Bulk Chemical Cargo Securing Solutions South Africa

SGS Certified Strapping and Lashing for Chemical Drums, IBCs, Totes, and Bulk Chemical Transport

Bulk Chemical Cargo — What It Is and What It Needs

Bulk chemical transport in South Africa covers a wide range of cargo types: liquid chemicals in ISO tank containers, packaged chemicals in drums and IBCs, chemical totes, and palletised chemical goods in bottles, bags, and canisters.

Each packaging format presents different cargo securing requirements — and each is governed by the same fundamental principle: the securing system must prevent movement under the dynamic forces of transport.

DunLash specialises in the physical cargo securing component of bulk chemical transport: the strapping that unitises palletised drums, the lashing that restrains IBCs and totes inside containers, and the desiccants that protect moisture-sensitive chemical formulations during ocean and road freight.

In addition to our bulk chemical cargo securing solutions, we offer a full range of related lashing, strapping, desiccant, and cargo protection products. Read more about these related pages below:

Chemical Cargo Securing Solutions
Chemical Transportation Safety
Composite Strapping Specifications
Polyester Lashing Specifications
Cargo Lashing Equipment Durban
CTU Code Cargo Securing Guidance

Cargo Securing by Chemical Packaging Type

Chemical Drums — Palletised and Stacked

Steel, plastic, and fibre drums containing liquid chemicals, powders, resins, and intermediates are typically palletised in configurations of 2 to 16 drums per pallet. Palletised drums must be strapped to prevent individual drums from shifting or toppling during road transport and sea freight.

DunLash composite polyester strapping is the recommended product for chemical drum pallets. Key advantages over steel strapping include no corrosion risk to drum surfaces, no sharp edges that can damage drum labels or secondary packaging, and a safer application process for handlers working with chemical cargo.

Intermediate Bulk Containers, IBCs — 1,000 Litre Totes

IBCs are widely used for bulk liquid chemicals, agrochemicals, solvents, and food-grade liquids. Standard IBCs weigh 1,200 to 1,400kg when full. When containerised, they must be secured against the longitudinal forces of sea transport — typically calculated at 0.5g longitudinal, 0.5g transverse, and 0.3g vertical under CTU Code guidelines.

DunLash woven polyester lashing provides the system strengths required to secure full IBCs inside 20ft and 40ft containers:

The elongation characteristics of woven polyester lashing — 10 to 12% elongation at break — provide shock absorption during sea transport, reducing the risk of IBC valve damage, lid seal failure, or structural deformation from sudden dynamic loads.

Flexi-Bags and Bulk Liquid Containers

Flexi-bags — polyethylene bladders inserted into 20ft containers for bulk liquid transport — are used for a wide range of non-hazardous liquid chemicals, food-grade liquids, and commodity chemicals.

While the flexi-bag itself prevents leakage, the container must be correctly prepared and the bag restrained against forward movement during transport.

DunLash provides strapping and lashing products for flexi-bag container preparation. Contact DunLash to discuss the specific securing requirements for your bulk liquid chemical application.

Chemical Powders and Granules in Big Bags, FIBCs

Flexible Intermediate Bulk Containers, or FIBCs, containing chemical powders, granules, and solids require securing to prevent movement and toppling inside containers.

DunLash composite strapping and lashing provide the restraint needed for containerised FIBC loads.

Bulk Chemical Transport in South Africa — Key Routes and Sectors

• Sasol Secunda and Sasolburg — South Africa’s largest chemical manufacturing operations generate continuous bulk chemical freight to and from Gauteng, Richards Bay, and export ports.
• Durban South Industrial Basin — South Africa’s largest concentration of chemical manufacturing and distribution, with direct access to Durban port for export freight.
• AECI, Omnia, Syngenta, and other major chemical manufacturers — all generate significant bulk chemical freight requiring professional cargo securing.
• Agricultural chemicals — fertilisers, herbicides, and pesticides moving from manufacturers to farms and from South African producers to SADC markets.
• Mining reagents — flotation reagents, cyanide, acids, and other mining chemicals moving between chemical suppliers and mine sites across southern Africa.
• Petrochemicals — pipeline-adjacent chemical products, refinery outputs, and fuel additives moving between production facilities and distribution points.

Why Polyester Strapping and Lashing for Chemical Cargo?

Woven polyester and composite polyester products offer specific advantages over alternative securing materials for chemical cargo applications:

Bulk Chemical Cargo Securing FAQs

What strapping is recommended for chemical drum pallets?

DunLash composite polyester strapping in 25mm or 32mm widths is recommended for palletised chemical drums. The 32mm system achieves up to 2,771 daN system breaking strength and is available in AAR-rated configuration for rail freight.

The specific strapping grade depends on the pallet weight, drum count, and whether the freight will be transported by road only or intermodal, such as road and rail.

Can DunLash lashing be used to secure IBCs containing hazardous chemicals?

Yes. DunLash woven polyester lashing is compatible with a wide range of chemical cargo applications. The lashing itself is chemically resistant to many industrial chemicals.

For specific chemical compatibility questions, contact DunLash with your cargo details. The SGS certification accompanying DunLash lashing products provides the documented performance data required for CTU Code and IMDG Code compliance.

What is the MSL calculation for securing a full 1,000L IBC in a container?

The MSL, or Maximum Securing Load, calculation under the CTU Code depends on the IBC weight, the transport conditions, and the lashing angles.

For a standard 1,200kg IBC, the required longitudinal restraint force is typically 600 daN, calculated as 0.5g × 1,200kg × 9.81. This requires at least one lashing of DunLash 105, where MSL equals 50% of 2,850 daN, or 1,425 daN.

In practice, two lashings are applied for redundancy and to address transverse forces. DunLash provides cargo securing assessments for specific IBC configurations.

Does DunLash supply to chemical plants directly?

Yes. DunLash supplies chemical manufacturers, logistics operators, and cargo handlers directly from our Johannesburg, Durban, and Cape Town operations. We supply to plant warehouses, packing operations, and port facilities.

Contact DunLash to discuss a supply arrangement for your chemical transport operations.

What is the difference between chemical cargo securing and bulk chemical cargo securing?

Chemical cargo securing is the broader category covering all chemical freight. Bulk chemical cargo securing focuses specifically on the physical securing needs of drums, IBCs, totes, flexi-bags, big bags, and other larger-volume chemical packaging formats.

Can DunLash help specify the right product for my chemical packaging type?

Yes. DunLash can help assess the cargo format, pallet weight, packaging type, route, transport mode, and compliance context to recommend suitable strapping, lashing, dunnage, or desiccant products.

Contact DunLash to discuss bulk chemical cargo securing solutions for your specific packaging format, cargo weight, and transport requirements.

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