The International Association of Ports and Harbours (IAPH) has welcomed the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) for its adoption of changes to UN convention by its safety committee on mandatory weighing of containers, according to Shipping Gazette.
The amended rule would require shippers to submit verified gross weight of containers before loading, without which they would not be loaded. If accepted by member states it would take effect July 1, 2016.
IAPH welcomes adoption of the recommended change to the convention as it would enhance safety of maritime container transport, said IAPH president Grant Gilfillan and Sydney Ports Corporation chief executive officer and director.
"Mis-declared or incorrectly declared container weights are one of the major causes of maritime container accidents in ship navigation, road transport and terminal operations," said Mr Gilfillan.
IAPH believes that weight verification should be completed before a container enters the port precinct. It is expected that different approaches per global jurisdiction will be taken to ensure weight verification.
"To not do so will continue to allow a significant risk to road users within the port and to terminal operators if they have to handle a container with unverified weight," Mr Gilfillan said.
IAPH will be encouraging regulators within governments or port jurisdictions to seek solutions which verify container weights as closer to the point of packing.
IAPH is a non-profit global alliance of roughly 200 ports and 150 maritime companies and institutes representing about 90 countries.
The amended rule would require shippers to submit verified gross weight of containers before loading, without which they would not be loaded. If accepted by member states it would take effect July 1, 2016.
IAPH welcomes adoption of the recommended change to the convention as it would enhance safety of maritime container transport, said IAPH president Grant Gilfillan and Sydney Ports Corporation chief executive officer and director.
"Mis-declared or incorrectly declared container weights are one of the major causes of maritime container accidents in ship navigation, road transport and terminal operations," said Mr Gilfillan.
IAPH believes that weight verification should be completed before a container enters the port precinct. It is expected that different approaches per global jurisdiction will be taken to ensure weight verification.
"To not do so will continue to allow a significant risk to road users within the port and to terminal operators if they have to handle a container with unverified weight," Mr Gilfillan said.
IAPH will be encouraging regulators within governments or port jurisdictions to seek solutions which verify container weights as closer to the point of packing.
IAPH is a non-profit global alliance of roughly 200 ports and 150 maritime companies and institutes representing about 90 countries.