Shipping company weight limit? Weight limit in the port area? Route weight limit? How to
- Author:Besson
- Release Date:2020-11-27
In June 2018, the Dalian Maritime Safety Administration and Dalian Maritime Safety Administration seized a serious overweight incident involving 35 containers totaling more than 130 tons. This is the largest container overweight case in the country with the largest number of boxes involved and the largest weight.
According to the weighbridge measurement, the declared weight of these 35 containers is seriously inconsistent with the actual weight, a total of 133 tons overweight, of which 18 containers exceed the safe load limit of the container, which brings unpredictable risks to terminal operations and ship navigation. The Dalian Maritime Safety Administration ordered the owner of the cargo to immediately unload part of the cargo and declare truthfully to the customs and the ship to ensure compliance with international conventions.
According to reports, container overloading not only poses challenges to maritime affairs and customs supervision order, but also lays down serious safety hazards in transportation, loading and unloading, storage, ship stowage and navigation, etc. There have been many cases in the history of shipping caused by container overweight. Cases of ship capsizing and casualties.
How to deal with the problem of container overweight?
The weight limit of the container itself
There is information on the maximum weight limit on the opening door of each container, such as MAX GROSS: 30480KGS. This means that your box and the cargo cannot exceed this weight. Tare weight-20GP: 2200KGS, 40: 3.720-4200KGS, some HQ will have MAX GROSS: 32000KGS.
This is the maximum strength that the container box can withstand. If the load exceeds this limit, the box may be deformed, the bottom plate will fall off, and the top beam may be bent. All losses arising therefrom will be borne by the shipper. At present, most professional container terminals in China have installed automatic floor scales. Therefore, as long as the container load exceeds the weight limit of the container, the terminal will refuse to accept the container. Therefore, it is recommended that you read clearly the weight limit on the container body before packing to avoid unnecessary repacking operations.
If the goods are indeed overweight and cannot be divided, you can choose an overweight box. The increase here is the weight selection fee. The general dock/yard stacks the ordinary dry containers of the shipping company together. If you want to choose the special weighted container (such as the 20 weighted container mentioned above), the terminal and the storage yard must be one by one Search, the resultant selection fee is generally the same as the specified counter fee.
Container transportation is a collaborative operation process involving multiple departments, so in addition to the weight limit of the container itself, there are some other factors that need to be considered.
Shipping company weight limit
Under normal circumstances, each shipping company has a different weight policy. The approximate standard is not to damage the container.
Considering the balance of space and weight. Each container ship has certain space and weight restrictions, but in a specific route, space and weight are not always just balanced and used up. Contradictions often occur in North China, where heavy cargo is concentrated. The weight of the ship has arrived and the space is still much smaller. In order to compensate for this loss of space, shipping companies often adopt a price increase strategy, that is, add extra freight after the cargo weighs more than how many tons. . There are also shipping companies that do not use their own ships, but buy the space of other shipping companies for transportation, and the weight restrictions will be more stringent, because the space transactions between shipping companies are calculated according to the standard of 1TEU=14TONS or 16TONS , Those who exceed the weight will not be boarded.
During the burst period, depending on the heat of the route, the shipping company's weight limit for each box type will be adjusted accordingly.
When booking, you must ask the freight forwarder about the weight limit of the shipping company at the latest when shipping. If there is no confirmation and the cargo is heavy, there is a risk. After some shipping companies are overweight, they will not have any room for communication and directly let the shipper tow the cargo, leave the port, collect the cargo and then weigh it again. These costs are difficult to control.
Port area weight limit
Mainly depends on the mechanical equipment load of the wharf and yard.
After a container ship arrives at the dock, it generally needs a crane at the dock to carry out loading and unloading operations, and then it is towed by a truck to the container yard and then lifted by a forklift. If the weight of the container exceeds the mechanical load, it will cause difficulties in the operation of the terminal and the yard. Therefore, for some small ports with relatively backward equipment, the shipping company will generally inform the port of the weight limit in advance, and it will not be accepted if it exceeds this limit.
