The mandatory weighing regulations for containers are about to take effect, and how is it implemented in China?

The Maritime Safety Committee of the International Maritime Organization adopted the amendment to Article VI/2 of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974 (hereinafter referred to as the “Safety Convention”) at its 94th Session in 2015 (MSC, 380 (94) Resolution). The amendment requires that the cargo container should be verified for its weight before being delivered to the ship and will be enforced from July 1, 2016. My country is a party to the Convention on Security, which is binding on our country. In order to fulfill the performance of the amendment, the relevant matters are hereby notified as follows:
First, the main content of the amendment

(1) Shipping container weight verification regulations
(1) Shipping container weight verification regulations
The amendment requires that the actual weight of the cargo container should be verified before it is delivered to the ship. The shipper of the cargo container should verify its gross weight and ensure that the verified gross weight is provided to the master or his representative as soon as possible in the form of a transport document. The terminal operator is used for the preparation of the ship stowage plan. If the shipper does not provide the verified gross weight information of the cargo container, the master has the right to refuse the container shipment unless the master and the terminal have obtained their verified gross weight information by other means.
(2) Method for verifying the weight of cargo containers
The amendment allows shippers to confirm the total weight of goods and containers in two ways:
1. Overall weighing method: the weighing of the cargo container is carried out by the weighing instrument after passing the verification;
2. Accumulative calculation method: Weigh the weight of all packages and goods in the container by the weighing method approved by the competent authority of the country where the packing is carried out, and carry out the weight of the chassis, liner, other securing materials and the container itself in the container. Accumulate the total weight of the cargo container.
(3) Scope of application for weight verification of cargo containers
The amendment stipulates that the bulk container weight verification requirements apply to all cargo containers that are applicable to the 1972 International Convention for Safe Containers and that are loaded on ships applicable to Chapter VI of the Safety Convention.
Second, the requirements for the carrier of the cargo container
(1) The shipper of the foreign trade cargo container to be delivered to the ship that intends to leave the port of China after July 1, 2016 shall verify the gross weight of the checked cargo container before delivery to the ship. International transshipment containers that were shipped overseas before July 1 and stopped at the ports of China after July 1 are not subject to this restriction.
(2) The above shipper may choose the overall weighing method or the cumulative calculation method to verify the weight of the cargo container. Where the whole weighing method is used, the cargo container shall be weighed as a whole by itself or by a third party using a weighing instrument certified and verified by the metrological technical institution after completion of the container packing and sealing. In the case of the cumulative calculation method, the overall weight of the cargo container shall be calculated cumulatively in accordance with the procedures established in accordance with the Guidelines for the Weight Verification of the Cargo Container Accumulation Calculation Method (see annex).
(3) The above-mentioned shipper shall provide the master or his representative with the gross weight information of the cargo container verification as soon as possible in the form of a transport document, which may be part of the instructions to be submitted to the carrier for loading, or may be a separate Proof material and should include at least the following:
1. The method by which the shipper verifies the gross weight of the cargo container.
2. The shipper’s cargo container weight verification statement.
Where the overall weighing method is used, the statement reads: “This shipper declares that the weight of the cargo container contained in the document is in accordance with the methods described in Articles VI/2, 4 and 1 of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974. The obtained weighing instrument has obtained the metrological verification certificate issued by the metrology technical organization, and the date of obtaining the weight is within the validity period of the certificate.”.
If the cumulative calculation method is used, the statement reads: “This shipper declares that the weight information of the cargo container contained in the document is obtained in accordance with the methods described in Articles VI/2, 4 and 2 of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974. The method complies with the requirements of the “Guidelines for the Weight Verification of the Carrying-Up Containers Calculation Method” formulated and published by the competent authority.”
3. The shipper’s official licensor signs and confirms that the signature may be an electronic signature.
3. Requirements for ships, carriers and terminal operators
(1) The ship and carrier carrying the cargo container and its agent and terminal operator shall obtain the verification information of the weight of the cargo container provided by the shipper before loading the cargo container. For cargo containers that do not have weight verification information, the carrier and the carrier and their agents shall not accept the loading of the cargo container, and the terminal operator shall not arrange for the loading of the cargo container.
(2) The above-mentioned carrier, carrier and its agent shall inform the terminal operator whether the cargo container has been verified by weight and specific weight information before loading the cargo container.
(3) The above-mentioned carrier, carrier and its agent and the terminal operator shall establish an effective means of information transmission to ensure that the weight verification information of the cargo container is effectively transmitted in accordance with the shipper-carrier-terminal process.
Fourth, other matters
(1) The shipper shall bear the responsibility and obligation of the cargo container to verify its actual weight before delivery to the ship.
(2) The maritime administrative agencies at all levels shall conduct random inspections on the verification of the weight of the cargo containers carried by the ship. For the cargo containers that have not obtained the weight verification information, the maritime management agency shall require the carrier to correct the goods and correct them before they can sail. If the maritime management agency receives a report or has reason to suspect that the weight verification information of the cargo container is inconsistent with the actual situation, the shipper of the cargo container may be required to re-verify, and the shipper, the carrier and its agent, the carrier vessel and the terminal operator shall Cooperate.
(3) The port administrative departments at all levels shall supervise and urge the port operators to perform the duties required by this notice, and establish and improve effective means of information transmission with the carriers, carriers and their agents.
(4) Weighing devices that use the overall weighing method to verify the packing of cargo containers shall meet the accuracy standards and requirements of the current effective relevant measurement technical regulations in China. The business unit of the weighing device shall be published in an appropriate manner so that the parties can use the information.
(5) The error between the verified weight provided by the shipper of the cargo container and the verified weight of the container obtained by the maritime administration, the carrier, the carrier or the terminal operator shall not exceed ± 5% or 1 ton ( Both are small, and the weight does not exceed the maximum approved load of the container. If it is exceeded, the shipper should re-verify the weight of the cargo container and deliver the ship’s transportation after meeting the requirements.

transportation Department

May 29, 2016