Once upon a time it was cube cutting that was the fraud of choice for the world's freight forwarders but with the burgeoning trade in full load containers (FCL's) over the past few decades, often stuffed with consolidated cargo from different consignors, a new and potentially much more dangerous, problem has arisen.

Under declared tonnage in shipping containers, deliberate or not, has the potential to put lives at risk. Gantries, fork lift trucks and other handling equipment may not be up to the strain and, in worst case scenarios, ships can be incorrectly loaded leading to instability.

Last June saw a conference sponsored by the UK P&I Club titled "Weighing containers: Is it really that difficult?" and the results of the proceedings have now been published. The conference included presentations by the UK's Marine Accident Investigation Branch, container handling specialists, a terminal operator, insurers and a surveyor. According to David Cheslin, Managing Director of organisers Dunelm Public Relations publication at this time is very appropriate, as he points out:

"On the 1st December, the World Shipping Council (WSC) and the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) announced that they were urging the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) to establish an international legal requirement that all loaded containers be weighed at the marine port facility before they are stowed aboard a vessel for export. This has major ramifications for ship owners and terminals alike as the IMO is unlikely to ignore these two powerful bodies."