Supporting feeder ship or highway weight limit
Those who have been in the inland points of the United States know that the weight limit for road transportation in the United States is very strict. Because many containers need to be towed inland by truck after unloading at the terminal, the road weight limit has also become a shipping company. The reason for restricting the weight of containers, of course, is not limited to those that can only do so.
The weight requirements for cargo to the United States are very strict. The weight limit is mainly affected by the weight limit of the highway to the inland points of the United States. Generally, the small container is 17.3 tons and the large high container is 19.5 tons. However, different ports also have different weight limit requirements.
Route weight limit
For different routes, the shipping capacity is arranged in accordance with the order of cargo loading and unloading ports and the types and heat of cargo exports. In addition to the load problem of the equipment operation at the destination port, the weight limits of different shipping routes are naturally different.
What should I do if I am overweight?
This is mainly divided into port area overweight, shipping company overweight, destination port overweight
1. Shipping company is overweight
Discuss with the shipowner to make up the overweight fee, and others will go as normal;
2. The port area has self-regulated overweight
If it is found to be overweight when entering the port, you need to negotiate with the port area to make up the overweight fee plus manual handling fee or take out the box and reload;
3. The port of destination is overweight
Generally, if the port of destination is overweight within a certain range, it can be resolved by paying a fine; if the overweight is serious, the crane along the way cannot load it and can only be unloaded at a nearby port or returned on the same route.
Policy and influence
Beginning on July 1, 2016, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) will implement the relevant requirements of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) regarding the weight verification of exported containers. The regulations clearly require that from the same day, the shipper (consignor) ) The total weight (VGM) of all exported containers will be declared and checked. Any container without the total weight will not be shipped.
1. The new regulations will improve shipping safety
The new regulations will improve shipping safety. False container weights have a serious impact on the stability of ships, trucks and terminal equipment, and can pose a threat to the safety of workers in the industry, even endangering lives. False weight reporting seems to be a common phenomenon. When a container is weighed after an accident, the total amount obtained is often different from the data on its cargo manifest. A long-standing dispute over this issue has led to amendments to the SOLAS Convention to ensure accurate declaration of the weight of all containers.
2. All containers should be weighed
The principles stipulated in the new SOLAS Convention are simple. From July 1, 2016, all containers must be weighed compulsorily before they are shipped. The weight of the container can be determined in one of two ways. The container can be weighed after it has been loaded, or all the contents of the container can be weighed instead, and the weight can be combined with the container tare weight. In any way, subjective calculations are not allowed on its weight.
3. The entire supply chain will be affected
Active participation in all aspects of the container supply chain will be affected to some extent by this new regulation. Ship operators and terminal operators are required to apply the verified container weight to the stowage plan. In order for them to obtain the information in a timely manner, the shipper will have to share the verified weight with the booking agent or freight forwarder. This obviously requires a new agreement on procedures and modifications to existing information technology (IT) systems.
4. It is the shipper's responsibility to provide accurate weight
The shipper (or a third party under the responsibility of the shipper) is required to weigh the loaded container or all of its contents, depending on the method chosen. The weighing equipment used must meet national certification and calibration requirements.
The SOLAS Convention amendment requires that the weight verification procedure must be signed, and the specific person must be named and determined according to the procedure that has verified the weight calculation accuracy on behalf of the shipper. The carrier can rely on this signature verification weight as the accurate weight.
5. The details of the declaration procedure may vary depending on the specific circumstances.
The verified total weight of the container must be declared in a signed shipping document. This document may be part of the shipping instructions to the shipping company, or it may be a separate document, such as a declaration containing a weight certificate. In any case, the document should clearly state that the total weight provided is the verified total weight.
