Vehicle exportation—ranging from commercial delivery vans and heavy-duty construction trucks to personal vehicles—represents a massive share of the trade lane volume into West Africa. However, the maritime environment is brutal.
Heavy ocean swells, shifting vessel balances, and intense humidity can easily ruin an improperly secured vehicle. Follow this operational packing blueprint to ensure your vehicles arrive at destination ports in pristine condition.
Step 1: Choose Your Shipping Method (RoRo vs. Container)
Before packing, you must select how the vehicle will travel across the ocean:
- RoRo (Roll-on/Roll-off): Vehicles are driven directly onto specialized vessels that act like giant floating parking garages. It is highly cost-effective but exposes the vehicle exterior to the elements. Rule:Vehicles must be completely empty of personal items or loose cargo; otherwise, they will be rejected at the loading terminal.
- Containerized Shipping: Vehicles are driven inside a standard 20ft or 40ft container and anchored in place. This offers maximum security and allows you to pack spare parts or additional cargo around the vehicle.
Step 2: Preparing the Vehicle Mechanics
Moisture, pressure changes, and strict port security rules mean you must prep the vehicle before it touches the dock:
- Drain Fluids Safely: Drop fuel levels down to 1/4 tank or less. High fuel volumes pose a severe fire hazard and violate international maritime dangerous goods (IMDG) regulations. Ensure there are zero active leaks of engine oil, brake fluid, or coolant.
- Disconnect the Battery: Once the vehicle is in its final position, disconnect the negative battery terminal and secure the cable. This prevents electrical shorts or battery drainage during the multi-week voyage.
- Adjust Tyre Pressure: Inflate tyres slightly above standard road pressure to compensate for temperature drops at sea and to prevent flat spots from intense securing straps.
Step 3: Blocking, Chocking, and Lashing (For Containers)
If you are using container shipping, the vehicle must be entirely immobile. Normal handbreaks will fail under heavy ocean rolling.
- Wooden Chocking: Place heavy wooden blocks (chocks) tightly against the front and back of all four tyres. Nail these chocks securely into the container’s wooden floor.
- Nylon Lashing: Use heavy-duty, commercial-grade ratchet straps rated for the vehicle’s specific weight. Anchor the straps directly to the vehicle’s chassis or axles—never to the bumper or suspension components, which can bend or snap under tension.
- Cross-Tensioning: Criss-cross your tie-down straps in an “X” pattern to the container’s built-in steel D-rings. This completely eliminates any forward, backward, or lateral shifting during transit.
Taking these precautions at the origin port guarantees that your vehicles will roll off the vessel in West Africa in exactly the same condition they left your warehouse.
