Container Weighing Guidelines Released
On July 1, 2016, global containerized maritime commerce will need to comply with new international regulations that require every packed container to have a verified container weight as a condition for vessel loading.
In order to bring long-needed improvements to maritime safety, in November 2014 the IMO adopted amendments to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Chapter VI, Part A, Regulation 2 - Cargo information.
The regulations place a requirement on the shipper of a packed container, regardless of who packed the container, to provide the container’s gross verified weight to the ocean carrier and port terminal representative sufficiently in advance of vessel loading to be used in the preparation of the ship stowage plan.
A verified container weight will be a condition for loading a packed container on board a vessel for export.
The vessel operator and the terminal operator will be required to use verified container weights in vessel stowage plans, and they will be prohibited from loading a packed container on board a vessel for export if the container does not have a verified container weight.
The World Shipping Council and its member shipping lines have developed guidelines to explain what the implementation of the SOLAS amendments will require of shippers, carriers, and terminal operators. The council recommends that all parties should use the next twelve months to plan for the efficient and effective implementation of the requirement in July 2016.
The guidelines are available here.