Issue of Overweight Containers - The End is Near

OVERWEIGHT CONTAINERS
THE END IS NEAR

Agenda



Why and how is IAPH
involved?



Draft SOLAS guidelines for
verified gross mass of
containers



Current schedule for t he
SOLAS amendment s to enter
into force


W hy and How is IAPH Involved?



Overweight or misdeclared weight s of containers pose a safet y and
operat ional risk for t he ent ire logist ics chain.

o

o
o
o

Lead to vessels being improperly stowed, w hich can adversely
affect vessel stabilit y and possible loss of containers
overboard.
Cause damage to terminal handling
equipment
Injuries to dock workers w hile containers are

handled in container yards & w harf side
Cont ribute to accident s on highways and
railways.

W hy and How is IAPH Involved?



IAPH has been act ively lobbying for internat ional requirement s for
weighing containers for over 5 years.



2011 – M ay: IAPH resolut ion on
t he safet y of containers in t he
supply chain was adopted at
t he Busan Conference

W hy and How is IAPH Involved?



2011 – December: IAPH joined w it h t he shipping indust ry (World Shipping Council,
Internat ional Chamber of Shipping and BIM CO) t o work w it h t he IM O on t he
container weight issue.



2012 – January: IAPH member port s survey on “ Overweight or Incorrect ly Declared
Container Issues in Port s”



2013 – June: Press release w it h ICS and WSC t it led as “ M arit ime Indust ry Asks IM O
t o Require t he Weighing of Containers”



2013 – September: Press release w it h ICS and WSC t it led as “ Shipping Indust ry Urges
t he IM O t o Approve Container Weight Verificat ion Requirement ”




2013 – September: IM O’s sub committee on DSC support s draft amendment s t o
SOLAS Chapter VI requiring t he mandat ory verificat ion of t he gross mass of
containers

Draft SOLAS Guidelines for Verified Gross M ass of Containers




Amendment to SOLAS chapter VI
Applicat ion – containers, ISO tanks and flat racks
Principles:

o Shipper responsible for obtaining t he verified gross mass of a
container

o No container should be loaded onto a ship unless M aster and
Terminal have t he verified gross mass




M et hods of weighing:

o Weigh t he packed container
o Weigh t he individual packages and aggregate w it h tare weight
of container

Draft SOLAS Guidelines for Verified Gross M ass of Containers


Shipper is responsible to communicate verified gross mass to ship’s
M aster and Terminal representat ive in t ime to be used in preparat ion
of stowage plan. Document communicat ing t he verified gross mass is
to be aut horised by Shipper ’s Representat ive



Cont ract of carriage is bet ween Shipper and Shipping Company, not

Shipper and Port Terminal. Therefore, it may require M aster to share
t he verified gross mass w it h t he Terminal



Weighing Equipment

o Scale, weighbridge, lift ing
equipment and ot her
equipment should meet t he
applicable accuracy standards
of t he Port State

Draft SOLAS Guidelines for Verified Gross M ass of Containers


Discrepancies in gross mass

o Verified gross mass replaces all ot her gross mass measurement s
o Discrepancies bet ween verified gross mass of a container prior to

delivery and verified gross mass at t he container terminal resolved by
using t he container terminal figure

o Containers t hat exceed t he maximum permitted gross mass should not
be loaded onto a ship

o Containers should not be loaded unt il verified gross mass is obtained.
M aster or Terminal can obtain verified gross mass on Shippers behalf



M aster ’s Ult imate Decision

o Ships M aster should only accept a container on board if sat isfied t hat
it can be safely t ransported (in accordance w it h t he Code of Pract ice
for Cargo Stowage & Securing)

Draft SOLAS Guidelines for Verified Gross M ass of Containers



Possible impact on Terminals

o Terminals to be equipped w it h weighing facilit ies t hat are
calibrated and approved

o
o
o
o

Addit ional space and invest ment
Addit ional operat ions t ime
Submission of informat ion early to enable vessel planning
M aster has discret ion to reject any containers w hose weight s are
unverified hence upsett ing vessel and terminal planning

o Proper system of informat ion disseminat ion including empt y chasis
weight s

Next Steps



M ay 2014-M SC 93 – Draft
amendment s to SOLAS Chapter
approved



September 2014 – IM O Circular
letter



November 2014 – Adopt ion of
Amendment s to SOLAS



July 2016 – Ent ry into force


Thank You