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Shippers’ group support container weighing plans

[ September 5, 2013   //   ]

The Global Shippers’ Forum (GSF) is calling on governments to support compromise proposals for the verification of container weights at the International Maritime Organisation’s Sub-Committee on Dangerous Goods on 16 September.

The GSF has said that it believes the compromise proposal, (which includes two methods for verification), is the ‘best possible outcome’ for shippers and the maritime industry. It is a flexible and workable solution which can be adopted by industry without significant cost or delays in the supply chain.

GSF adds that the Correspondence Group has accepted proposals by shippers and a number of governments to provide for a second method of verification, which will allow shippers to use a calculated option whereby the shipper can weigh all packages and cargo items including pallets, dunnage and the tare of the container.

GSF Secretary General, Chris Welsh said the IMO had “listened carefully to shippers’ arguments regarding appropriate methods for verification. This will be a key benefit for shippers using audit-based SAP systems as they will be able to adapt their existing systems to comply with their responsibility for obtaining and documenting the gross mass weight of a packed container.”

Welsh added that while most shippers do make accurate cargo declarations, “a number of recent incidents have highlighted that weight misdeclarations may be on the rise. We believe that the IMO Correspondence Group proposals are sensible and proportionate and will lead to improved operational performance and enhanced safety within the maritime supply chain.”

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