacked pallets and a short note on the 45ft high cube.
6 min readContainer Types and ISO Codes: Container Numbers, Check Digits and Type Codes
The main container types (dry, high cube, reefer, open top, flat rack, tank), how to read an ISO 6346 number, calculate the check digit and decode codes like 22G1.
6 min readFlat Rack Containers: 20FR & 40FR Dimensions, OOG Cargo and Concentrated Loads
A guide to 20FR and 40FR flat racks covering fixed vs collapsible ends, over-width and over-height cargo, concentrated loads, lashing points and OOG charges.
6 min readOpen Top Containers: 20OT & 40OT Dimensions, Tarpaulins and Over-Height Cargo
A guide to 20OT and 40OT open top containers covering dimensions, tarpaulin and roof bows, crane top loading, over-height cargo and lashing.
6 min readReefer Containers: 20RF & 40RF Dimensions, Set Points, PTI and Stuffing
A practical guide to 20RF and 40RF reefer containers covering inside dimensions, the red load line, set points, PTI, ventilation, pre-cooling and documents.
6 min readLoad calculations
CBM, volumetric weight, cartons and pallets per container.
20ft vs 40ft vs 40HC Containers: Volume, Weight and Cost per m³
Compare 20GP, 40GP and 40HC containers on volume, payload, floor area, pallet count and cost per cubic metre, with practical rules for choosing the right size.
6 min readHow Many Cartons Fit in a Container? 20ft, 40ft and 40HC Calculation
Work out how many cartons fit in a container with per-axis grid math, orientation, a payload weight check, stacking strength and mixed-SKU loads.
6 min readHow Many Pallets Fit in a 20ft, 40ft and 40HC Container
Work out how many 1200 × 1000, EUR and 1100 × 1100 pallets fit in 20ft, 40ft and 40HC containers, with floor patterns, double stacking and weight limits.
5 min readHow to Calculate CBM: Formula, Unit Conversions and Container Estimates
The CBM (cubic metre) formula for cartons and pallets, cm, mm, inch and cubic-feet conversions, a multi-SKU example and how to estimate container needs.
6 min readVolumetric and Chargeable Weight: Air, Courier, Sea and Road Explained
How to calculate volumetric weight for air cargo (÷6,000), courier (÷5,000), sea freight W/M and road tariffs, with chargeable-weight worked examples.
5 min readExport-import
Incoterms, documents, import taxes, LCL/FCL and port charges.
Demurrage and Detention Explained: Free Time, Storage and How to Avoid Them
The difference between demurrage, detention and terminal storage, how free time and tiered tariffs work, a hypothetical example and the documents that delay release.
6 min readExport and Import Documents in Indonesia: What You Need, Who Issues It, When
A practical guide to Indonesian export and import documents, from invoice, packing list and B/L to SKA, PEB/NPE, PIB/SPPB, quarantine certificates and the DO.
6 min readHow to Export from Indonesia: A Step-by-Step Guide for SMEs
Export steps for Indonesian SMEs, from an OSS business ID, HS code and Incoterms to FOB pricing, packing, forwarders, the PEB, payment risk and small shipments.
6 min readIncoterms 2020 Guide: All 11 Rules for Exporters and Importers
The 11 Incoterms 2020 rules explained, with a cost and risk transfer table, FCA vs FOB for containers, CIP and CIF insurance and how to choose the right rule.
6 min readLCL vs FCL: Cost, Transit Time, Risk and the Break-Even Point
What LCL and FCL mean, how W/M pricing works, the role of the CFS, cost components, a break-even example with hypothetical rates and when to choose each.
5 min readLanded Cost and Import Taxes in Indonesia: Duty, VAT and PPh 22 Explained
How to calculate the landed cost of goods imported into Indonesia, from FOB, freight and insurance to CIF customs value, duty, VAT, PPh 22, port charges and trucking.
6 min readTrucks & road freight
Indonesian truck sizes, axle loads and the ODOL rules.
Indonesian Truck Sizes: Pick-up, CDE, CDD, Fuso, Tronton, Wingbox and Trailers
Deck sizes, volume, payload and JBB of Indonesian trucks from pick-ups to 40 ft trailers, how to choose by volume and weight, with a worked example.
6 min readODOL Rules in Indonesia: Over Dimension Over Load, JBB and How to Check a Load
What ODOL means, vehicle dimension limits under PP 55/2012, JBB, JBI, MST and road classes under Law 22/2009, penalties, weighbridges and load checks.
6 min readTruck Axle Load and GVW: How to Calculate Weight per Axle and Place the Load
How to calculate front and rear truck axle loads with moments, the difference between JBB, JBI and payload, MST by road class, and load placement tips.
6 min readWingbox vs Box Truck vs Container Trailer: Which One to Use
How wingbox trucks, box trucks and 20', 40' and flatbed trailers compare, including pallet counts on a wingbox deck and Indonesian road class limits.
6 min readMaritime professionals
Stowage plans, bay plans, VGM, lashing, IMDG and centre of gravity.
Cargo Lashing and Securing: CTU Code Principles, MSL and a Worked Example
How to secure cargo in containers and trucks with blocking, bracing, lashing and friction under CTU Code principles, with an acceleration table and a worked example.
6 min readCentre of Gravity and Weight Distribution in Containers and Trucks
How to calculate a cargo centre of gravity from moments, keep weight balanced lengthwise and across, and apply the ±5% guideline to 20ft and 40ft containers.
5 min readHow to Read a Bay Plan: Bay, Row and Tier Explained with 030482
How to read container positions on a ship with the ISO 9711-1 bay-row-tier system, decoding 030482 and 141086, BAPLIE messages and bay plan notation.
5 min readIMDG Code Basics: Dangerous Goods Classes, UN Numbers, Labels and Documents
An introduction to the IMDG Code for dangerous goods by sea, covering the 9 classes, UN numbers, packing groups, labels, placards, DG documents and lithium batteries.
6 min readVGM under SOLAS: Methods 1 and 2, Responsibilities and a Worked Example
A practical SOLAS VGM guide for shippers in Indonesia covering methods 1 and 2, shipper responsibility, cut-off, a worked container example and common mistakes.
5 min readWhat Is a Stowage Plan? Meaning, Who Makes It, Inputs and Constraints
What a container ship stowage plan is, who prepares it, inputs such as VGM, DG and reefers, stability and lashing constraints, and how it differs from a load plan.
5 min readPorts
Indonesia’s main ports and how to choose a port of loading.
How to Choose a Port of Loading: Criteria, Costs and a Worked Comparison
How to choose a port of loading for exports, weighing trucking cost, sailing frequency, direct calls, closing time, depots, congestion, reefer, OOG and customs services.
5 min readMajor Container Ports in Indonesia: List, UN/LOCODEs and Terminals
The main container ports in Indonesia, from Tanjung Priok, Tanjung Perak and Belawan to Makassar, with UN/LOCODEs, key terminals and how hub-and-feeder routing works.
6 min readTry it in the 3D Planner
Enter your cargo dimensions and weights, pick a container or truck, and see the load layout, utilisation and centre of gravity in 3D. Free, no sign-up.
Load planning simulation. Not a substitute for official weighing, VGM, the vessel loading computer, or operator approval.