One of the port industry’s biggest challenges in 2016 may be the issue of container weighing. When the amendments to the Safety of Life at Sea Convention come into force in July 2016, the containers cannot be loaded on board a ship unless they are weighed by scales or precisely calculated by pre-determined procedures. Although providing the “verified gross mass” is the shipper’s responsibility, ports are occasionally forced to take some necessary measures when containers without legitimate weight verification arrive at terminal gates.
However, the port industry now does not seem adequately prepared for this. I believe more discussions are required among the stakeholders, including regulatory authorities, shippers, shipping lines and port authorities. IAPH has long been “for” the amendments by adopting a couple of resolutions in the recent past calling for a coordinated action to stop this critical problem, because misdeclared container weights have had a serious impact on port safety, the stability of container ships and road transportation.
I hope all parties concerned will go enact the new regulation effectively and improve the safety levels of port operations.
The $5.2 billion expansion of the Panama Canal is scheduled to be complete in early 2016. To coincide with this significant maritime event, IAPH will opportunely meet in Panama City, Panama, in May for its Mid-Term Conference to explore a number of critical issues, focusing on how the expanded canal will change world trade patterns and the logistics landscape. The venue will provide an ideal platform for us to exchange information and opinions on the expanded canal and its implications to world ports.