Cargo movements which result in necessary deformation (usually changes in length) of securing devices, primarily involve sliding or slight tilting and many and varied changes in the shape of the unit itself which may be superimposed on the first two types of movement mentioned. Sliding is generally irreversible, while slight tilting is reversed once the external tipping moment has disappeared.

One of the largest cargoes transported through ships is petroleum goods and its byproducts, in terms of volume and gross revenue. This includes crude oil, volatile fuels, petroleum, LNG, CNG, and the various derivatives.