CLEANING SHIPPING CONTAINERS There are hundreds of millions of shipping containers that are transported annually. Some of the journeys of the freight across the ocean can be lengthy, and there are numerous types of cargo and commodities that can be inside of a container during the course of time. It is very important to have the ocean freight containers cleaned properly. This includes sanitizing the container between shipments and practicing good hygiene with the container. In fact, many carriers and freight forwarders do expect that the containers to be cleaned properly. Without cleaning, the container could hold massive contamination of dangerous substances like mold, bacteria, fungi, dirt and dust. If left untreated, this could be harmful to the cargo and the crew that comes in contact with the container. That is why cleaning is vital. This includes cleaning the internal area and the external area. Usually a pressure washer is involved. And the people who clean the container protect themselves with gloves, masks and goggles. The CTU Code provides that any empty container used for the carriage of dry, special or reefer cargo should, when dispatched from a container depot under the control of the shipping company, be “clean”. For the purpose of these guidelines, “clean” means that the empty container’s exterior and interior and, for reefer containers, also ventilation inlet grilles and floor drain holes, should, at the time of dispatch, have no visible presence of any of the following: Soil, Dirt, Mud When and where deemed safe, We remove soil, dirt or mud on the exterior and interior by scraping, sweeping or washing. Remove the material from the top down to avoid recontaminating an area already cleaned. If scraping and/or sweeping is used the residues are collected, and sealed in a bag for future disposal. Dispose of bags based on advice from the local NPPO or quarantine office. Soil, dirt or mud removed by washing may, pursuant to local environmental regulations, be allowed to drain away with the wash water, subject to any requirements that wash water residues are appropriately treated to prevent that pests escape to the local environment. Soil, dirt or mud on the exterior that can be clearly identified as having come from the depot location, where the cleaning is carried out, may be disposed of in accordance with existing practices for general cleaning residues.