Asian Shippers Council rejects IMO mandatory verification of gross weight of containers
Monday, 30 September 2013 00:54
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The Asian Shippers Council (ASC) last week in a statement said it rejects the recent agreement at the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) on mandatory verification of gross weight of containers.
“The decision at IMO’s Subcommittee on Dangerous Goods, Solid Cargoes and Containers on draft amendments to chapter VI of the Safety of Life at Sea convention was taken without proper representation from the party with the biggest stake in this issue - the shippers,” the ASC said.
The European Shippers’ Council (ESC) and the Asian Shippers’ Council (ASC), which together represent 75% of the world’s shippers, were not involved at any of the meetings convened to discuss mandatory verification of gross weight of containers, neither were our views sought on how to address the vital issue of container safety.
As there was no proper analysis on the problem of overweight containers, no real attempt to consider the possible alternatives to weighing and no consideration of the difficulties that 100% verification of gross weight of containers would create in the supply chain, mandatory weighing and verification of gross weight of containers is doomed to fail.
Not workable in practice
“There are millions of shippers across Asia, with different levels of maturity and different operational constraints. Before arriving at a key gateway for export, cargoes may have to use multiple modes of transport – trucks, ships and/or rail. Can you imagine trying to implement what is agreed at the IMO in such a challenging environment? As there are many emerging countries elsewhere – in South America and Africa – in similar situations, a one-size-fits-all requirement cannot work. It has not worked for 100% security screening and it will not work for 100% verification of gross weight of containers,” said John Y. Lu, Chairman of the ASC.
The terminal operators share the shippers’ concern. At key gateways like Busan, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Singapore, there are thousands of containers coming through daily, many of which are transhipped. Should a mere fraction of these present some kind of problem over verification, it would have dire effect over the operation of the terminals.
Uneven responsibility
Currently, the onus of weighing and verification of gross weight of containers falls on shippers. Little is mentioned about the ship owners’ responsibility. We believe better results can be obtained if the ship owners were to work with the terminal operators.
“We know that 100% verification being considered would increase the cost burden for shippers, generate additional paperwork and cause unnecessary delays in the supply chain. Will it improve safety? We have strong doubts,” Cai Jia Xiang, Convenor, Greater China Area and Vice Chairman, China Shippers’ Association added.
As Asia has much to lose with the implementation of mandatory verification of gross weight of containers, the ASC is appealing to governments to analyse its impact on their respective countries, assess its implications and take appropriate action.
The Asian Shippers’ Council (ASC) was formed on 13 September 2004 to integrate shippers’ council s in Asia into a single entity to protect and promote the collective interests of Asian Shippers.
It consists of 19 shippers’ councils from 16 countries, including Korea, China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Australia, Fiji, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, with affiliate shippers’ councils in Africa.
