A container may contain the correct number of packages and total weight yet still suffer cargo collapse, packaging damage, load imbalance, seal disputes or injury when its doors are opened. Stuffing is not merely placing cargo inside a container, and devanning is not merely taking it out. Each is a controlled workflow with defined inputs, accountable parties, safety hold points and handover evidence. This article explains the difference, the process from container inspection to sealing and VGM, and the reverse process from seal verification to ventilation, unloading and exception reporting.

Prepared by TGIMEX · Updated 21 July 2026 · B2B operational guidance

QUICK FACTS

Stuffing

Packing, stowing, distributing and securing cargo, ending with door closure, sealing and evidence.

Devanning

Controlled opening, inspection and removal of cargo; also called unstuffing/stripping in some contexts.

Control points

Container condition, stow plan, load distribution, securing, seal, VGM, atmosphere and handover records.

Core rule

Do not start unless cargo, equipment, people, work area, documents and exception handling are confirmed.

Illustration for What Are Stuffing and Devanning? Container Packing and Unpacking Process — Illustration of the logistics topic, document or operation discussed in the article.

SCOPE OF APPLICATION

Applies to dry, refrigerated and special containers in FCL, LCL, CY–CY, CFS and multimodal operations. It focuses on operational control and safety and does not replace carrier, terminal, warehouse, IMDG or national requirements.

KEY TERMS

Term	Meaning	Operational role
Stuffing / Packing	Loading cargo into a CTU/container, including distribution, dunnage, blocking, bracing and securing.	Creates a transport-ready cargo unit.
Devanning / Unstuffing	Removing cargo after checking container, seal, cargo and atmosphere.	Returns cargo to warehouse status and records exceptions.
Stripping	Common terminal/CFS term for removing cargo from a container.	Often equivalent to devanning, subject to local SOP.
Dunnage	Support, separation or void-filling material.	Spreads load and reduces movement.
Blocking & Bracing	Physical restraint using suitable material or structures.	Restrains movement in relevant directions.
Seal	Numbered container security device.	Access-control evidence, not proof of cargo completeness.
VGM	Verified Gross Mass of a packed container.	SOLAS data for ship stow planning.

OPERATING PRINCIPLE

Stuffing creates a complete transport unit in which cargo, packaging, pallets, securing material and the container must behave as a stable system throughout the journey. Devanning reverses that condition but cannot be treated as simple package removal: cargo may have shifted, doors may be under pressure, the atmosphere may be toxic or oxygen-deficient, fumigants may remain and packages may leak. Both processes should use the same master dataset: container number, seal number, package list, mass, stow plan, DG/reefer status and photographic evidence.

APPLICATION NOTE: Stuffing and devanning should share one shipment dataset and one evidence chain.

ANALYSIS / COMPARISON

Criterion	Stuffing	Devanning	Shared control
Objective	Create a stable, compliant, transport-ready unit.	Remove cargo safely and preserve condition evidence.	Correct cargo/container/documents under supervision.
Start	Inspected empty container and ready cargo.	Container stabilized at unloading point and seal checked.	Safe work area, lighting and equipment.
Main risks	Overload, imbalance, poor securing, wrong seal/VGM.	Cargo fall-out, harmful atmosphere, leakage, shortage.	Stop when actual conditions differ from plan.
Evidence	EIR, photos, loading tally, seal record, VGM.	Seal/door photos, unloading tally, exception report.	Timestamp, operator, container/seal and shipment ID.
Completion	Doors secured, seal recorded, VGM submitted, handover done.	Cargo segregated, exceptions recorded, empty checked.	Records support claims and audits.

DOCUMENTS AND DATA TO CHECK

Data/document	Prepared or issued by	When used	Fields that must match
Booking / Shipping instruction	Shipper, forwarder, carrier	Before stuffing	Container type, cut-off, cargo, ports, DG/reefer instruction.
Packing list / Cargo list	Cargo owner	Stow plan and tally	Packages, weights, dimensions, marks, batch/lot.
EIR / condition record	Depot, carrier, trucker or warehouse	Empty pickup/return	Container number, pre-existing damage, cleanliness.
Stowage & securing plan	Warehouse/cargo owner/packer	Before and during stuffing	Package locations, point loads, securing points.
Seal record	Sealing party	After door closure	Seal number, time, person, door photos.
VGM record	Shipper remains responsible; weighing or authorized parties may support under applicable rules	After stuffing, before cut-off	Cargo + pallets/dunnage/securing + tare of the specific container; method and authorized signatory.
Arrival/DO/warehouse instruction	Carrier/forwarder/consignee/warehouse	Before devanning	Container, seal, time, place.
Tally & exception report	Warehouse/CFS/consignee/surveyor	During/after devanning	Received packages, wet/damaged, shortage/overage, photos.

PROCESS / APPLICATION

A. STUFFING PROCESS

Stuffing step	Input	Main action	Output/hold point
1. Confirm plan	Booking, cargo list, stow plan, resources	Lock box type, packages, mass, DG, weather and cut-offs.	No packing if critical data is missing.
2. Inspect empty container	Container/EIR/CSC plate	Check structure, floor, roof, doors, holes, cleanliness, dryness, odour, pests and locking.	Accept or replace.
3. Prepare cargo/materials	Cargo, pallets, dunnage, lashings	Verify packages, measure/weigh and group heavy/fragile/DG/reefer cargo.	Cargo and materials released.
4. Load/distribute weight	Stow plan	Heavy cargo low; avoid eccentric loading; control floor/point load; preserve airflow if needed.	Within equipment limits.
5. Block/brace/secure	Dunnage and securing gear	Fill voids and restrain all relevant movement using suitable points.	No dangerous movement expected.
6. Final check/close	Tally, photos, plan	Count, photograph, remove debris, check locking bars, apply seal.	Seal record complete.
7. Establish VGM/handover	Weighing data, tare, documents	Use accepted method; submit before cut-off; hand over.	Valid VGM and complete file.

