Who is this for?
Every company in the logistics chain that works with sea containers. If you have employees open or unload sea containers, you are responsible for a safe working environment and required to carry out gas measurements according to a documented risk assessment (RI&E).
Sooner or later you will be faced with a rejected container and the advice to ventilate. That process is slow, costly and often inefficient.
Why ventilating often doesn't work
In 80% of rejected containers, the source of the gas is in the product or packaging material itself — pallets, filler foam, plastic or stretch film. Some gases bind to materials, making it almost impossible to get a container gas-free as long as the source remains inside.
Well-known examples:
Formaldehyde — released from glued pallets and panel material at temperatures above 15°C
Ethylene oxide — commonly used as a sterilising agent for medical cargo
In addition, ventilation openings on the inside are sometimes taped over to regulate humidity. In that case, ventilation does not work sufficiently.
The ventilation process is also never continuous: it stops for re-measurements, onward transport and waiting times. Every time ventilation stops, the concentration rises again.
The cost of ventilating
Costs quickly add up:
Extra transport — often charged twice: the wasted trip and the repeat pickup
Degassing location — an average of 7 days of ventilation already costs more than €500 per container
Detention costs — at least €40 per day if returned late to the shipping line
Hidden costs — missed deadlines and administrative delays in the supply chain
The solution?
Unload directly with respiratory protection at our warehouse in Rotterdam. The gas source leaves together with the cargo — no ventilation needed, no delay, no fluctuating concentrations.
We take over the entire import process:
Container transport (including empty return)
Unloading with respiratory protection in Rotterdam
Onward transport to the final destination
Unloading directly at the final location is also possible — ask about the options.
Want quick and safe access to your goods? Contact us
Call us: 06 57593529
Email: kevin@zwartssolutions.nl