New rules detailing acceptable container weight verification are set to come into effect on July 1, 2016.
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) announced early in 2015 that it was amending its Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) convention to ensure container weights are fully verified before those containers can be loaded onto a vessel. The goal of this amendment is to reduce safety concerns at sea and on shore arising from container shipments that have incorrect weight declarations.
The amendment applies to all packed containers to which the IMO’s Convention for Safe Containers (CSC) applies and which are loaded onto any ship in international maritime traffic.
After July 1, the vessel operator and marine terminal operator must have a verified container weight before loading, or the vessel will be in violation of the SOLAS convention (an “estimated weight” is not acceptable). Responsibility for this weight verification rests with the shipper named on the ocean bill of lading.
There are two methods for weight measurement under the new amendment:
- Weighing the container after it has been packed; or
- Weighing all the cargo and contents of the container and adding those weights to the container’s tare weight (as indicated on the door end of the container).
Weighing equipment must meet the applicable accuracy standards and requirements of the jurisdiction in which the equipment is being used.
Livingston will be monitoring the situation as the date approaches for more information, including any best practices and recommendations from the IMO and the World Shipping Council. For more information, we recommend visiting the WSC Website and reviewing their FAQ.