TG 31supp3 2021.pdf

Armed Forces Pest Management Board Technical Guide No. 31

Operational Washdown and Agricultural Inspection Preparation for Military Conveyances and Equipment

Supplement 3: Photo Guide for Shipping Containers

Approved for Public Release; Distribution Unlimited

December 2021

AFPMB TG 31, Supplement 3

Foreword This Technical Guide (TG) describes procedures, outlines responsibilities, and defines requirements for preparing military conveyances (vehicles, vessels, aircraft), rolling stock, equipment, cargo and unit and personal gear to comply with agricultural and public health pest exclusion requirements for movement of ships, aircraft, equipment, and personnel, particularly from locations outside the United States (US). Note that TGs are not policy documents; they provide best management practices and technical guidance for the US Department of Defense (DoD) operations, pest management, natural resources and other DoD communities.

Accordingly, TGs should not be construed or referenced as policy.

This TG will be reviewed and updated periodically to reflect current information. Users are encouraged to submit comments and suggestions for improvement to the Armed Forces Pest Management Board, via e-mail to osd.pentagon.ousd-atl.mbx.afpmb@mail.mil; by mail to Director, AFPMB, US Army Garrison–Forest Glen, 2460 Linden Lane Bldg #172, Silver Spring, MD 20910-7500; by telephone at (301) 295-7476; or by fax at (301) 295-7473.

Policy and points of contact questions related to customs and border protection and agricultural washdown preparations and inspections should be forward to USTRANSCOM/TCJ4-PI via email at transcom.scott.tcj5j4.mbx.pi-customs@mail.mil.

Policy, guidance and points of contact questions related to animal pathogen sanitation, or disinfection requirements, such as those required for African swine fever or foot and mouth disease, often associated with customs and border protection and agricultural washdown preparations and inspections, should be forwarded to DHA.NCR.VETERINARY.MBX.VETSVCS- DSCA@mail.mil.

DoD pest management policy, guidance, and point of contact information is accessible on the AFPMB website: http://www.acq.osd.mil/eie/afpmb/.

Disclaimer Mention of specific products or services in this guide does not imply endorsement by the Armed Forces Pest Management Board, the DoD, or the US Government. The appearance of external non-DoD hyperlinks does not constitute endorsement by the DoD of those linked websites, or the information, products, or services therein. The DoD does not exercise editorial, security, or other control over the information found at non-DoD websites.

mailto:osd.pentagon.ousd-atl.mbx.afpmb@mail.mil mailto:osd.pentagon.ousd-atl.mbx.afpmb@mail.mil mailto:transcom.scott.tcj5j4.mbx.pi-customs@mail.mil mailto:DHA.NCR.VETERINARY.MBX.VETSVCS-DSCA@mail.mil mailto:DHA.NCR.VETERINARY.MBX.VETSVCS-DSCA@mail.mil http://www.acq.osd.mil/eie/afpmb/

Table of Contents Shipping Containers

Gallery of Washdown and Inspection of Shipping Containers

Examples of Pests on Shipping Containers

Shipping Containers

A. QUADCON – Dry Freight Containers, Sea box

1. Sweep and wash all surfaces, inside and outside, for shipping containers, ISU’s, and aircraft pallets.

2. Start at one opening of the container spraying the doors with water from top to bottom concentrating on seams, lips, connector ports, and door hinges.

3. As you move through the container, washing the inside sections from top to bottom, use the water pressure to move dirt through and out of the container focusing on corners and seams.

4. Complete the internal washdown by pushing out any material and spraying the second opening and doors, repeating the steps you took to clean the first.

5. Clean all forklift tine channels on shipping containers and ISU’s.

6. Clean all twistlock and corner castings on shipping containers.

7. Most importantly, ensure both the top and undersides of shipping containers are cleaned and sanitized as required. Most of the pest issues on shipping containers are found on the undersides. Follow strict safety precautions when using fork lifts or cranes to lift containers prior to treatment and inspections.

8. Finish by wiping down the container to dry it, ensuring it is completely free of biological material, and sealing all ventilation ports with tape.

B. ISO Container or Intermodular Shipping Container

1. For ISO containers, start at the back of the container and spray with water from top to bottom, paying particular attention to ventilation ports, seams, corners, and lips where dirt can collect. Use the water pressure to push any material out of the container.

2. Complete the washdown by pushing out any material and rinsing the doors from top to bottom concentrating on seams, lips, connector ports, and hinges.

3. Finish by drying the container, ensuring it is completely free of biological material, and sealing all ventilation ports.

4. Most importantly and as with other shipping container types and pallets, ensure both the top and undersides of containers are cleaned and sanitized as required.

Most of the pest issues on shipping containers are found on the undersides. Follow strict safety precautions when using fork lifts or cranes to lift containers prior to treatment and inspections.

C. Aircraft Pallets

1. Begin by removing any items stacked on the pallet.

2. Wash down the pallet with water, spraying off dirt and debris and then dry thoroughly.

3. Before returning items to the pallet, use a damp cloth to wipe down dust and remove any biological material that might have collected.

4. Open boxes and containers to remove dirt and debris buildup inside, checking for false bottoms concealing unauthorized items.

5. Be mindful of electronic equipment and use compressed air to remove dust buildup from these items.

6. Restack pallet with equipment in an organized fashion for final inspection.

D. Final Inspection. Once the washdown phase is complete, assemble everything for the final inspection by staging in a pest free zone.

1. Open QUADCON and ISO container doors, and stage pallets with boxes open for easy access and inspection.

2. As you go through your final inspection, revisit your pre-inspection discrepancy list to ensure outstanding items were resolved during the washdown phase.

3. Use the “white glove” method to make sure containers, pallets and pallet items are dust and dirt free. Look for living organisms, and remove if found.

Gallery of Washdown and Inspection of Shipping Containers

There is a large variety of ISO and other metal cargo shipping containers and aircraft pallets that require a thorough washdown and inspection including the contents and personal baggage. Problem areas include ventilation ports, seams, corners, lips, forklift ports, and especially beneath where soil, debris and arthropods can collect. Use the water pressure to push any material out of the container.

For ISO and other metal cargo shipping containers, start at the back of the container and spray with water from top to bottom. Then, safely hoist containers to clean the underside where many pests and debris problems occur. Problem areas include ventilation ports, seams, corners, lips, forklift ports, and beneath where dirt can collect. Use the water pressure to push any material out of the container.

Thorough cleaning of the undersides of shipping containers is essential. NOTE: Never stand directly beneath elevated container and always have safety spotter while conducting these sorts of washdown operations. Use high pressure water to eliminate dirt and potential contaminants.

Examples of Pests on Shipping Containers

For ISO and other shipping containers, become familiar with various insect/spider egg cases, pupal cases and evidence of ant or other colonial insects. Watch for hitchhiking insect egg cases, wasp or other nests, spider webs, ant colonies and insect/spider egg cases (including gypsy moth/black widow spider), snails and other arthropods, animal contamination, plant material or soil accumulations.

Become familiar with various sorts of insect egg masses. Shown here are a praying mantis egg case, snail and wasp nest

For ISO and other shipping containers, watch for hitchhiking insect egg cases, wasp or other nests, spider webs and egg cases, snails and other arthropods, animal contamination, plant material or soil accumulations.