Shipping & Sea Freight

If you are looking to free your freight of mould and keep transport costs low and timeline on track then Mould Cleaning Australia can assist.

When humidity levels rise inside sealed shipping containers this can cause water to drop from the ceiling of the container, commonly referred to as “container rain” or “cargo sweat”. As shipping containers can be closed up for long periods of time there is no opportunity for the excess humidity to escape. The temperature within the pallet also plays a factor with harbouring mould growth as mould will flourish in warmer conditions.

Another factor is wooden pallets or crates holding moisture. During the process of shipping these timber can get wet from rain, sea spray and other unconventional water sources. The wood will retain the moisture and once isolated in a shipping container will allow the wood to dry creating excess humid air which is trapped in the container.

To stop mould growth the easiest method is to control moisture levels or ideally remove the moisture all together which can be very hard when it comes to shipping & sea freight. There are a few methods to consider depending on your cargo and shipping options / capabilities.

Desiccants

Using a desiccant is the most common method and involves placing a desiccant material in the sealed shipping container. Desiccants are materials which in their natural state absorb moisture. These materials are dried out before use and once in place they absorb moisture from the air. You would have seen a form of desiccant each time you buy a pair of shoes and they come with a silica gel packet. However you must ensure you have enough desiccants for the volume of your container and the time it is sealed for as once desiccant reach their full capacity they will begin releasing this moisture back in to the enclosed environment.

Dehumidifiers

A dehumidifier is a purpose built electric appliance which lowers humidity by extracting water from the surrounding environment and draining the water away. These appliance do require a power source however they are proven to be more effective than a desiccant, especially in long term shipping. Dehumidifiers will also remove excess moisture from wet materials like timber pallets and crates.

Ventilation

Ventilation is a limited option depending of the exposure of your shipping & sea freight to external elements. The purpose is to allow any excess humidity and high temperatures to regulate with the outdoors however if you crates are shipped externally (on the deck of the ship) then this may not be a suitable option.

Yes, mould can be safely removed from wooden items such as crates, pallets and other natural materials. Pallets which are treated not only have the mould removed but also improve in their appearance restoring them to near-new condition. There are extremely rare instances where the timber can be so water logged that it can deteriorate and loose integrity. One of our technicians will advise if this is the case however generally speaking this is not common.