Shipping second-hand machinery may seem like easy money, but it carries hidden penalties for the unwary.

Firstly there is the difficulty of loading and securing pieces of miscellaneous machinery safely in a container. Then there is an ever-present danger that the machinery itself may contain hazardous materials, such as oil, hydraulic fluids, acids (for instance in batteries) and other substances, many of which may only be shipped if they are packed in accordance with the appropriate international regulations. And, the third problem can only be described as the gap of perception between what the seller is selling and what the buyer thinks he is buying.

What can transport operators do to protect themselves?