Full Text
REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99
The Gazette of India
CG-DL-E-09092026-276090
EXTRAORDINARY
No. 706]
PART II—Section 3—Sub-section (i)
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY
NEW DELHI, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2026/BHADRA 11, 1948
MINISTRY OF PORTS, SHIPPING, AND WATERWAYS
NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 2nd September, 2026
G.S.R. 774(E).— ln exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1), clauses (a), (b) and (c) of sub-
section (2) of section 130 and sub-section (1) of section 319 read with section 116 and clause (f) of sub-section (2) of
section 123 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 2025 (24 of 2025) and in supersession of the Merchant Shipping (Carriage
of Cargo) Rules, 1995, except as respects things done or omitted to be done before such supersession, the Central
Government hereby makes the following rules, namely:-
CHAPTER I
PRELIMINARY
1. Short title and commencement.— (1) These rules may be called Merchant Shipping (Carriage of Cargoes and Oil
Fuels) Rules, 2026.
(2) They shall come into force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette.
2. Application.— Unless otherwise specified in the Act or any other rule made thereunder, these rules shall apply to
(1) carriage of cargoes (except liquids in bulk or gases in bulk) which owing to their particular hazards to ships
or person on board, require special precautions to be taken;
(2) all Indian ships, except the ships covered under Part XIII of the Act, carrying or about to carry cargoes
specified in these rules anywhere;
(3) all ships other than Indian ships when such ships carrying or about to carry cargoes specified in these rules
is within India, including coastal waters, ports or places in India;
(4) all Indian ships of below 500 gross tonnage, in case the Administration by specific or general order or
circular in writing specify in this behalf the extent or permit of such measures to ensure reasonable and
equivalent safety of such ships taking into account the nature and conditions of sheltered voyage.
3. Definitions.— (1) In these rules, unless the context otherwise requires,-
(a) "Act" means the Merchant Shipping Act, 2025 (24 of 2025);
(b) "Administration" means the Director General of Maritime Administration;
(c) "cargo items" shall have the same meaning as assigned to the term "cargo" in the International Convention for
Safe Containers, 1972, as amended, and includes any goods, wares, merchandise, liquid, gases, solids and articles of
every kind whatsoever carried in containers pursuant to a contract of carriage, but does not include ship's equipment,
supplies, spare parts or stores related thereto, carried in containers;
(d) "cargo transport unit" means a freight container, swap body, vehicle, railway wagon or any other similar unit in
particular when used in intermodal transport;
(e) "cargo unit" means a vehicle, container, flat, pallet portable tank, packaged unit or any other entity etc., and
loading equipment or part thereof which belongs to the ship but is not fixed to the ship;
(f) "Code of Practice for the Safe Loading and Unloading of Bulk Carriers” means the Code of Practice for the Safe
Loading and Unloading of Bulk Carriers including the manual on loading and unloading of solid bulk cargoes for
terminal representatives adopted by the International Maritime Organisation Resolution A.862(20) as amended from
time to time, incorporated as supplement to the International Maritime Solid Bulk Cargoes Code;
(g) "competent authority" means the Administration or any person authorised by the Administration to perform any
function under these rules;
(h) "container" means container as defined in the International Convention for Safe Containers, 1972;
(i) "CTU Code" means the Code of Practice for Packing of Cargo Transport Units, 2014 which is endorsed by
International Maritime Organisation, International Labour Organisation, and United Nations Economic Commission
for Europe, as amended from time to time;
(j) "document" includes the use of Electronic Data Processing and Electronic Data Interchange transmission technique
as an alternate and aid to paper documentation as specified in chapter 5.4 of the International Maritime Dangerous
Goods Code;
(k) "grain" includes wheat, maize (corn), oats, rye, barley, rice, pulses, seeds, and processed forms thereof, whose
behavior is similar to that of grain in its natural state;
(1) "gross mass" means the combined mass of a container's tare mass and the masses of all packages and cargo items,
including pallets, dunnage and other packing material and securing materials packed into the container;
(m) "International Convention for Safe Containers, 1972" means the International Convention for Safe Containers,
1972, adopted by the International Maritime Organisation, as amended from time to time;
(n) "International Grain Code" means the International Code for the Safe Carriage of Grain in Bulk, adopted by the
International Maritime Organisation by Resolution MSC.23 (59), as amended from time to time;
(o) "IMSBC Code" means the International Maritime Solid Bulk Cargoes Code adopted by the International Maritime
Organisation by Resolution MSC.268 (85), as amended from time to time;
(p) "International Maritime Organisation" means a United Nation's specialised agency with responsibility for the
safety and security of shipping and the prevention of pollution by ships;
(q) "notice" means any notice, circular, order or guidelines issued by Administration under section 301 of the Act;
(r) "package" means one or more cargo items that are tied together, packed, wrapped, boxed or parcelled for
transportation including but not limited to parcels, boxes, packets and cartons.
