The Global Shippers Forum has praised the International Maritime Organisation’s decision to support compromise proposals for the verification of container weights.
The IMO’s sub-committee on dangerous goods, solid cargoes and containers, held a meeting this week to discuss the proposals, which will either see shippers verify the weight of a container by weighing the packed container, or weighing all packages and cargo items individually.
The GSF said that by supporting the proposals, the IMO has made the right decision and addressed recognised safety problems regarding misdeclared container cargo weights.
It said this is the best possible outcome for both shippers and the maritime industry, as it provides a flexible solution that can be applied by industry without significant cost or delays in the supply chain.
“This is a good day for maritime safety,” said GSF secretary general, Chris Welsh.
“We believe that the outcome is a sensible compromise, and we are pleased that the IMO listened carefully to shippers’ arguments regarding appropriate methods for verification. “
