INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF FREIGHT FORWARDERS ASSOCIATIONS (FIATA)

國際貨運代理協會聯合會

·       FIATA Best Practices – Container Shipping and the Quality of Containers

·       FIATA 最佳操作指引 – 貨櫃和貨櫃品質

Containers are an important investment of the shipping lines and it is in the interest of shipping lines to turn around their containers as fast as possible. It is the responsibility of the shipping lines to ensure that their containers are safe and fit to be used for the required purpose. Being the property of the shipping lines, the merchant is obliged to treat and handle the containers with good care. Container interchange documents that are issued during empty release or empty return are a good tool for both the merchant and the shipping lines to have some control.

The existing rules and convention such as

Ø   Convention for Safe Container (CSC)

Ø   Code of Practice for Packing of Cargo Transport Units as approved by IMO/ILO/UNECE

are clear and transparent and provide a good legal base and recommended practices. However, the quality of containers at empty pick up has decreased significantly and there are practical considerations that frequently lead to disputes, additional costs and above all to disruptions in the supply chain.

Further to the first “Best Practice Guide” with a focus on demurrage and detention charges in container shipping issued back in October 2018 (please see here), the FIATA Working Group Sea Transport released the subject guide which identifies responsibilities of the stakeholders involved making reference to related conventions (Convention for Safe Container – CSC) and to the Code of Practice for Packing of Cargo Transport Units. The document aims to examine the current situation and outline best practices that could be implemented voluntarily by all parties moving cargo through ports. These best practices may help reduce inefficient behavior that lead to delays and unnecessary supply chain costs. Members please download the best practices from the following hyperlinks:

English -                     [FIATA Best Practices]

Traditional Chinese -    [FIATA最佳操作指引] Member only, please login first

Simplified Chinese -     [FIATA最佳做法] Member only, please login first