The weight limit of the container itself.
Each container has the maximum weight limit information on the opening door, such as MAX GROSS: 30480KGS. It means that your box and the cargo cannot exceed this weight. Tare weight-20GP: 2200KGS, 40: 3.720-4200KGS, some HQ will have MAX GROSS: 32000KGS.
This is the maximum strength that the container box can withstand. If the load exceeds this limit, the container may be deformed, the bottom plate will fall off, and the top beam may be bent. All losses arising from this will be borne by the shipper. At present, most professional container terminals in China have installed automatic floor scales. Therefore, the terminal will refuse to accept the container as long as the container load exceeds the weight limit of the container. Therefore, it is recommended that you read clearly the weight limit on the container body before packing to avoid unnecessary repacking operations.
If the goods are indeed overweight and cannot be divided, you can choose an overload container. The increase here is the weight selection fee. The general dock/yard stacks the ordinary dry containers of the shipping company together. If you want to choose special weighted containers (such as the 20 weighted containers mentioned above), the docks and yards must be one by one. Search, the resulting counter selection fee is generally the same price as the designated counter fee.
Container transportation is a collaborative operation process involving multiple departments, so in addition to the weight limit of the container itself, there are some other factors that need to be considered.
Weight limit measured by shipping company
Under normal circumstances, each shipping company has a different weight policy, and the approximate standard is not to damage the container as the standard. In consideration of the balance between space and weight. Each container ship has certain space and weight restrictions, but on a certain route, space and weight are not always just balanced and used up. Contradictions often occur in several ports where heavy cargo are concentrated. The weight of the ship has arrived and the space is still much smaller. In order to make up for this loss of space, shipping companies often adopt a price increase strategy, that is, add extra freight after the cargo weighs more than how many tons.
There are also shipping companies that do not use their own ships, but buy the space of other shipping companies for transportation. The weight restrictions will be more stringent, because the trading of space between shipping companies is calculated according to the standard of 1TEU=14TONS or 16TONS , Those who exceed the weight will not be allowed on board. During the burst period, depending on the heat of the route, the shipping company’s weight limit for each container type will be adjusted accordingly. You should ask the freight forwarder about the weight limit of the shipping company when you ship the goods at the latest. If there is no confirmation and the cargo is heavy, there is a risk. When some shipping companies leanr that the cargo are overweight, they will not have any room for communication and directly let the shipper tow the cargo, leave the port, collect the cargo, and then weigh it again. These costs are not easy to control.
Weight limit measured by port
It mainly depends on the mechanical equipment load of the wharf and yard. After a container ship arrives at the dock, it generally needs a crane at the dock to carry out loading and unloading operations, and then it is towed by a truck to the container yard and then lifted down by a forklift. If the weight of the container exceeds the mechanical load, it will cause difficulties for the operation of the terminal and the yard. Therefore, for some small ports with relatively backward equipment, the shipping company will generally inform the port of the weight limit in advance, and it will not be accepted if it exceeds this limit.
Weight limit measured by supporting feeder ship or highway
Those who have been in the inland points of the United States know that the weight limit for road transportation in the United States is very strict. Because many containers need to be towed inland by truck after unloading at the terminal, the weight limit on roads has also become a liability of the shipping companies. The reason for restricting the weight of containers, of course, is not limited to those that can only do so. The weight requirements for cargo to the United States are very strict, and the weight limit is mainly affected by the weight limit of the highway to the inland points of the United States. Generally, the small container is 17.3 tons and the large high container is 19.5 tons. However, different ports also have different weight limit requirements.
Weight limit by routes
For different routes, the shipping capacity is arranged in accordance with the order of cargo loading and unloading ports and the types and heat of cargo exports. In addition to the load problem of the equipment operation at the destination port, the weight limits of different shipping routes are naturally different.
What should I do if my cargo are overweight?
This is mainly divided into port area, shipping company and destination port.
- If the shipping company is overweight, discuss with the shipowner to make up for the overweight fee, and the rest will go as normal;
- The port area has a self-prescribed overweight. If it is found to be overweight when entering the port, you need to negotiate with the port area and pay the overweight fee plus manual handling fee or take out the box to reload;
- Generally, if the overload happens in port of destination within a certain range, it can be resolved by paying a fine; if the overweight is serious, the crane along the way cannot load it, the problem can only be solved by unloadingat a nearby port or return on the same route.
