TNAG-2532-FCO40-3702-Application-of-International-Convention-for-Safe-Containers--1992 — Page 27

CONFIDENTIAL

HKC 177/1

wit

2

125025

MDLIAN 0697

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TO ROUTINE FCO

TELNO 1120

OF 23095OZ APRIL 92

INFO ROUTINE PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG

دم

MIPT: INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION FOR SAFE CONTAINERS.

TEXT OF CONSULTATION PAPER AND Q AND A'S:

BEGINS:

THE INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION FOR SAFE CONTAINERS 1972 (THE CONVENTION) (TEXT AT ANNEX) WAS DRAWN UP UNDER THE AEGIS OF THE FORERUNNER OF THE INTERNATIONAL MARITIME ORGANISATION. ITS AIM IS TO STANDARDISE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DESIGN, TESTING, INSPECTION, APPROVAL AND MAINTENANCE OF CONTAINERS SO AS TO IMPROVE THE SAFETY OF THEIR HANDLING, STACKING AND TRANSPORTATION. IT APPLIES TO CONTAINERS USED IN INTERNATIONAL TRANSPORT BY SEA AND ON LAND, BUT NOT TO THOSE SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED FOR AIR TRANSPORT.

THE MAIN FEATURES OF THE CONVENTION ARE

2.

(A)

3.

d

EVERY CONTAINER TO WHICH THE CONVENTION APPLIES

HAS TO BE APPROVED AS CONFORMING TO PRESCRIBED STANDARDS BEFORE IT IS PUT INTO SERVICE. THE

OWNER OF THE CONTAINER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MAINTAINING

IT IN A SAFE CONDITION:

(B) A 'SAFETY APPROVAL PLATE IN A SPECIFIED FORMAT

HAS TO BE PERMANENTLY AFFIXED TO AN APPROVED

CONTAINER TO SHOW DETAILS OF THE CONTAINER SUCH AS ITS DATE OF MANUFACTURE, MAXIMUM OPERATING GROSS WEIGHT AND ALLOWABLE STACKING WEIGHT: AND

(C) APPROVALS ISSUED BY A CONTRACTING PARTY WILL BE RECOGNISED BY ANOTHER PARTY AND AN INSPECTING PARTY SHOULD IN NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES ONLY NEED TO VERIFY THAT THE CONTAINER CARRIES A VALID SAFETY APPROVAL PLATE.

IN 1991, SOME SIX MILLION TWENTY FOOT EQUIVALENT UNITS OF CONTAINER WERE HANDLED IN THE PORT OF HONG KONG. THE CONVENTION

1

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