The International Maritime Organization (IMO), some time ago, amended the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Convention to require shippers to verify container weights. This change was brought about by accidents resulting from overweight containers – both on the road and at sea – as well as studies showing that an unacceptably large percentage of significantly overweight containers are tendered to carriers. Since the new SOLAS container weight rules were released, and as the deadline for implementation rapidly approaches, there have been an increasing amount of questions, few answers and genuine concern among shippers and the industry as to the potentially serious impact of the rule on U.S. trade and competitiveness.
Please see the full article from the NCBFAA that includes details of the new rule and answers to some questions that have been raised.
The International Maritime Organization (IMO), some time ago, amended the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Convention to require shippers to verify container weights. This change was brought about by accidents resulting from overweight containers – both on the road and at sea – as well as studies showing that an unacceptably large percentage of significantly overweight containers are tendered to carriers. Since the new SOLAS container weight rules were released, and as the deadline for implementation rapidly approaches, there have been an increasing amount of questions, few answers and genuine concern among shippers and the industry as to the potentially serious impact of the rule on U.S. trade and competitiveness.