An FCL shipment from China needs a loading plan, a verified container weight and a document trail connecting the goods to the sealed equipment. Booking a full container does not guarantee good stowage or eliminate damage risk. Prepare the cargo and responsibilities before the empty container arrives.

Check whether the cargo fits safely

Use final packed dimensions and gross weights, including pallets and protective structures. Compare them with the actual equipment's internal dimensions, door opening and permitted payload. A volume total alone cannot establish that a long crate can pass through the door or be handled safely.

Plan heavy items, fragile goods and incompatible products deliberately. Consider load distribution, handling access and securing points. Do not treat the advertised container capacity as a target that must be filled regardless of the cargo's shape or stacking limits.

The IMO/ILO/UNECE CTU Code provides guidance on packing and securing cargo transport units. IMO describes it as a non-mandatory global code of practice. Applicable law, equipment conditions and the shipment's specific safety requirements still need to be met.

Inspect the empty equipment before loading

Record the container number and check the condition relevant to the goods. Look for damage, contamination, moisture, unsuitable odors, door defects and a floor that cannot support the planned load. Photograph the condition and report defects before cargo is committed.

If equipment is rejected, document the reason and obtain replacement instructions. Loading first and raising the issue after sealing makes both prevention and later responsibility harder to establish.

Confirm the collection and return instructions for the empty equipment. A loading plan that overlooks depot hours or the return cutoff can create avoidable delays before the shipment reaches the port.

Load according to a carton and securing plan

Connect each carton or pallet to the packing list. Record loading order, location and any sensitive handling restrictions. Keep quantities reconcilable when cartons from several suppliers are combined.

Use suitable restraint and protection for the actual journey. The movement includes road handling and terminal operations as well as the sea leg. Empty spaces, concentrated weight and unsecured goods can create problems even in a container dedicated to one shipper.

For stock consolidated through FulfillNexa by SBT in China, provide the final loading instructions and approved packing list before dispatch. The warehouse's SKU receipt records should connect to the cargo actually loaded, rather than being treated as proof that an entire container is correct.

Submit verified gross mass through the agreed channel

IMO explains the SOLAS verified gross mass requirement. The packed container's gross mass must be verified using an accepted method and communicated as required. It includes more than the net product weight.

Confirm who is the shipper responsible for the VGM, which approved method will be used, who submits the result and the booking's deadline. Check the container tare and include packing and securing materials where the chosen method requires them.

A missing or incorrect VGM can disrupt loading arrangements. Do not solve a cutoff problem by substituting an unverified estimate; escalate the weighing and submission issue through the authorized process.

Seal and reconcile the transport documents

After loading checks, apply the agreed seal and record its number. Keep photographs linking the container, seal and completed load. A seal indicates that access can be checked; it does not prove the condition or accuracy of the contents before sealing.

Review shipping instructions, the bill-of-lading draft, commercial invoice and packing list for consistent parties, descriptions and quantities. Resolve discrepancies before document deadlines. Confirm the release arrangement and how the consignee will obtain the documents or electronic release needed at destination.

Avoid treating document review as a last-minute clerical step. An incorrect consignee or release instruction can create a destination problem even when the goods were loaded perfectly.

Close the operation with a usable evidence pack

Retain the equipment inspection, loading record, VGM evidence, seal record and final documents together. Record actual gate-in and subsequent transport milestones separately from planned dates.

At destination, compare the seal and cargo condition with those records before discarding packaging or closing exceptions. A disciplined FCL process gives the receiving party evidence it can use, rather than a collection of unrelated photographs after a problem occurs.

Sources and verification links

Operational rules can change. Check the linked primary sources and confirm shipment-specific requirements before booking.