Advocated by the World Shipping Council (WSA) for years, requirements for verification of container weights before loaded container be placed aboard ships has finally been approved. This requirement of cargo weight verification, a condition before loading a packed container onto a ship for export will become legally and globally binding on July 1, 2016. Accordingly, shippers, freight forwarders, vessel and terminal operators are obliged to create guidelines and procedures to warrant the enactment of this regulatory change.

While most detractors argued that the new mandate will only constitute additional costs for shipping, proponents rebutted saying the decree will greatly improve not only the whole supply chain efficiency but as well as the entire safety standards within the shipping industry.

Despite the arguments, major carriers and global terminal operators are already on top of the issue weighing very carefully the commercial opportunities this amendment may present alongside its pitfalls to their current businesses and counterparts.

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