C7

Approval and Certification of Container(May(cont)2024) Securing Systems
C7C7.1

GeneralAll seagoing dedicated container ships are to comply with these minimum requirements.
It is important for the safety of the ship and the protection of the cargo and personnel that thecargo is secured properly especially accounting for strength of the supporting structures andsecuring fittings. Hereto, a scope containing the following for approval and/or certification ofcontainer securing systems is defined:
C7.2

fixed and portable container securing fittings;
arrangement plan of fixed container securing fittings;
drawings of container supporting structures (container stanchions, hatch covers,lashing bridges, and cell guides, if any);cargo safe access plan;container stowage and securing plan;lashing software.
Fixed and Portable Container Securing Fittings

Fixed container securing fittings are used to secure and support containers and arepermanently welded to the ship structure.
Portable 1 container securing fittings are used to secure containers and are not categorised as
fixed container securing fittings.
Minimum Breaking Load corresponds to the minimum load at which the first crack appears in
the tested representative samples.
Minimum Proof Load corresponds to the test load specified by the Rules of the Society below
which visible permanent deformation is not allowed.
C7.2.1 Drawings
Drawings of fixed and portable container securing fittings showing dimensions, materials,
design loads, and manufacturer’s markings are to be approved in accordance with the Rulesof the Society.
Note:1.
This Unified Requirement is to be uniformly implemented by IACS Societies on ships
contracted for construction on or after 1 July 2025.
2.
The “contracted for construction” date means the date on which the contract to build
the vessel is signed between the prospective owner and the shipbuilder. For further details
regarding the date of “contract for construction”, refer to IACS Procedural Requirement (PR)No. 29.
1 “Portable” and “loose” container securing fittings are used interchangeably in different container
securing contexts.

Page 1 of 3

IACS Req. May 2024

C7C7(cont)C7.2.2 Prototype Testing
Each fixed and portable container securing fitting type is subject to prototype testing todetermine the minimum breaking loads.
The minimum breaking load obtained from prototype testing is to be equal to or exceed thedesign minimum breaking load.
C7.2.3 Production Testing
Fixed and portable container securing fittings are subject to production testing prior todelivery or installation.
A number of samples from a batch of the container securing fittings is to be loaded tominimum proof load of the fittings, as per the Rules of the Society.
The production testing approval documents of delivered container securing fittings are to be
kept on board and may be included in the approved Cargo Securing Manual.
C7.2.4 Arrangement Plan of Fixed Container Securing Fittings
The plan detailing the arrangement of the fixed container securing fittings is to be approved.
The arrangement plan is to include the following for all areas where the fittings are installed:
C7.3

The type of fixed container securing fittings such as container foundations 2 andlashing eye plates
Unambiguous location of installed fittings such as their location relative to clearly
described locations of the ship structures.
Drawings of Container Supporting Structures

The drawings of the structures necessary for conducting container stowage and securing are
subject to approval.
The drawings are to be detailed enough to allow their model generation for structuralanalyses.
A plan is to be provided showing all relevant design loads for structural assessment of thecontainer supporting structures and their foundations.
Structures involved in container stowage and securing include:-hatch covers;
container stanchions 3;
lashing bridges;
cell guides.

2 Container foundations are called twistlock foundations, or base foundations in different container

securing contexts. Likewise, “foundation” and “socket” are used interchangeably.
3 Container stanchions are called container stools, or container pedestals in different containersecuring contexts.

Page 2 of 3

IACS Req. May 2024

C7C7(cont)

C7.4

Cargo Safe Access Plan

The cargo safe access plan is to be examined for its compliance with the requirements
prescribed in MSC.1/Circ.1353/Rev.2.
C7.5

Container Stowage and Securing Plan

If the stowage and securing plan, as referred to in MSC.1/Circ.1353/Rev.2 4.2.1 and 4.2.2, isrequired by the Administration, the plan is subject to approval in accordance with C7.5.1 andC7.5.2.
C7.5.1 Container Stowage Plan
The container stowage plan is to include at least the following information for each container
type the ship is designed for:-longitudinal and athwartship views of under deck and on deck stowage locations ofcontainers including reefers as appropriate;
alternative stowage patterns for containers of different dimensions;maximum stack masses 4;
maximum stack heights with respect to approved sight lines; andmaximum nominal container capacity.

C7.5.2 Container Securing Arrangement Plan
The container securing arrangement plan is to contain all information necessary to preparelashing calculations in accordance with the Rules of the Society. The container securing
arrangement plan is to include at least the following information:
C7.6

summary of ship particulars such as IMO No., length and breadth;summary of loading conditions showing relevant input parameters such as draught
and GM;
longitudinal views of under deck and on deck stowage locations of containers as
appropriate showing nominal capacity;maximum stack masses;
relevant properties of securing fittings, including permissible loads;
graphical presentation of container and lashing arrangements in each bay on deckand in holds for sample loading conditions in accordance with the Rules of the Societyfor each container type the ship is allowed to carry;
stack total mass and the sequence of masses in a stack;minimum quantity of fittings required to secure containers for the presented sample
loading conditions.
Lashing Software

If the ship is equipped with lashing software on board as per the Rules of the Society, theapproval is to follow the requirements of IACS UR C6.
End ofDocument

4 “Mass” and “weight” are used interchangeably in different container securing contexts.

Page 3 of 3

IACS Req. May 2024