Asian shippers reject forced box weigh-ins, costs/benefits don't add up
THE Asian Shippers' Council (ASC) and the European Shipper Council (ESC) have come out against mandatory container weighing and verification ahead of talks at the UN's International Maritime Organisation in London.
The ASC and ESC called on the parties taking part in the decision-making at the IMO "to reject these proposals" that are being made without proper analysis of the impact", reported Lloyd's Loading List.
The ASC represents shippers' councils in Singapore, Hong Kong, South Korea, China, Macau, Taiwan, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Australia, Fiji, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam.
The ASC argues that compulsory rules are not required and it should be enough to add guidance to the relevant sections of the UN's Safety of Life at Sea Convention.
Agreeing, the European Shippers' Council, along with the European and international freight forwarders associations Fiata and Clecat as well as the European terminal operators group Feport, say container weight verification requirements would be "ineffective".
The associations say they do not believe additional legislation will have any real impact on safety at sea. What is needed for weighing is a "proper risk analysis of the quality of the data transferred between shipping lines, shippers and customs authorities".
The Global Shippers' Forum, which represents cargo interests from Europe, Asia, North and South America, Australasia and Africa, is pressing IMO members to support compromise proposals after Panama and Cyprus raised objections.
Port associations and carriers, who unlike the shippers would not pay the extra costs of weighing and verification, back obligatory measures.
But while the owners groups like the World Shipping Council, International Chamber of Shipping, International Association of Ports and Harbours and Bimco, call for IMO action, they also worry about "how post-treatment of infringements should be dealt with and who is responsible for the onward effects on the operations of the port".
They claim that current proposals suggest the terminal operator would be responsible for ensuring every loaded container on board a ship has a weight certificate.
They also question whether there is evidence on which to base regulatory proposals that would apply to the whole of the liner shipping industry, affect every container in the world and millions of logistics companies and their customers.
"It would add administrative burdens to the industry and member states without necessarily increasing safety at sea," they said.
THE Asian Shippers' Council (ASC) and the European Shipper Council (ESC) have come out against mandatory container weighing and verification ahead of talks at the UN's International Maritime Organisation in London.
The ASC and ESC called on the parties taking part in the decision-making at the IMO "to reject these proposals" that are being made without proper analysis of the impact", reported Lloyd's Loading List.
The ASC represents shippers' councils in Singapore, Hong Kong, South Korea, China, Macau, Taiwan, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Australia, Fiji, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam.
The ASC argues that compulsory rules are not required and it should be enough to add guidance to the relevant sections of the UN's Safety of Life at Sea Convention.
Agreeing, the European Shippers' Council, along with the European and international freight forwarders associations Fiata and Clecat as well as the European terminal operators group Feport, say container weight verification requirements would be "ineffective".
The associations say they do not believe additional legislation will have any real impact on safety at sea. What is needed for weighing is a "proper risk analysis of the quality of the data transferred between shipping lines, shippers and customs authorities".
The Global Shippers' Forum, which represents cargo interests from Europe, Asia, North and South America, Australasia and Africa, is pressing IMO members to support compromise proposals after Panama and Cyprus raised objections.
Port associations and carriers, who unlike the shippers would not pay the extra costs of weighing and verification, back obligatory measures.
But while the owners groups like the World Shipping Council, International Chamber of Shipping, International Association of Ports and Harbours and Bimco, call for IMO action, they also worry about "how post-treatment of infringements should be dealt with and who is responsible for the onward effects on the operations of the port".
They claim that current proposals suggest the terminal operator would be responsible for ensuring every loaded container on board a ship has a weight certificate.
They also question whether there is evidence on which to base regulatory proposals that would apply to the whole of the liner shipping industry, affect every container in the world and millions of logistics companies and their customers.
"It would add administrative burdens to the industry and member states without necessarily increasing safety at sea," they said.