The debate on the weighing of containers prior to loading onto vessels has taken a new turn following the vote of an IMO sub-committee in favour of a hybrid system for checking container weights.The IMO's Dangerous Goods, Solid Cargoes, and Containers sub-committee opted in September to give shippers a choice between mandatory weighing of all containers and an alternative system allowing weight to be calculated by the addition of the constituent parts of loaded containers.The alternative system was put forward to take account of countries that said that they simply did not have the capacity to weigh all containers individually, but immediately sparked off new controversy among both supporters and opponents of mandatory weighing.The International Transport Workers' Federation, which is concerned about the risk posed to seafarers and port workers by overloaded containers, said that the decision not to impose a universal requirement for weighing was a "missed opportunity".
展开▼
