Skuld loss prevention advice
The Skuld P&I Club has issued loss prevention advice regarding container weight checks in Vietnam.
Following repeat concerns with respect to containers having been found to be overweight when presented for shipment, the Vietnamese Government enacted a new law in 2014 which limited the total weight of 20 and 40 feet boxes to no more than 20 metric tonnes, including the weight of the container itself. The limit applies to the container for both road an sea transport.
Therefore, the Club advises vessels (despite the known time pressures) to to ensure they have proper cargo declarations and manifests supplied in advance of loading so that it can be planned and executed safely. That means ensuring both weights, and contents, are duly declared and taken in to account when the stowage plan is prepared and reviewed.
Where vessels are seriously concerned about the safety of a particular box, it may be better – despite the risk of a dispute – not to load it and instead proceed with completing operations with the remainder of the scheduled cargo.
While an argument may ensue about the non-shipment of the box, given the need to get on with the job of shipping the rest of the load, this is the safer route to take.
Should there be a serious concern over more than one box, i.e.: a wider issue with a stowage plan proposed by shippers or issues arise during the cargo operation which give rise to safety concerns, then again it may be better to take the necessary remedial action there an then.
Once a vessel is on the high seas it will not be become very difficult to deal with an overloaded stack that is in danger of collapsing (or has indeed collapsed). Given the time pressures and volume of cargo, masters and chief officers need good shore side support to enable them to check that the job is done properly and safely.
Source: The Skuld P&I Club