The carrier will provide the shipper with a deadline for relevant information, during which the carrier must receive the required container verification weight from the shipper for the ship stowage plan. These cut-off times can vary from carrier to carrier, operational procedures or requirements of different terminal operators, and can vary from port to port. Any container without a verified gross weight shall not be shipped.
According to the weighbridge measurement, the declared weight of these 35 containers is seriously inconsistent with the actual weight, a total of 133 tons overweight, of which 18 containers exceed the safe load limit of the container, which brings unpredictable risks to terminal operations and ship navigation. The Dalian Maritime Safety Administration ordered the owner of the cargo to immediately unload part of the cargo and declare truthfully to the customs and the ship to ensure compliance with international conventions.
According to reports, container overloading not only poses challenges to maritime affairs and customs supervision order, but also lays down serious safety hazards in transportation, loading and unloading, storage, ship stowage and navigation, etc. There have been many cases in the history of shipping caused by container overweight. Cases of ship capsizing and casualties.
How to deal with the problem of container overweight?
The weight limit of the container itself
There is information on the maximum weight limit on the opening door of each container, such as MAX GROSS: 30480KGS. This means that your box and the cargo cannot exceed this weight. Tare weight-20GP: 2200KGS, 40: 3.720-4200KGS, some HQ will have MAX GROSS: 32000KGS.
This is the maximum strength that the container box can withstand. If the load exceeds this limit, the box may be deformed, the bottom plate will fall off, and the top beam may be bent. All losses arising therefrom will be borne by the shipper. At present, most professional container terminals in China have installed automatic floor scales. Therefore, as long as the container load exceeds the weight limit of the container, the terminal will refuse to accept the container. Therefore, it is recommended that you read clearly the weight limit on the container body before packing to avoid unnecessary repacking operations.
If the goods are indeed overweight and cannot be divided, you can choose an overweight box. The increase here is the weight selection fee. The general dock/yard stacks the ordinary dry containers of the shipping company together. If you want to choose the special weighted container (such as the 20 weighted container mentioned above), the terminal and the storage yard must be one by one Search, the resultant selection fee is generally the same as the specified counter fee.
Container transportation is a collaborative operation process involving multiple departments, so in addition to the weight limit of the container itself, there are some other factors that need to be considered.
Shipping company weight limit
Under normal circumstances, each shipping company has a different weight policy. The approximate standard is not to damage the container.
Considering the balance of space and weight. Each container ship has certain space and weight restrictions, but in a specific route, space and weight are not always just balanced and used up. Contradictions often occur in North China, where heavy cargo is concentrated. The weight of the ship has arrived and the space is still much smaller. In order to compensate for this loss of space, shipping companies often adopt a price increase strategy, that is, add extra freight after the cargo weighs more than how many tons. . There are also shipping companies that do not use their own ships, but buy the space of other shipping companies for transportation, and the weight restrictions will be more stringent, because the space transactions between shipping companies are calculated according to the standard of 1TEU=14TONS or 16TONS , Those who exceed the weight will not be boarded.
During the burst period, depending on the heat of the route, the shipping company's weight limit for each box type will be adjusted accordingly.
When booking, you must ask the freight forwarder about the weight limit of the shipping company at the latest when shipping. If there is no confirmation and the cargo is heavy, there is a risk. After some shipping companies are overweight, they will not have any room for communication and directly let the shipper tow the cargo, leave the port, collect the cargo and then weigh it again. These costs are difficult to control.
Port area weight limit
Mainly depends on the mechanical equipment load of the wharf and yard.
After a container ship arrives at the dock, it generally needs a crane at the dock to carry out loading and unloading operations, and then it is towed by a truck to the container yard and then lifted by a forklift. If the weight of the container exceeds the mechanical load, it will cause difficulties in the operation of the terminal and the yard. Therefore, for some small ports with relatively backward equipment, the shipping company will generally inform the port of the weight limit in advance, and it will not be accepted if it exceeds this limit.