(s) "Port State Authority" means the jurisdictional Mercantile Marine Department;
(t) "recognised organisation" means any person or body of persons notified under section 9 of the Act;
(u) "Schedule" means a Schedule annexed to these rules;
(v) "shipper" means a legal entity or person named on the bill of lading or sea waybill or equivalent multimodal
transport document (e.g. "through" bill of lading) as shipper or who (or in whose name or on whose behalf) a contract
of carriage has been concluded with a shipping company;
(w) "shipping document" means a document used by the shipper to communicate the verified gross mass of the
packed container which may be part of the shipping instructions to the shipping company or a separate communication
in the form of a declaration including a weight certificate produced by a weigh station;
(x) "solid bulk cargo" means any cargo, other than liquid or gas, consisting of a combination of particles, granules or
any larger pieces of material generally uniform in composition, which is loaded directly into the cargo spaces of a ship
without any intermediate form of containment;
(y) "tare mass" means the mass of an empty container that does not contain any packages, cargo items, pallets,
dunnage, or any other packing material or securing material;
(z) "terminal representative” means a person appointed by the terminal or other facility where the ship is loading or
unloading, who has responsibility for operations conducted by that terminal or facility with regard to the particular
ship;
(za) "timber deck cargo" means a cargo of timber carried on an uncovered part of a freeboard or superstructure deck;
(zb) "verified gross mass" means the total gross mass of a packed container as obtained by one of the methods
specified.
(2) The words and expressions used and not defined in these rules but defined in the Act, International Convention for
Safe Containers, 1972, International Convention for Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, International Convention for
Prevention of Pollution from ships, 1973/1978, and applicable codes shall have the meanings respectively assigned to
them in the Act and in those applicable regulations, codes and conventions, as the case may be.
CHAPTER II
GENERAL PROVISIONS
4. Carriage of timber cargoes.— (1) Every ship carrying timber deck cargo and timber inside the hold shall comply
with the provisions of the Timber Code and the recommendations of the International Maritime Organisation as
adopted by Resolution MSC/Circ.525 and MSC/Circ. 548 as amended and such other recommendations of the
International Maritime Organisation, issued from time to time.
Explanation.— For the purposes of this sub-rule, the expression “Timber Code” means the Code of Safe Practice for
ships Carrying Timber Deck Cargoes adopted by the International Maritime Organisation Resolution A.1048 (27), as
amended from time to time;
(2) All ships provided with and making use of timber load line shall comply with the requirements of the applicable
regulations of the International Load Line Convention, as amended, and shall load timber cargo under-deck and on-
deck, as per the stability booklet conditions duly approved by the competent authority or recognised organisation.
(3) A ship loaded with timber deck cargo shall comply with the requirements of this rule and report the same to the
respective Port State Authority or concerned Port State Control officer if outside India.
5. Carriage of Cargo Transport Units (containers).— (1) The master of a ship shall ensure that new or existing
containers loaded, stowed and carried for sea transportation have a safety approval plate conforming to the
specifications set out in the appendix of the International Convention for Safe Containers, 1972, as amended.
