What Is Vanning, And Why Is It Important For The Shipping

The Critical Role of Vanning for Shisha Charcoal Export Shipments

Vanning for shish charcoal export shipments is the technical process of supervising the stuffing, stowage, and securing of coconut charcoal briquettes into intermodal containers to ensure transit safety. In the complex landscape of the export of shisha charcoal, vanning acts not merely as a loading phase, but as a mandatory compliance checkpoint to mitigate the risks associated with hygroscopic and flammable cargo.

Let’s be honest for a second. Most people think “vanning” is just fancy logistical speak for throwing boxes into a metal can. It’s not. When we’re talking about shisha charcoal, vanning is the difference between your cargo arriving safely and your container turning into a floating barbecue. It is technically the supervision of stuffing, stowing, and securing coconut charcoal briquettes, sure. But really? It’s a mandatory compliance checkpoint. A firewall.

The Weight Game vs. The Volume Trap

You’re constantly fighting physics here. Charcoal is weird—it has specific density issues and it’s fragile. The goal is usually to hit that sweet spot of 25 to 26 metric tons in a 20-footer. That’s a lot of weight.

So, how do you pack it? You have two choices, and neither is perfect.

The Floor Load (Loose): This is the Tetris method. You hand-stack master boxes right on the floor. It’s a pain, but it maximizes volume. You build a “wall” of boxes, interlocking them so they don’t shift. It’s efficient, space-wise.
The Pallet Route: Forklifts make loading fast. Great for the guys unloading at the destination. But here’s the kicker—you lose about 10-15% of your net weight because of the pallets and dead air space.

Is it worth the speed? Maybe. Depends on who’s paying for the freight.

Moisture: The Silent Killer

Charcoal is basically a sponge. It’s highly absorbent. Put a container on a ship, expose it to temperature swings, and you get “container rain”—condensation dripping from the ceiling.

To stop this, you can’t just hope for the best. You need high-capacity desiccants—silica gel poles—hung inside. Sometimes you even need a Kraft paper liner. It feels like overkill until you open a container of moldy briquettes. Then it feels like insurance.

Playing with Fire (Literally)

This is the part that keeps logistics managers awake at night. Coconut shell charcoal is often classified as Dangerous Goods (DG). Specifically, DG 4.2.

What does that mean? It means it’s liable to spontaneous combustion. Self-heating. If the charcoal wasn’t processed right, or has high volatiles, it can light itself up.

The Air Gap: You can’t pack it tight to the roof. You need a 10-15 cm air gap at the top for heat dissipation. It helps air circulate.
Carrier Paranoia: Lines like Maersk, MSC, and CMA CGM are incredibly strict. They’ve seen ships burn. They often demand a surveyor to witness the vanning just to prove you aren’t lying.

And don’t get me started on the MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet). If your physical cargo doesn’t match that piece of paper—say, the packaging is different—you risk a “shut-out” at the port. The shipment just… stops.

The Ritual (SOP)

If you want to sleep at night, you follow the procedure. It goes something like this:

Check the Box: The “seven-point check.” Look for holes (light test), oil stains, or smells from the last guy’s hazardous cargo. You don’t want your shisha tasting like diesel.
Prep: Hang the desiccants.
Stack: Heavier boxes on the bottom. Bonded block method.
Secure: This is crucial. Use dunnage bags or plywood at the door. Why? So when the consignee opens the doors, 26 tons of charcoal doesn’t fall on their head.
Seal: High-security bolt seal goes on, number goes on the certificate. Done.

Prove It

In this business, if you didn’t take a picture, it didn’t happen. That’s why the Vanning Survey Report exists. It’s your evidence.

You need photos of the empty container, the loading at 50%, at 100%, and the seal. If there’s a moisture claim later? Or damage? This report is the only thing standing between you and a rejected insurance claim. It proves compliance at the point of origin.

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Greg Ryabtsev - Charcoal Expert

Coconut Charcoal Expert at Coconut Charcoal Briquettes Factory & Supplier for shisha & hookah

Greg Ryabtsev is the expert in coconut charcoal with over 10 years of industry experience. He developed the Standard Testing Procedure (STP) for shisha charcoal and is the author of several patent-pending technologies in hookah coal manufacturing.

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