SHIPPING LINES on the US trade are getting tough with customers who don't comply with hazardous packing regulations.
This follows a string of incidents which has raised concern for the safety of staff and vessels.
To ensure that clients are aware of the requirements, Saflink has sent out a detailed notification to its clients of do's and don'ts.
In the case of exports, containers can only be picked up from the packing point. If they are correctly labelled in terms of the IMDG code, the driver is given a hazardous packing declaration which is filled in and signed.
In terms of SA regulations, shippers are warned that ammonium nitrate is considered to be an explosive while being transported on the land-side.
For containers railed into the terminal for export, packing declarations must be attached to the rail truck card and faxed to the Specials Clerk at the terminal. This is to insure against damage to the declaration in case of inclement weather.
According to Saflink, Portnet and Spoornet are also getting tougher with regard to hazardous cargo transport. No container will be picked up from shippers' premises unless a packing declaration is handed to the driver.
The US is also imposing more stringent penalties for misdeclaration on PDS and hazardous cargo manifests.
With all parties concerned clamping down, lines on the US trade say that they have no option but to shortship containers which don't comply with the regulations.