(2) The master of the ship shall ensure that every such container shipped on board has been provided with documents
specified in sub-rule (5) of rule 7 and is secured as per the cargo securing manual duly approved by the competent
authority or recognised organisation.
(3) Every master or owner shall ensure that the dangerous goods carried in the containers are verified and complies
with the provisions of the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code.
(4) The master or owner shall ensure that containers received on board are well maintained and relevant endorsement
is highlighted on the safety approval plate.
(5) The master of a ship when loading cargo transport units on his ship, shall ensure that shipper provides documents
showing compliance with the CTU Code, 2014 with special reference to its packing.
(6) For ensuring compliance of containers with provisions of the International Convention for Safe Containers, 1972,
the Administration may authorise other agencies, including recognised organisations for inspection and testing as per
the International Convention for Safe Containers, 1972 and subsequent approval, including issuance of safety approval
plate, upon verification of compliance with the applicable requirements.
6. Solid bulk cargoes other than grain.— The carriage of solid bulk cargoes other than grain shall comply with the
requirements of Chapter VI of the International Convention for Safety of Life at Sea, 1974 and relevant provisions of
the International Maritime Solid Bulk Cargoes Code.
7. Cargo information.— (1) The owner and master of all ships loading any cargo, shall ensure that cargo
information is made available to the ship by the shipper before the commencement of cargo operations.
Explanation.— For the purpose of this sub-rule, the expression "cargo information" means the information required in
sub-chapter 1.9 of the Code of Safe Practice for Cargo Stowage and Securing, adopted by International Maritime
Organisation Resolution A.714(17), as may be amended.
(2) The shipper shall provide the master or his representative with appropriate information on the cargo sufficiently in
advance of loading to enable the precautions which may be necessary for proper stowage and safe carriage of the
cargo to be put into effect and such information shall-
(a) be provided in such format recommended by the International Maritime Organisation through MSC/Circ.
663;
(b) be confirmed in writing and by appropriate documents prior to loading the cargo on the ship;
(c) include the following, namely:-
(i) in the case of general cargo and of cargo carried in cargo units, a general description of the cargo, the
gross mass of the cargo or of the cargo units, and any relevant special properties of the cargo;
(ii) in the case of solid bulk cargo, information as required by section 4 of the International Maritime
Solid Bulk Cargoes Code;
(iii) in case of a bulk cargo not listed in IMSBC Code, the provisions of section 1.3 of the International
Maritime Solid Bulk Cargoes Code.
(3) Prior to loading cargo units on board ships, the shipper shall ensure that the gross mass of such units is in
accordance with gross mass declared on the shipping documents and ascertained in accordance with Annexure - I.
(4) In the case of cargo carried in a container, except for containers carried on a chassis or a trailer when such
containers are driven on or off a ro-ro ship engaged in short international voyages as defined in Regulation III/3 of the
International Convention for Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, the gross mass of the container shall be verified as per
procedure detailed in Annexure - I.
(5) The shipper of a container shall ensure that the mass of the container is verified in accordance with procedure as
specified in Annexure - I, in conformity with Resolution (MSC.1/ Circ. 1475) and the verified gross mass shall be
stated in the shipping document which shall be—
(a) signed by a person duly authorised by the shipper; and
(b) submitted to the master or his representative and to the terminal representative sufficiently in advance, as
required by the master or his representative, to be used in the preparation of the ship stowage plan.
(6) Where the shipping document with regard to a packed container does not provide the verified gross mass and the
master or his representative and the terminal representative have not obtained the verified gross mass of the packed
container, it shall not be loaded on to the ship.
8. Oxygen analysis and gas detection equipment.— Every ship transporting a solid bulk cargo which is liable to
emit a toxic or flammable gas or cause oxygen depletion in the cargo space, shall carry an appropriate instrument for
measuring the concentration of gas or oxygen in the air, along with detailed instruction for use from the original
equipment manufacturer and comply with the following conditions, namely:—
(a) crew members on such ship shall be trained in the use of such instrument within two weeks of their
joining or prior to entering enclosed or confined spaces or prior to commencement of cargo operations which
affect atmospheric conditions, whichever is earlier, and the same shall be recorded;
(b) each such instrument shall be maintained and periodically calibrated as required by the manufacturer.
