Maersk to unilaterally levy fines for overweight boxes from October 1

MAERSK has unilaterally declared its intention to penalise shippers with a "weight discrepancy charge" of EUR35 (US$45.74) per container for misstating container weights in the Port of Trieste starting from October 1.

The charge will be applied if boxes are found outside of the following weights:

TEU (1) 0 - 9.999 tons, (2) 10-19.999 tons, (3) over 20 tons

FEU (1) 0 - 13.999 tons, (2) 14-23.999 tons, (3) over 24 tons

London's Containerisation International's said the introduction of the charge in Trieste alone suggests that containers will be weighed on arrival. "If so, the timing seems premature as the [UN's] International Maritime Organisation's [IMO] Solid Goods and Containerised Goods sub-committee (DSC 15) of the Maritime Safety Committee (MDC) is currently discussing if all containers should be compulsorily weighed," said the CI report.

"Should the issue be considered important enough by DSC 15, which will be known this in a couple of days time, and a proposal could be fast tracked for member states to consider in the next Maritime Safety Committee meeting at the end of November. If not, the following meeting is scheduled in May 2013," said CI.