Declaring the gross mass of containers correctly to a vessel is one of the key maritime safety regulations. Due to misdeclaration, overweight or underweight containers have been stowed on ships. This has compromised maritime safety and resulted in accidents, stacks of containers collapsing on board the vessels carrying them, loss of containers at sea, and negative impacts on the marine environment. Deficiencies, including serious ones, have also been reported in the declared and actual mass of containers in traffic departing from Finland.
To ensure international maritime safety, it has been necessary to specify the verification of the gross mass of containers and the way this is communicated in the supply chain. The revised international SOLAS regulations already entered into force on 1 July 2016 and affect the work of all transport parties (shipper, forwarder, ship broker, port, port operator, shipowner, master of ship, supervisory authority). The SOLAS Convention’s regulations 4–6 will not apply to containers carried on a chassis or a trailer to be driven on a ro-ro ship engaged in short international voyages.
This SOLAS Convention requirement specifies that container shippers must obtain the verified gross mass of containers and communicate it in writing to the shipmaster or his representative as well as a representative of the container freight station in advance of stowage.
According to the SOLAS requirement, the shipper is the party during transport who is responsible for providing information in the bill of lading, sea waybill or equivalent multimodal transport document. The shipper acting as the consignor of the goods loaded in the container may contractually authorise another party during transport to serve as the shipper responsible for reporting the verified gross mass of the container. In this case, the shipper authorised by way of contract is ultimately responsible for the contents of the container stowed onto a vessel and signs the transport document indicating the verified gross mass of the container.
There are two methods by which the shipper may obtain the verified gross mass of a packed container: concretely by weighing, or on the basis of written documents.
The alternative methods for obtaining the verified mass of a container
- weighing − container scales must be certified (type-approved). The scale must be type-certified by a European notified body. The accuracy class index of a non-automated scale must be IIII or higher. The accuracy of an automated scale must be Y(b) or higher. The weighing of individual packages, parcels and other units placed in the container must be based on the definition of an appropriate type-certified scale. The scales must be verified in accordance with the Measuring Instruments Act (707/2011).
- summation − the total mass of the container may be calculated in writing using the method approved by the competent authority. If the goods or substances intended for the container are such by nature that their unit mass and the total mass of the goods or substances to be further loaded in the container can be reliably determined on the basis of their density, specific weight or average weight, the container's verified gross mass can alternatively be determined by adding the mass of the goods and substances to be loaded to the net mass of the container. If the shipper wishes to use the summation method, they must be able to demonstrate that they master the sources of error and risks involved and that they comply with and implement high-quality health and safety practices. In accordance with legislation, the shipper must ensure that their activities do not endanger the health or safety of employees or customers or damage the environment. In order to verify compliance, the shipper may commit to an applicable quality management system.
Responsibility of the master
A container should not be loaded onto a ship unless the verified gross mass of the container is provided to the shipmaster or his representative in accordance with the regulations.
Supervision
The authorities carry out container mass inspections. The penal provisions of the Maritime Act (674/1994) and the Act on the Technical Safety and Safe Operation of Ships (1686/2009) apply to non-compliance with the specified SOLAS regulations on Verified Gross Mass.
Inquiries
Jyrki Vähätalo, Special Adviser, tel. +358 29 534 6470, jyrki.vahatalo@traficom.fi