9. Use of pesticides in ships.— (1) Every master of a ship shall take appropriate precautions in the use of pesticides
on board his ship, in particular, for the purposes of fumigation in accordance with the concerned recommendations of
the International Maritime Organisation Resolutions MSC.1/Circ.1358, MSC.1/Circ.1264, MSC.1/Circ.1361, to
ensure that life of his crew and persons involved in fumigation is not endangered.
(2) In-transit fumigation shall only be carried out based upon recommendations of the International Maritime
Organisation Resolution MSC.1/ Circ. 1264, and in compliance with the notices issued by the Administration, if any.
10. Stowage and securing.— When stowing and securing any cargo on board ship, the master shall comply with the
provisions specified in the relevant Code for acceptability, stowage, and securing of cargoes in the following manner,
namely:-
(a) cargo, cargo units and cargo transport units carried on or under deck shall be so loaded, stowed and secured,
as to prevent as far as practicable, throughout the voyage, damage or hazard to the ship and the persons on
board and loss of cargo overboard;
(b) cargo, cargo units and cargo transport units shall be so packed and secured within the unit as to prevent,
throughout the voyage, damage or hazard to the ship and the persons on board;
(c) appropriate precautions shall be taken during loading and transport of heavy cargoes or cargoes with
abnormal physical dimensions to prevent structural damage to the ship and to maintain adequate stability
throughout the voyage;
(d) appropriate precautions shall be taken during loading and transport of cargo units and cargo transport units
on board ro-ro ships, especially with regard to the securing arrangements on board such ships and on the cargo
units and cargo transport units and with regard to the strength of the securing points and lashings;
(e) freight containers shall not be loaded to more than the maximum gross weight indicated on the safety
approval plate fixed thereon under the International Convention for Safe Containers, 1972, as amended;
(f) all cargoes, other than solid and liquid bulk cargoes, cargo units and cargo transport units, shall be loaded,
stowed and secured on board ship throughout the voyage in accordance with the Cargo Securing Manual duly
approved by the competent authority or recognised organisation;
(g) in ships with ro-ro spaces as defined in the Regulation II-2/3.41 of the International Convention for Safety
of Life at Sea, 1974, all securing of cargoes, cargo units and cargo transport units shall be in accordance with
the Cargo Securing Manual duly approved by the competent authority or recognised organisation, and shall be
completed before the ship leaves the berth.
11. Material safety data sheets.— The ships carrying oil or oil fuel, shall be provided with material safety data
sheets, based on recommendations of the International Maritime Organisation Resolution MSC.286(86), prior to
loading such oil as cargo in bulk or bunkering of oil fuel.
Explanation.— For the purposes of this rule, the expression "oil fuel" means any oil used as fuel in connection with
the propulsion or auxiliary machinery of the ship in which oil is carried.
12. Prohibition of blending of bulk liquid cargoes and production processes during sea voyages.— (1) The
physical blending of bulk liquid cargoes during sea voyages is prohibited:
Provided that such prohibition does not preclude the master from undertaking cargo transfers for the safety of
the ship or protection of the marine environment.
Explanation.— For the purposes of this sub-rule, the expression “physical blending" means the process whereby the
ship's cargo pumps and pipelines are used to internally circulate two or more different cargoes with the intent to
achieve a cargo with a new product designation.
(2) The prohibition specified in sub-rule (1) shall not apply to the blending of products for use in the search and
exploitation of seabed mineral resources on board ships used to facilitate such operations.
(3) Any production process on board a ship during sea voyages is prohibited.
Explanation.— For the purposes of this sub-rule, the expression “production process” means any deliberate operation
whereby a chemical reaction between a ship's cargo and any other substance or cargo takes place.
(4) The prohibition specified in sub-rule (3) shall not apply to the production processes of the cargoes for use in the
search and exploitation of seabed mineral resources on board ships used to facilitate such operations.
