Importers come unstuck over hazardous cargo labels

HAZARDOUS CARGO requires special labelling, and the removal of these labels from containers is proving a costly business to shipping lines.
We have a problem where these labels are not removed once the cargo has been unpacked, says Roger Phillip, Saflink's inward freight manager.
The consignee has a duty to see that they are removed before returning the container, but this is no easy task and too often they prefer to send them back with the old label still firmly intact. In future the costs are going to be charged to them.
Shippers, in fact, are entitled to reject empties delivered to them which do not comply with cleansing standards, he says. It is also important to have any pre-existing damage to containers endorsed on delivery notes when the full container is received.
Packing materials, lashings and other debris as well as labels have to be removed carefully from the container during the unpacking process.
Failure to meet these criteria means that the shipping lines have to arrange for cleaning and repairs as necessary to containers returned to them.