Aside from improper lashing, stowing and stuffing, another important concern for maritime shipping organizations regarding loading and unloading of cargo are incorrectly declared container weights. Correct information pertaining to the nature, weight, and amount of cargo are important for safety measures and accurate voyage calculation and proper disbursement of shipping lines. Declared vs. actual container weight inconsistencies cost maritime shipping organizations millions of dollars and can lead to tragic accidents on land and at sea which jeopardizes not only the containers but also the lives of shipping crew members, dockworkers and dockmasters.
The International Chamber of Shipping in conjunction with the World Shipping Council initially combined their efforts to release a publication that provides industry-recommended best practices pertaining to safety precautions in the loading and unloading of cargo for ships, shipping lines and port facilities, but this effort failed to address the issue of incorrect cargo declarations.
The International Maritime Organization has stepped in and agreed to the proposed solutions for this long-standing safety problem faced by the maritime shipping industry. Mandating the verification of declared container weights prior to loading and the availability of container weights for safe cargo stowage planning will not only save lives, but also improve operational efficiency and reduce cargo losses.
Accurate cargo weight information coupled with container management software will help shipping companies maintain safety throughout stuffing, stowage planning, loading and unloading of containers. This shipping software is developed to adhere strictly to both local and international container stowing regulations as stated by recognized international shipping organizations.
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