To keep the supply chain operations moving effectively, many times the importance of containers goes unnoticed. And, to protect our goods while shipping, the container seals play a crucial role. The container seal number is a simple identifier and is critical to ensuring the security and integrity of the goods being shipped.
Let’s find out how container seals serve as crucial checkpoints helping prevent unauthorized access, theft, and tampering in the international shipping business.
What is a Shipping container Seal?
A seal acts as a mechanism that secures the inner contents of the container from escaping while in transit. In the context of shipping a container, seals are used as door locks to safeguard the cargo from common types of issues regarding goods escaping the containers before reaching the destination.
They are also referred to as ‘Single-use door locks’ in the shipping industry to provide authoritative security to defer unauthorized entry. Once the container is sealed, the seal cannot be opened without the seal being cut open to access the contents in the container. Custom officials are responsible for inspecting and sealing all shipping containers before they depart from transit. Upon reaching their destinations, the seals are carefully examined and removed.
What is a Shipping container seal number?
The container seal number is a unique identifier number assigned to tamper-evident the seals used to lock the shipping containers. This also stops attempts to open the container mid-transit or use the container to transport illegal goods. Compliance with international standards and regulations for these seals is essential for businesses to maintain trust, avoid costly legal issues, and ensure the smooth flow of goods across borders.
Different Types of Container Seals
Here are the different types of container seals-
- Cable Seals: Cable seals offer high security for shipping containers and they can be cut using cable cutters. The cable length can be adjusted or the diameter of the cable can be chosen based on the unique requirements. They are generally durable and designed to provide a high resistance for international cargo. They are also greatly heat resistant and comply with the C-TPAT standards in international shipping.
- Plastic Seals: Plastic seals are commonly used with less sensitive cargo in transit or local supplies. They are available in various lengths or a fixed length.
- Bolt Seals: They are intrusion-resistant container locks made of metal and metal wires to comply with the ISO container seal standards. They are resilient to any kind of tampering.
- RFID Seals: RFID seals or e-seals require tags and readers to lock or unlock the container doors. The radio frequency reads the data transmitted by the RFID readers and provides premium security for the goods in the shipping containers.
Why do you need a container seal?
Container seals are essential components in ensuring the integrity and security of the cargo for the shipping industry. A unique container seal, often in the form of bolt seals, is affixed to the door of the container. This seal serves as a unique identifier, with a seal number that is a unique combination of letters and numbers. It is vital to seal the container properly to ensure that the container has not been opened or tampered with during transit.
The seal number is recorded on the bill of lading and other shipping documents to verify that the container remains secure. The shipping line and relevant authorities must make sure that the container number and seal number match upon arrival. A container without a seal or with a broken seal raises concerns about whether the container has been compromised. Thus, the unique identification number of the seal is crucial to confirm that the container hasn’t been tampered with and that the container reaches its destination intact.
Properly sealing the container door, both the right door and left door, is vital to maintaining the integrity of the shipment, providing peace of mind to all parties involved.
How to Remove Container Seals?
Here is the simple method of how container seals are removed.
- The consignee facilitates the removal of container seals once the shipping container arrives at its final destination via intermodal transportation.
- If trucks are used to deliver the containers to the destination, a small stool or ladder is typically employed to access the seal.
- Bolt cutters or pliers are generally used to cut the seals along its length.
- Once cut, the seals are duly removed in front of the consignee.
What are the customs requirements for container seals?
- Tamper-evident seals– To prevent any kind of tampering with the goods, seals are given unique serial number markings for one-time usage only. In case of any tampering, evidence of a broken seal is easy to locate.
- Unique seal numbers– Every container seal is marked with a unique serial number on its base and pin either by the manufacturer, supplier, or the shipping line.
- Follows ISO 17712 standard– The ISO standard 17712 sets the requirements to manufacture high-security container seals and emphasizes seals’ design, temperature-proof features, and their strengths to prevent counterfeiting in international shipping.
- Authorized suppliers– Container seals have to be purchased from authorized suppliers only to ensure compliance with international standards.
- Documentation– The shipping documents must mention the container seal number and the type of seal when a shipment is forwarded to verify the integrity of the shipping container and cargo in it.
What happens if a container seal is broken?
If a container is received with a broken seal at the destination, it indicates that the container has been tampered with. Thus, to address this potential interference with cargo contained within, the authorities must be informed. Apart from port authorities, shipping carriers and insurance providers are also informed about this. Once the authorities inspect and verify whether the seal was compromised upon delivery or not, a formal claim may be lodged with the insurance providers.
Understanding the details surrounding container seals will enhance your comprehension of their significance, advantages, and methods of securing them. Thus, seal number serves the much-needed security and is widely used by shipping companies to keep the movement of the container safer. Placing the seal on a specific shipping container will be an addition to security for your cargo as well.