CHAPTER III
SPECIAL PROVISIONS FOR SOLID BULK CARGOES
13. Acceptability for shipment.— (1) Prior to loading a solid bulk cargo, the master shall be in possession of
comprehensive information on the stability and the distribution of cargo as per the standard loading conditions which
shall-
(a) conform to the requirements prescribed by the applicable notice issued by the Administration from time to
time;
(b) conform to the Regulation II-1/5-1 of the International Convention for Safety of Life at Sea, 1974 and
guidelines for the preparation of intact stability information (MSC/Circ.456) and the revised guidelines to the
master for avoiding dangerous situations in adverse weather and sea conditions (MSC.1/Circ.1228); and
(c) be from a loading instrument as approved by the competent authority or recognised organisation.
(2) Concentrates or other cargoes which may liquefy shall only be accepted by the master of the ship for loading when
the actual moisture content of the cargo is less than its transportable moisture limit:
Provided that cargoes having moisture content in excess of the transportable moisture limit may be carried on
a specially constructed or fitted cargo ships for confining cargo shift, as approved by the Administration for Indian
ships and in case of foreign flag ships, as approved by the respective flag state administration.
(3) The information relating to solid bulk cargo referred to in sub-clause (ii) of clause (c) of sub-rule (2) of rule 7 shall
include signed certificate on the moisture content and transportable moisture limit of the cargo, issued by entity or
laboratory approved by the Administration in accordance with Annexure - II.
(4) The master shall take special precautions for safe loading and carriage of bulk cargoes which possess chemical
properties that may create a potential hazard and are not covered by the International Maritime Dangerous Goods
Code.
14. Carriage requirement.— (1) Every ship loading solid bulk cargoes other than grain shall comply with the
requirements of the International Maritime Solid Bulk Cargoes Code and loading and unloading procedures stipulated
in the Code of Practice for the Safe Loading and Unloading of Bulk carriers.
(2) The master shall ensure that bulk cargoes shall be loaded and trimmed properly to reasonable level, as necessary,
to the boundaries of the cargo space as to minimise the risk of shifting and maintain adequate stability throughout the
intended voyage.
(3) Where bulk cargoes are carried in tween-decks of general cargo ships,-
(a) the hatchways of such spaces shall be closed for cases where the loading information indicates an
unacceptable level of stress on the bottom structure if the hatchways are left open;
(b) the cargo shall be trimmed at reasonable level and either extend from side to side or secured by additional
longitudinal divisions of sufficient strength;
(c) the safe load-carrying capacity of the tween-decks shall be observed to ensure that the deck-structure is
not over stressed or overloaded; and
(d) the master shall be guided by the relevant sections of the International Maritime Solid Bulk Cargoes Code
in respect of cargoes carried on tween-deck ships or general cargo ships.
15. Loading, unloading and stowage.— (1) The shipper, ship owner, ship master and the ports involved in the safe
loading and unloading of solid bulk cargoes other than grain listed in the International Maritime Solid Bulk Cargoes
Code shall strictly comply with the relevant responsibilities, duties and authority specified in the Code of Practice for
the Safe Loading and Unloading of Bulk Carriers and detailed procedures in the manual on loading and unloading of
solid bulk cargoes for terminal representatives.
(2) If the cargoes that are not listed in the International Maritime Solid Bulk Cargoes Code or detailed information is
not available, the shipper, ship owner, ship master or the concerned port shall approach the Administration without
any delay.
(3) To enable the master to prevent excessive stresses in the ship structure, all ships engaged in shipment of such
cargoes shall be provided with a booklet, duly approved by the competent authority or recognised organisation,
written in a language with which the ship's master and officers responsible for cargo operations are familiar with and
in case the language is not in English, a booklet in English language shall be provided to the ship with the following
information, namely:-
(a) stability data, as required by Regulation II-1/5-1 of the International Convention for Safety of Life at Sea,
1974;
(b) ballasting and de-ballasting rates and capacities;
(c) maximum allowable load per unit surface area of the tank top plating;
(d) maximum allowable load per hold;
(e) general loading and unloading instructions with regard to the strength of the ships structure including any
limitations on the most adverse operating conditions during loading, unloading, ballasting operation and the
voyage;
(f) any special restrictions such as limitations on the most adverse operating conditions imposed by the
Administration, issued by a relevant notice, if any;
(g) where strength calculations are required maximum permissible forces and movement on the ship's hull
during loading, unloading and the voyage.
