Technical
The Physics of Ocean Lashing: Achieving Zero Cargo Shift
Mastering the forces of nature to ensure safe transit of heavy machinery.
Forces at Play During Sea Transit
When a ship moves through the ocean, it experiences six degrees of freedom: rolling, pitching, heaving, swaying, surging, and yawing. For heavy cargo, the most critical force is often the lateral acceleration caused by rolling.
The Calculus of Lashing
Effective lashing isn’t just about tying things down; it’s about calculating the friction coefficient of the deck vs. the weight of the cargo and the angle of the lashing wires. Ideally, lashing should be applied at an angle between 30 and 60 degrees to provide both vertical and horizontal restraint.