IAPH and BIFA applaud IMO container weighing decision

The International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH) and the British International Freight Association (BIFA) have welcomed the adoption of the Amendment of SOLAS Regulation VI-2 regarding Mandatory Weighing of Gross Mass of Containers by the Maritime Safety Committee of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO).

The amended rule requires shippers to submit verified gross weight of containers before loading onto ships. Without such a document, relevant export containers shall not be loaded onto ships. The amendment and its guidelines will be effective from 1 July 2016.

The IMO sub-committee also adopted relevant guidelines giving shippers two methods to verify the container’s weight: either by weighing the entire loaded container using calibrated and certified equipment; or weighing the individual packages, dunnage, etc and adding the tare mass to the sum of the single masses.