(4) Before a solid bulk cargo is loaded or unloaded, the master and the terminal representative shall —
(a) agree on a plan, drawn up in accordance with the Code of Practice for the Safe Loading and Unloading of
Bulk Carriers, to ensure that the permissible forces and moments on the ship are not exceeded during loading
or unloading;
(b) include the sequence, quantity and rate of loading or unloading, taking into consideration the speed of
loading or unloading, the number of pours and de-ballasting or ballasting capability of the ship.
Explanation.— For the purposes of this sub-rule, the expression “pour” means quantity of cargo poured through one
hatch opening as one step in the loading plan i.e. from the time the spout is positioned over hatch opening until it is
moved to another hatch opening.
(5) The plan referred to in clause (a) of sub-rule (4) and any subsequent amendments thereto shall be reported to the
nearest authority of the port State.
(6) The master and terminal representative shall ensure that loading and unloading operations are conducted in
accordance with the agreed plan.
(7) In case during loading or unloading any of the limits specified in the cargo plan are exceeded or likely to exceed
and if the loading or unloading continues, the master shall suspend operation and notify accordingly to the authority of
the port State and the master and the terminal representative shall ensure that corrective action is taken.
(8) In case any damage occurs, which may impair the structural capability or the watertight integrity or the ships
essential engineering systems, then the damage shall be reported to the recognised organisation or the Authority of the
port State.
(9) The master shall ensure that ship's personnel continuously monitor cargo operations and where possible, the ships
draft shall be checked regularly during loading or unloading to confirm with ship's deadweight, and cargo figures
supplied.
(10) Each draft, deadweight including cargo loaded observation shall be recorded in a cargo log-book or other
equivalent ship's log-book and if significant deviations from the agreed plan are detected, cargo or ballast operations
or both shall be adjusted to ensure that the deviations are corrected.
(11) The Administration in consultation with ship owners, ports, shippers and other entities may issue notice detailing
procedures and guidelines, from time to time, for the purposes of implementation and enforcement of the provisions of
the International Maritime Solid Bulk Cargoes Code including the Code of Practice for the Safe Loading and
Unloading of Bulk Carriers and the manual on loading and unloading of solid bulk cargoes for terminal
representatives.
CHAPTER IV
CARRIAGE OF GRAIN
16. Special requirements for carriage of grain.— (1) In addition to any other applicable requirements under these
rules, a cargo ship carrying grain shall comply with the requirement of the International Grain Code and hold a
document of authorisation as required by the International Grain Code.
(2) For a ship loading grain, the master of the ship shall satisfy to the Port State Authority or its authorised official that
the ship complies with the requirements of these rules and the provisions of International Grain Code in its proposed
loading condition.
(3) A ship without a document required under this rule, shall not load grain until the master demonstrates to the
satisfaction of Administration or the Port State Authority of the port of loading, that the ship in its proposed loading
condition shall comply with the provisions of the International Grain Code during the entire voyage.
CHAPTER V
MISCELLANEOUS
17. Implementation and enforcement.— (1) The surveyor appointed under section 8 or authorised under section 9
of the Act, shall survey the ship to check fittings and requirements for carriage of cargoes as required under these
rules.
(2) The surveyor appointed under section 8 of the Act, upon receipt of complaint or otherwise, may board the ship to
verify compliance with the requirements under these rules.
(3) Any violation or non-compliance with these rules, by the owner, company, master, shipper, or any other relevant
service provider, shall be liable to penalty under the Act.
18. Fee.— The fee for survey and certification to be conducted by surveyors appointed under section 8 of the Act
shall be as specified in the Schedule.
