How should custody of stored wind equipment pass between contractors?

The short answer

Transfer custody with a reconciled inventory, current condition, preservation status and open-item record. Name the party responsible for subsequent inspections, protection and access. A signed count of crates does not by itself establish that the contents are technically accepted or that earlier storage obligations and unresolved defects have been closed.

Prepare an item-level handover

List package and component identifiers, quantities, location, packaging state and relevant supplier instructions. Show items awaiting inspection, damaged equipment and anything whose preservation history is incomplete. Attach current condition evidence and the dates of completed protection checks. Distinguish physical custody from commercial ownership or technical acceptance, which may follow different arrangements. The transferring contractor should not simply mark all equipment good because it remained on the inventory list during its period of responsibility.

Agree continuing duties

The receiving custodian needs to know which inspections are due, what protective measures must remain in place and how exceptions are escalated. Confirm access to instructions and records before signing the transfer. Where duties or commercial responsibilities are disputed, refer them to authorized representatives and qualified advisers as appropriate. The practical handover should still preserve observed facts. Do not allow a disagreement about liability to result in equipment having no assigned custodian or preservation action while the parties discuss the contract.

Verify the next storage state

Walk down the inventory at the agreed level and record discrepancies jointly where possible. Settle missing records or identify them as open with a responsible owner and required action. Retain both parties' acknowledgements and the condition attachments. Update the project register so installers know which equipment is available and which remains restricted. A successful custody handover maintains continuity of care and evidence. It does not rewrite the history or substitute warehouse receipt for the component release required before installation.