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Shippers 'lobby' leader welcomes container UN weight check rule
SPEAKING personally, the secretary general of the Global Shipper Forum (GSF) has welcomed a United Nations agency vote that brings mandatory container weight verifiction a step closer to enforcement.
Mr Welsh will head a body in Britain to consider how the new IMO rules should be applied. Other countries will do the same before the rule has the force of law.
"This is a good compromise agreement," said GSF chief Chris Welch, who was reached at the UN's International Maritime Organisation (IMO) in London by Lloyd's List.
The IMO's maritime safety committee approved changes to the Safety of Life at Sea convention. Amendments will enter into force in July 2016 following a vote by a UN committee in November.
The GSF, which incorporated itself to participate in bodies such as UN agencies, purports to represent shippers, but has opposed the European Shippers Council and the Asia Shippers Council over container weigh-ins.
The GSF backed shipowners who have everything to gain from weigh-ins, leaving Asian and European shippers to pay for yet another expensive compliance cost if it takes on the force of law.
From the start, objecting shippers asked whether the costs of mandatory weigh-ins would exceed the benefits, but found the IMO debate restricted to the method of weighing rather that whether it need be done.
The British International Freight Association (BIFA) recently said that mandatory weigh-ins appeared to be inevitable because most declared container weight were lower that actual weights.
Shortsea ferry and feeder services will not be covered by the new ruling.
Mr Welsh will head a body in Britain to consider how the new IMO rules should be applied. Other countries will do the same before the rule has the force of law.
"This is a good compromise agreement," said GSF chief Chris Welch, who was reached at the UN's International Maritime Organisation (IMO) in London by Lloyd's List.
The IMO's maritime safety committee approved changes to the Safety of Life at Sea convention. Amendments will enter into force in July 2016 following a vote by a UN committee in November.
The GSF, which incorporated itself to participate in bodies such as UN agencies, purports to represent shippers, but has opposed the European Shippers Council and the Asia Shippers Council over container weigh-ins.
The GSF backed shipowners who have everything to gain from weigh-ins, leaving Asian and European shippers to pay for yet another expensive compliance cost if it takes on the force of law.
From the start, objecting shippers asked whether the costs of mandatory weigh-ins would exceed the benefits, but found the IMO debate restricted to the method of weighing rather that whether it need be done.
The British International Freight Association (BIFA) recently said that mandatory weigh-ins appeared to be inevitable because most declared container weight were lower that actual weights.
Shortsea ferry and feeder services will not be covered by the new ruling.
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