B. DEVANNING PROCESS

Devanning step	Input	Main action	Output/hold point
1. Prepare unloading position	DO, warehouse plan, equipment	Stable ground, immobilize vehicle, exclusion zone.	No work if vehicle is unstable.
2. Inspect exterior/seal	Container, seal, documents	Match numbers, photograph, check dents, leakage, bulging doors, fumigation/tampering.	Quarantine serious exceptions.
3. Assess before opening	SDS/DG/fumigation/journey data	Stand clear of the fall zone, restrain doors if needed and assess shifted cargo. For CTUs using cooling or conditioning substances, or where a harmful atmosphere is suspected, the atmosphere should be verified by measurement before opening.	Open only under a controlled method; quarantine and seek specialist advice if conditions are not confirmed.
4. Ventilate/open	PPE, ventilation/gas testing	Avoid direct contact with the initial air release and keep people out. Every CTU should be ventilated before entry, preferably by forced ventilation, and permit entry only when the risk assessment or measurements allow it.	Entry conditions are safe and door-end cargo is visible.
5. Unload in sequence	Stow plan/tally	Unload layer by layer, maintain stability, avoid blind pulling, use correct equipment.	Continuous tally.
6. Segregate/document	Packing list, QC, photos	Separate sound, damaged, wet, short/over or leaking cargo; preserve evidence.	Exception report complete.
7. Close out/empty return	Empty return instruction	Clean as agreed, record new damage, return to instructed place/time.	Devanning file closed.

RISKS AND COMMON FAILURES

Common failure	Cause	Impact	Control
CBM selection ignores point load	Only volume and total kg considered.	Floor damage, deformation or rejection.	Check payload, MGW, footprint and distribution.
No stow plan	Experience-only packing.	Unsafe unloading and poor shortage traceability.	Approve plan and locations.
Weak seal process	No photos/time/operator.	Weak audit trail.	Full seal record.
VGM misses pallets/dunnage or wrong tare	Incomplete weighing dataset.	Unsafe stow plan or non-loading.	Accepted method and actual tare.
Both doors opened immediately	No shifted-load assessment.	Door impact, cargo fall-out, injury.	Controlled opening from safe position.
Entry before ventilation	Fumigant or cargo vapour not recognized.	Poisoning or asphyxiation.	Every CTU should be ventilated before entry; test where cooling/conditioning substances, fumigation or suspicious signs are present; use suitable PPE.
Damage not recorded immediately	Speed prioritized.	Claim evidence lost.	Stop, photograph, segregate, report.
Sound/suspect cargo mixed	No quarantine status.	Traceability loss/contamination.	Quarantine zone and status code.

REFERENCES AND OFFICIAL SOURCES

Source	Operational role	Status/note
IMO/ILO/UNECE CTU Code	Practice framework for packing, securing, receiving and unpacking CTUs.	Non-mandatory; 2014 baseline while revision work continues.
SOLAS VGM – IMO	Shipper responsibility, verification methods and loading condition.	Required for stow planning but not an entitlement to load.
IMO Cargo Securing and Packing	Planning, execution and supervision principles.	Competent personnel and voyage-appropriate securing.
CTU Code – Unpacking precautions	Cargo fall-out, harmful atmosphere, fumigation and ventilation.	Assess hazards before opening; ventilate before entry and measure the atmosphere where required.
IMDG Code 2024, Amendment 42-24	Mandatory packaged dangerous-goods requirements at sea.	Mandatory from 1 January 2026; check UN number.
IMO – Safe transport of containers	Relationship among SOLAS, CSC, IMDG and CTU Code.	Identifies equipment, cargo and transport safety layers.

CTU Code SOLAS VGM

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is stuffing only physical loading?

No. It includes box inspection, stow planning, load distribution, securing, tally, sealing and VGM.

Are devanning and stripping the same?

Often close in terminal/CFS use, but scope and records depend on contract/SOP.

Who is responsible for VGM?

Under SOLAS, the shipper named on the transport document is responsible for providing VGM, even if another party weighs.

Does an intact seal prove no shortage?

No. Quantity and condition still require tally, documents, photos and exception reports.

Can doors be opened immediately?

Only after vehicle stability, container/seal checks and assessment of door pressure, leakage, fumigation or harmful atmosphere.

Should ordinary cargo be ventilated?

Yes. The CTU Code recommends ventilating every CTU before personnel enter, preferably by forced ventilation; duration and gas testing depend on the risk assessment.

What if wet/broken packages are found?

Stop, photograph, preserve location/evidence, segregate and notify relevant parties.

APPLICATION NOTE: Actual procedures must reflect cargo, equipment, route, contract, terminal/warehouse SOP, carrier requirements and applicable law. Dangerous goods, fumigated CTUs, reefers, food, chemicals, heavy machinery and concentrated loads require dedicated plans and competent approval.

TGIMEX IMPLEMENTATION SUPPORT

TGIMEX helps businesses turn the article into a shipment-ready checklist, covering input-data review, dossier preparation, milestone control, and coordination with the relevant parties.

Convert guidance into checks

Assign an owner and deadline to every operational control point.

Reconcile shipment data

Compare booking, transport, commercial, customs, and delivery evidence.

Manage operational risk

Record discrepancies, actions, and decision evidence to prevent recurrence.

Discuss your shipment dossier

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