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The National Transport Commission of Australia maintains the Australian Code for the Transport of Dangerous Goods by Road and Rail. When you are transporting dangerous goods through Australian territories, then these codes must be adhered to, in order to make sure that the proper safety measures are in place and the cargo can be transported safely. There are many companies that offer modified shipping containers in Australia, which are suitable for the transportation of dangerous goods. You will need to make sure that you check where the shipping containers are made and to what standards they are made to in order to make sure that they will comply with Australian legislation.
Choose Australian Made Shipping Containers
There are some good reasons why you should try and choose a modified shipping container which is made in Australia, rather than one which is made overseas and imported. You will find that any Australian company that offers shipping container modifications, as well as standard shipping containers, will build all of their shipping containers to adhere to Australian legislation, meaning that it is fit for the purpose intended. Not all of the time, but sometimes you find that imported shipping containers can be cheaper, one of the reasons for this is the quality of workmanship that goes into the shipping container, is of a lower quality than those that are made in Australia. If shipping dangerous goods is something new to you, then you will want to check all of the requirements that are needed in order to make sure that you adhere to the law. Another good reason for choosing to buy an Australian modified shipping container is that you will most likely find that the lead time for production will be shorter, meaning your shipping container can be delivered quicker. When you have decided which company to hire or buy your shipping container from, you will need to make sure that you get all of your paperwork in order!
Complying with the Law
When you are transporting dangerous goods in your shipping container, as well as having a suitable shipping container, you will also need to follow established procedures. You must declare the dangerous cargo to the appropriate dangerous cargo department, and all relevant paperwork must be in order, signed and also accurate. All individual packages of dangerous goods must be labelled properly, and clearly. The shipping container itself will also need to have the correct signs and marks to comply with the IMDG code. The signs will need to be fixed securely to the outside of the shipping container marking clearly that there are dangerous goods inside. You must also make sure that the goods are properly segregated in compliance to the set regulations, and this must be adhered to at all times.
Shipping Dangerous Goods Overseas
The rules for dangerous goods in countries around the world are similar, but not every country is the same. If you are shipping dangerous goods that are going through many different countries, this can cause a major headache for you. Shipping your cargo around Australia is one thing, but shipping the cargo through four or five different countries can be a logistical nightmare. The best way to avoid all the stress and hassle of this if you are not experienced in shipping this type of load is to use the professional services of a freight forwarding company. They will be able to take care of the transportation and make sure that all of the paperwork is correct so that your shipping container can be delivered in a timely fashion. You can arrange your shipment of dangerous goods yourself, but it does make things so much easier when you have the assistance of someone with experience to guide you. Whichever way you decide to ship your dangerous goods, as long as all of the rules and guidelines are adhered to, your cargo should arrive safe and sound, and in compliance with all of the laws.
Image 1: Dorothy via Flickr
Image 2: Pete via Flickr