Annexure - I
[See rule 7(3), (4) and (5)]
Method for Verifying Gross Mass
1. In the case of cargo carried in a container, the gross mass shall be verified by the shipper as per the following
methods, namely:-
(a) Method 1.— weighing the packed container using calibrated and certified equipment; or
(b) Method 2.- weighing all packages and cargo items, including the mass of pallets, dunnage and other
securing material to be packed in the container and adding the tare mass of the container to the sum of the
single masses, using a certified method approved by the Administration in which packing of the container
was completed.
2. Shippers from India shall adopt either of the methods for verifying the gross mass of the containers.
Explanation.— For the purposes of clause (a) of paragraph 1, the expression “calibrated and certified
equipment" means a scale, weighbridge or weighing appliances, lifting equipment or any other device, capable of
determining the actual gross mass of a packed container or of packages and cargo items, pallets, dunnage and other
packing and securing material, that meets the accuracy standards and requirements of the State in which the equipment
is being used.
3. After verifying the gross mass by either of the specified methods, the shipper shall inform the verified gross mass of
the container (except for containers carried on a chassis or a trailer when such containers are driven on of a ro-ro ship
engaged in short international voyage) to the master of the ship or his representative, to enable preparation of the
stowage plan, sufficiently in advance of the loading.
4. The master or his representative and the terminal shall specify the time frame before which the information referred
to in paragraph 3 is required to be provided by the shipper and such time frame shall be available in the public domain
for easy access by all concerned including the shippers.
5. The shipping company shall provide information regarding the verified gross mass of the packaged container to the
terminal representative in advance of ship loading in accordance with paragraph 6.3.1 of the International Maritime
Organisation Circular No. MSC.I/Circ. 1475, dated 9th June, 2014.
6. The shipper shall ensure that the shipping document containing the information about the gross mass of the
container-
(a) is signed by a person duly authorised by the shipper;
(b) bears the name and designation of the person signing the shipping document which is clearly legible along
with the contact details (phone number and email id.); and
(c) is submitted in electronic format using digital signature.
7. The shipper of the container shall also ensure that the requirements of CTU Code 2014, are adhered to while
packing or stuffing the container.
8. Shippers adopting method 1 referred to in clause (a) of paragraph 1 for verifying the gross mass of the container
shall ensure the following, namely:-
(a) the verification of gross mass of the container shall be carried out at a location away from the port or
terminal to avoid congestion at the port or terminal area;
(b) the container shall preferably be weighed at the container stuffing point or container freight station or
inland container deport, or en-route to the port or terminal;
(c) the weighbridge or weighing appliances used for ascertaining the gross mass of the container shall comply
with the requirements specified in paragraph 10;
(d) the verified gross mass of the container obtained at the weighbridge or weighing appliances shall be
provided by the weighbridge or weighing appliances operator in a tamper proof document to the shipper;
(e) the shipper shall-
(i) upload the relevant information specified in Form-1 on a dedicated secure website;
(ii) provide the tamper proof document of the weighbridge or weighing appliances operator to the
master or his representative upon request;
(iii) forward the above information to the master or his representative through electronic means,
immediately on the verification of the gross mass of the container.
9. (a) The shippers adopting method 2 referred to in clause (b) of paragraph 1 for verification of gross mass of
container shall have their method approved by the Administration after complying with the following requirements,
namely:-
(i) the method of the shipper shall be part of a Quality Management System complying with the requirements
of ISO 9001:2015 standards, or such updated standards applicable from time to time;
(ii) the shipper shall maintain a list of calibrated weighing scales duly certified by Department of Legal
Metrology;
(iii) the owner of the container shall ensure that the tare weight of the container is correctly marked on the
container and the shipper shall have mechanism to re-verify the weight of the empty container, if required, to
ensure that the weight of the empty container conforms to the tare weight marked on the container:
Provided that for such re-verification whenever required, a combination of electronic scale and pulley
or chain-block, or other relevant methods may be accepted:
Provided further that if any noticeable deviation is observed between the actual weight of the empty
container and the tare weight marked on the container, such empty container shall not be accepted for stuffing
the container without ensuring that the tare weight marked on the container reflects the actual weight of the
container;
(iv) the shipper shall upload the information regarding the verified gross mass of the container and other
relevant information as specified in Form -1 of this Annexure on a dedicated secure website or its own website
or through tie-up with other dedicated secure website;
(v) the shipper shall submit the details of the method proposed to be used for verifying the gross mass of the
container along with details of all other relevant documents as specified in Form-2 to the jurisdictional
Mercantile Marine Department along with applicable fee for processing the issue for approval.
