.Maritime industry demands mandatory weighing of containers




The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has received a formal proposal co-sponsored by a broad array of industry organizations, labor, and governments to require loaded containers to be weighed to determine their actual weight.
The IMO’s Subcommittee on Dangerous Goods, Solid Cargoes and Containers will consider the proposal at its next meeting in September.
The proposal was submitted by Denmark, The Netherlands, the United States, BIMCO, the International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH), the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), and the World Shipping Council (WSC).
“Misdeclared container weights are a recurring safety problem on shore, on ships, and on roadways. It is time to fix that problem,” said BIMCO Secretary General, Torben Skaanild.
“We are pleased that there is such a broad cross-section of industry and government agreement on a specific and effective remedy.”
Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) currently requires the shipper to provide an accurate container weight declaration, but this requirement is often not met, is not enforced by SOLAS parties, and there is no requirement to actually weigh a loaded container.
To rectify the problem, the cosponsors propose a legal requirement, not only that the shipper provides an accurate weight declaration, but that the port facility and the ship have a weight verification certificate obtained by weighing the container. This will ensure that the actual weight of all loaded containers is received prior to stowing the container onto a vessel for export.
“For years, the United States has required all its export containers to be weighed. This has not impaired supply chain efficiency, and it has improved safety,” commented Dr. Geraldine Knatz, president of IAPH and executive director of the Port of Los Angeles.
“The technology exists to weigh containers accurately and efficiently, and it should be a universal, required practice.”

Comments

  1. This is a great idea, but it also needs a common weight unit, we often get mistakes with lb/kg conversions especially on Maersk boxes

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  2. Overweight containers are a real hazerd for everybody, think of the haulier that takes an overweight box and god forbid tips his truck over putting himself at risk and anybody that happens to be passing.

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