The Danish Maritime Authority (DMA) has announced that effective July 1, 2016, packed shipping containers must be weighed before loading. The shipper who completes the packing of the container is to establish the verified weight and the weight information is to follow the container at all times and be available to the ship and the terminal.

In recent years, there has been a number of accidents where large ships have lost containers at sea and where the ship’s hull has been extensively damaged due to overload. The main reason for these casualties is thought to be incorrect container weight data.

“It has been decided internationally,” the Danish announcement said, “that – as of 1 July 2016 – the so-called verified weight of all packed containers must be established. In addition, the weight information is required to follow the container at all times and be available to the ship and the terminal.”

The new provisions apply in all ports from which packed containers are shipped.

The shipper who completes the packing of the container is to establish the verified weight. This may be accomplished by weighing the packed container or by adding the weight of the container’s cargo and lashing elements to the weight of the empty container by use of a certified method.

The new regulations do not apply to containers carried on a chassis frame or a trailer on board ro-ro ships engaged on short international voyages.

The regulations will be formally issued in early May 2016 following a European Commission consultation procedure, but the preliminary order has already been published.