Marine Advisory: 06/2016 - Verification of Gross Mass of a Container Carrying Cargo

SUBJECT: Verification of Gross Mass of a Container Carrying Cargo Ref: a. Resolution MSC 380(94)

b. MSC.1/Circ.1475

Dear Shipowner/Operator/Master:

On 1 July 2016 new amendments to regulation 2 of SOLAS chapter VI enter into force, requiring the shipper to ensure the verified gross mass of a packed container is stated on the shipping document.

Mis-declared or incorrect container weights could result in incorrect stowage; collapsed container stacks; loss of stability and stress risks to ships; risk of personal injury or death to seafarers and shore-side workers; and other damage to the ship and environment.

Under the new regulation the gross mass of container carrying cargo shall be verified by the shipper, either by:

1. weighing the container after it has been packed; using calibrated and certified equipment; or
2. weighing all packages and cargo items, including the mass of pallets, dunnage and other securing material to be packed in the container and adding these weights to the container’s tare weight, using a certified method approved by the competent authority of the State in which packing of the container was completed.

The shipper of a container shall ensure the verified gross mass is stated in the shipping document, taking into account guidelines in reference (b). The shipping document shall be:

1. signed by a person duly authorized by the shipper; and
2. submitted to the master or his representative and to the terminal representative sufficiently in advance, as required by the master or his representative, to be used in the preparation of the ship stowage plan.

If the shipping document, with regard to a packed container, does not provide the verified gross mass and the Master or his representative and the terminal representative have not obtained the verified gross mass of the packed container, it shall not be loaded on to the ship.

For more information please contact the Technical Department at Technical@liscr.com or telephone

+1 703 790 3434.

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