The increase in non-palletized cargo creates difficulties during customs inspection procedures.

The Saudi Railways Organization (SRO) has announced that it will impose penalties on shipping companies for non-palletized cargo beginning Aug. 11.

Commenting on the announcement, Mohammed Abu Zaid, director of public relations and media at SRO, said, “It has been observed that some consignments received from abroad via King Abdul Aziz Sea Port in Dammam and transported by train to Riyadh dry port are not palletized. This is in contravention of our regulations, which aims to preserve the safety of goods during transport, handling and customs inspection.”

Abu Zaid explained that the organization would impose fines worth SR350 for containers 20 feet and less (TEU) and SR750 for containers longer than 20 feet (FEU) that are non-palletized, in accordance with regulations applied in the GOP.

The organization justified its decision as a necessary measure to counter the increase in non-palletized cargo, which creates difficulties during customs inspection procedures and consumes large spaces.

A roller system for quick movement of palletized cargo is important.

The advantage of correctly palletized cargo is that cargo handling can be mechanized and, provided the pallets fit the container, securing can largely be dispensed with.

According to provisons for palletized cargo, the pallets should be sensibly packed, the dimensions of the packed pallets in the lengthwise and crosswise directions each should correspond to fractions of the internal container width, length and height and the pallets should be stack-able.

If these conditions are met, the cargo is described as “fully palletized.”

 
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