(b) The jurisdictional Mercantile Marine Department shall-
(i) have the premises of the shipper inspected to verify that the certified process, associated instruments etc.,
confirm the ability of the shipper to comply with the requirements of method 2;
(ii) on successful completion of the inspection, forward the report specified in Form-2 to the Administration
for consideration of the grant of approval to the certified process of the shipper.
(c) The list of companies or shippers approved by the Administration for method 2 shall be displayed on the website
of the Administration.
10. (a) The dedicated secure website-
(i) shall have its server, associated backup systems etc., located within India;
(ii) desiring to adopt method 1 or method 2 shall have the ability to display the information on real time basis
to all concerned along with details of shippers, weighbridge or weighing appliances, terminals, carriers, etc.
participating in their system and electronically transmit the information to the master or his representative;
(iii) shall comply with the requirements of information security management systems as may be applicable
from time to time;
(iv) shall have a firewall system designed to prevent unauthorised access to, or from the network conforming
to the requirements of the latest industry standards;
(v) shall be in possession of a valid Quality Management System certificate confirming compliance with ISO
9001:2015 standards, or such updated standards as applicable from time to time;
(vi) shall retain information for a period of three years initially on the website and a further period of two
years in external stowage devices;
(vii) shall only provide such information in the public domain as specified by the Administration from time
to time;
(viii) shall provide without any cost, the information regarding gross mass of containers and other relevant
information to all Government Authorities like Mercantile Marine Department, Administration, Customs and
Central Excise department, Port Authorities, Security Agencies, etc.
(ix) shall provide periodical or annual reports to the Administration including other information available in
the database of the website whenever required by the Administration without any cost.
(b) The list of dedicated secure websites accepted by the Administration for providing the service shall be displayed
on the website of the Administration.
(c) The terminals or ports or weighbridge operators, etc. may develop dedicated website, either singularly or
collectively, so as to provide required information about the verified gross mass of the container to all concerned in
compliance with the requirements of this paragraph.
11.(a) The weighbridge or weighing appliances using method 1 and method 2 shall—
(i) be electronic type;
(ii) be calibrated and certified by the Department of Legal Metrology;
(iii) be certified as a valid Quality Management System confirming compliance with ISO 9001:2015 standards,
or such updated standards applicable from time to time;
(iv) have adequate capacity to weigh the loaded container along with the trailer or truck or lorry, if required;
(v) have tamper proof mechanism that prevents tampering with the calibration;
(vi) have provision to provide information about verified gross mass in a tamper proof document.
(b) The weighbridge or weighing appliances operators desiring to participate in method 1 or method 2 shall—
(i) submit the information as specified in Form-3.
(ii) verify the calibration with standard weights at frequent intervals and the details of such verification shall be
recorded and made available during inspection by authorised personnel.
12. The verified gross mass of container shall not exceed the maximum gross weight indicated on the container safety
approval plate (CSC Plate).
13. The decision of the master of a ship whether to accept or reject a container shall be final.
14. The dedicated secure website and weighbridges or weighing appliances may be-
(a) audited or inspected by authorised personnel;
(b) debarred for non-compliance.
15. The container owners not marking the correct tare weight on the container and the names of the shippers
defaulting in the declaration of the verified gross mass of containers may be displayed on the website of the office of
Administration.
16. The instances of mis-declaration of verified gross mass of container shall be reported to the Administration.
Form - 1
[See paragraph 8(e)(i) of Annexure 1]
INFORMATION ABOUT VERIFIED GROSS MASS OF CONTAINER
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| Sr. No. | Details of Information
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