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Glossary entry

French term or phrase:

bâches noires à terre

English translation:

black plastic (sheeting) laid on ground

Added to glossary by Stephanie Mitchel
Apr 27, 2013 12:45
11 yrs ago
French term

bâches noires à terre

French to English Tech/Engineering Transport / Transportation / Shipping merchandise handling & storage
This is a service contract from Côte d'Ivoire for merchandise handling and storage. The merchandise (25 or 50 kg bags of powdered sugar or rice) arrives by ship and is to be unloaded and warehoused. Here's the sentence that's got me stuck:

"L’empilage se fera sur 30 sacs de haut au minimum, sur pallettes bâches noires à terre et devra permettre un comptage aisé et périodique des piles."

Based on the syntax, I'm unclear on the arrangement. I gather the bags are to be stacked on pallets which are then to be covered by tarpaulins, and I figure 'à terre' should mean 'onshore' here rather than 'on the ground.' Can anyone help me get the picture?

(The words pallettes and bâches were stuck together in the source document, and I had to add the accent grave to 'a terre,' in case that clarifies anything.)

Many thanks, as always.
Proposed translations (English)
4 black plastic (sheeting) laid on ground
5 black tarps lying on ground

Discussion

Nikki Scott-Despaigne Apr 28, 2013:
Yes, the client is the one who will be able to set you straight as to whether "à terre" is being used to mean "ashore" or not. It is quite possible. "Au sol" would have been less ambiguous. It is not certain though; I would also have expected "à terre" to be placed earlier in the sentence. The other possibility is probably more logical.
Silly detail, but here I go. Again, it is possible, or even likely that the bâches are made of plastic. It does not say so though.
On either count, your final phrasing in English will probably depend on ironing out these details and only your client knows!
Stephanie Mitchel (asker) Apr 28, 2013:
Thanks for your sensible suggestions... of course they would have to be wrapped! I'll suggest it and double-check with the client.
Sheila Wilson Apr 27, 2013:
Sugar and rice These are both things that will be attacked by all sorts of insects if they are left in the open air for any length of time. Could these pallets + bags be wrapped entirely in black plastic (as Catherine refers to) to protect the contents? If the number of bags were to be shown on the outside, they could still be counted. But that's based more on logic than fact or syntax. :)
Catharine Cellier-Smart Apr 27, 2013:
Bâchés I am used to palettes being "bâchés" i.e. wrapped around in plastic. This stops the contents falling off/over when the palettes are moved. So my understanding when I read this was that the palettes are on the ground and are wrapped around with black plastic.
Yvonne Gallagher Apr 27, 2013:
agree with Chris. Black plastic on ground(probably to stop weeds growing) with palettes on top
chris collister Apr 27, 2013:
eliminating most of the possibilities, the most likely explanation seems to be that black plastic is laid on the ground, with the pallets then placed on top. It seems less likely that the bâche would be placed over the stack, since this would not make for un comptage aisé.

Proposed translations

4 hrs
Selected

black plastic (sheeting) laid on ground

you could use "tarp" but I think it's more usually plastic or (thick) plastic sheeting or "ground tarp" that's used when it is for a ground cover use

"L’empilage se fera sur 30 sacs de haut au minimum, sur pallettes bâches noires à terre et devra permettre un comptage aisé et périodique des piles."



so something like:

palettes, containing a minimum height of 30 bags, will be stacked on top of black plastic sheeting laid on the ground, which will allow for easy periodical counting of each stack...








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Note added at 8 days (2013-05-06 11:50:33 GMT) Post-grading
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glad to have helped.

Just an addendum following from discussion... In my experience palettes are sometimes shrink-wrapped in plastic but it would be clear NOT black.

Goods like rice/sugar etc are already packed in insect-proof/moisture-proof bags, those thick heavy- duty woven sacks like these

http://www.alibaba.com/showroom/20kg-sugar-plastic-woven-sac...
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
1 hr

black tarps lying on ground

"L’empilage se fera sur 30 sacs de haut au minimum, sur pallettes bâches noires à terre et devra permettre un comptage aisé et périodique des piles."

The english translation of the whole sentence is :

the storage will be carried out at least on a height of 30 bags, on pallet covered by black tarps lying on ground, allowing an easy periodical counting of stacks.


Bâches : tarps , tarpaulin

Palette : pallet; range

PS

This is the way cocoa is handle in Africa. Buyers purchase it to farmes in bags...Sometimes they supplied them with appropriate bags...Then after collecting cocoa bags in countryside they proceed with storage in their warehouse before shipping it to Western Countries...Generally the warehouse is divided according to the number of pallet each pallet is recovered by a tarps to avoid moisture from the ground each pallet has a number of bag its carries (here 30 ) ...I hope all this light your spirit

Regards
Note from asker:
Thanks ArmandB. I didn't select it because the explanation was confusing, but I did appreciate and learn from your answer.
Peer comment(s):
neutral chris collister : Impressive confidence level, but your answer seems inconsistent with your explanation.
19 hrs
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