Supporting feeder ship or highway weight limit
Those who have been in the inland points of the United States know that the weight limit for road transportation in the United States is very strict. Because many containers need to be towed inland by truck after unloading at the terminal, the road weight limit has also become a shipping company. The reason for restricting the weight of containers, of course, is not limited to those that can only do so.
The weight requirements for cargo to the United States are very strict. The weight limit is mainly affected by the weight limit of the highway to the inland points of the United States. Generally, the small container is 17.3 tons and the large high container is 19.5 tons. However, different ports also have different weight limit requirements.
Route weight limit
For different routes, the shipping capacity is arranged in accordance with the order of cargo loading and unloading ports and the types and heat of cargo exports. In addition to the load problem of the equipment operation at the destination port, the weight limits of different shipping routes are naturally different.
What should I do if I am overweight?
This is mainly divided into port area overweight, shipping company overweight, destination port overweight
1. Shipping company is overweight
Discuss with the shipowner to make up the overweight fee, and others will go as normal;
2. The port area has self-regulated overweight
If it is found to be overweight when entering the port, you need to negotiate with the port area to make up the overweight fee plus manual handling fee or take out the box and reload;
3. The port of destination is overweight
Generally, if the port of destination is overweight within a certain range, it can be resolved by paying a fine; if the overweight is serious, the crane along the way cannot load it and can only be unloaded at a nearby port or returned on the same route.
Policy and influence
Beginning on July 1, 2016, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) will implement the relevant requirements of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) regarding the weight verification of exported containers. The regulations clearly require that from the same day, the shipper (consignor) ) The total weight (VGM) of all exported containers will be declared and checked. Any container without the total weight will not be shipped.
1. The new regulations will improve shipping safety
The new regulations will improve shipping safety. False container weights have a serious impact on the stability of ships, trucks and terminal equipment, and can pose a threat to the safety of workers in the industry, even endangering lives. False weight reporting seems to be a common phenomenon. When a container is weighed after an accident, the total amount obtained is often different from the data on its cargo manifest. A long-standing dispute over this issue has led to amendments to the SOLAS Convention to ensure accurate declaration of the weight of all containers.
2. All containers should be weighed
The principles stipulated in the new SOLAS Convention are simple. From July 1, 2016, all containers must be weighed compulsorily before they are shipped. The weight of the container can be determined in one of two ways. The container can be weighed after it has been loaded, or all the contents of the container can be weighed instead, and the weight can be combined with the container tare weight. In any way, subjective calculations are not allowed on its weight.
3. The entire supply chain will be affected
Active participation in all aspects of the container supply chain will be affected to some extent by this new regulation. Ship operators and terminal operators are required to apply the verified container weight to the stowage plan. In order for them to obtain the information in a timely manner, the shipper will have to share the verified weight with the booking agent or freight forwarder. This obviously requires a new agreement on procedures and modifications to existing information technology (IT) systems.
4. It is the shipper's responsibility to provide accurate weight
The shipper (or a third party under the responsibility of the shipper) is required to weigh the loaded container or all of its contents, depending on the method chosen. The weighing equipment used must meet national certification and calibration requirements.
The SOLAS Convention amendment requires that the weight verification procedure must be signed, and the specific person must be named and determined according to the procedure that has verified the weight calculation accuracy on behalf of the shipper. The carrier can rely on this signature verification weight as the accurate weight.
5. The details of the declaration procedure may vary depending on the specific circumstances.
The verified total weight of the container must be declared in a signed shipping document. This document may be part of the shipping instructions to the shipping company, or it may be a separate document, such as a declaration containing a weight certificate. In any case, the document should clearly state that the total weight provided is the verified total weight.
The carrier will provide the shipper with a deadline for relevant information, during which the carrier must receive the required container verification weight from the shipper for the ship stowage plan. These cut-off times can vary from carrier to carrier, operational procedures or requirements of different terminal operators, and can vary from port to port. Any container without a verified gross weight shall not be shipped.