Lashing Points

Commercial vehicles in excess of 3.5 tonnes Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) must be fitted with lashing points which can be used to secure the vehicle to the vessel's car deck in accordance with the Department of Transport booklet "Roll-on/Roll-off Ships – Stowage and Securing of Vehicles – Code of Practice". This Code of Practice sets down standards relating to the number, position, size and strength of lashing points and is available from HMSO book shops (ISBN No. 0-11-5590995-X). Customers should satisfy themselves that they comply with the code of practice in all respects.

All vehicles presented for shipment must be fitted with adequate and sufficient lashing points as detailed in para 2.3 of Guidance for the Road Haulier available to download below.

For Articulated vehicles the GVM relates to the trailer only. Units must be fitted with two securing points or a central towing coupling.

Towing units which remain attached to their trailers when shipped are excluded from the table (see attachments below).

They should be provided with two securing points at the front of the vehicle, the strength of which should be sufficient to prevent lateral movement of the front of the vehicle. A towing coupling at the front may replace the two securing points. If the towing coupling is used for securing road vehicles other than for articulated vehicle towing units, this should not replace or be substituted for the above mentioned minimum number and strength of securing points on each side of the vehicle.

Vehicles travelling on services between Wemyss Bay/Rothesay, Largs/Cumbrae, Colintraive/Rhubodach and Tarbert/Portavadie are not required to comply with this Code of Practice (except when carrying dangerous goods or livestock – see relevant sections). However, CalMac Ferries Ltd strongly advises customers to do so, and reserves the right to decline shipment of such vehicles on these services in adverse weather.

On all services except Wemyss Bay/Rothesay, Largs/Cumbrae, Colintraive/Rhubodach and Tarbert/Portavadie, any vehicle which does not comply with this Code of Practice will be refused shipment.