The Convention was TRANSPORT

previously published
as Miscellaneous
No. 21 (1973),
Cmnd. 5376

Treaty Series No. 40 (1979)

I'

International Convention for

Safe Containers (CSC)
Geneva, 2 December 1972

[The United Kingdom instrument of ratification was deposited on 8 March 1978 and the
Convention entered into force for the United Kingdom on 8 March 1979]

Presented to Parliament
by the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
by Command of Her Majesty
May 1979

LONDON
HER MAJESTY'S STATIONERY OFFICE
60p net
Cmnd. 7535
INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION FOR SAFE CONTAINERS (CSC)(11

PREAMBLE

THE CONTRACTING PARTIES,

RECOGNIZING the need to maintain a high level of safety of human life in

the handling, stacking and transporting of containers,

MINDFUL of the need to facilitate international container transport,

RECOGNIZING, in this context, the advantages of formalizing common
international safety requirements,

CONSIDERING that this end may be best achieved by the conclusion of a

Convention,

HAVE DECIDED to formalize structural requirements to ensure safety in the

handling, stacking and transporting of containers in the course of normal
operations, and to this end
HAVE AGREED as follows :

ARTICLE I

General Obligation under the present Convention

The Contracting Parties undertake to give effect to the provisions of the
present Convention and the Annexes hereto, which shall constitute an integral
part of the present Convention.

ARTICLE 11

Definitions
For the purpose of the present Convention, unless expressly provided
otherwise :
1. " Container " means an article of transport equipment:
(a) of a permanent character and accordingly strong enough to be
suitable for repeated use;
(b) specially designed to facilitate the transport of goods, by one or
more modes of transport, without intermediate reloading;
(c) designed to be secured and/or readily handled, having corner fittings
for these purposes;
(d) of a size such that the area enclosed by the four outer bottom corners
is either:
(i) at least 14 sq. m. (150 sq. ft.) or
(ii) at least 7 sq. m. (75 sq. ft.) if it is fitted with top comer fittings;
(1) The English text as published in Miscellaneous No. 21 (1973) Cmnd. 5376 was
modified, after consultation with the Governments concerned, by a Prates-Verbal of
Rectification issued by the Secretary -General of IMCO on I September 1976. These
modifications are incorporated in this text.
3
11263 B•
the term "container" includes neither vehicles nor packaging; however,
containers when carried on chassis are included.

2. "Corner fittings" means an arrangement of apertures and faces at

the top and/or bottom of a container for the purposes of handling, stacking
and/or securing.

3: "Administration" means the Government of a Contracting Party

under whose authority containers are approved.

4. " Approved " means approved by the Administration.

5. "Approval" means the decision by. an Administration that a design

type or a container is safe within the terms of the present Convention.

6. " International transport " means transport between points of

departure and destination situated in the territory of two countries to at
least one of which the present Convention applies. The present Convention
shall also apply when part of a transport operation between two countries
takes place in the territory of a country to which the present Convention
applies.

7. " Cargo " means any goods , wares , merchandise and articles of every
kind whatsoever carried in the containers.

8. " New container " means a container the construction of which was
commenced on or after the date of entry into force of the present Convention.

9. " Existing container " means a container which is not a new container.

10. " Owner " means the owner as provided for under the national law
of the Contracting Party or the lessee or bailee, if an agreement between the
parties provides for the exercise of the owner's responsibility for maintenance
and examination of the container by such lessee or bailee.

11. " Type of container " means the design type approved by the
Administration.

12. " Type-series container " means any container manufactured in

accordance with the approved design type.

13. " Prototype " means a container representative of those manu-

factured or to be manufactured in a design type series.
14. " Maximum Operating Gross Weight or Rating " or " R " means the
maximum allowable combined weight of the container and its cargo.
15. " Tare weight " means the weight of the empty container including
permanently affixed ancilliary equipment.

16. " Maximum Permissible Payload " or " P " means the difference
between maximum operating gross weight or rating and tare weight.
4
 ARTICLE III

Application
1. The present Convention applies to new and existing containers used
in international transport, excluding containers specially designed for air
transport.

2. Every new container shall be approved in accordance with the

provisions either for type-testing or for individual testing as contained in
Annex I.

3. Every existing container shall be approved in accordance with the

relevant provisions for approval of existing containers set out in Annex I
within 5 years from the date of entry into force of the present Convention.

ARTICLE IV

Testing, Inspection , Approval and Maintenance

1. For the enforcement of the provisions in Annex I every Administration
shall establish an effective procedure for the testing, inspection and approval
of containers in accordance with the criteria established in the present Conven-
tion, provided however that an Administration may entrust such testing,
inspection and approval to organizations duly authorized by it.
2. An Administration which entrusts such testing, inspection and
approval to an organization shall inform the Secretary-General of the Inter-
Governmental Maritime Consultative Organization (hereinafter referred to as
" the Organization ") for communication to Contracting Parties.

3. Application for approval may be made to the Administration of any

Contracting Party.

4. Every container shall be maintained in a safe condition in accordance

with the provisions of Annex I.
5. If an approved container does not in fact comply with the requirements
of Annexes I and II the Administration concerned shall take such steps as it
deems necessary to bring the container into compliance with such require-
ments or to withdraw the appproval.

ARTICLE V

Acceptance of Approval
1. Approval under the authority of a Contracting Party, granted under
the terms of the present Convention, shall be accepted by the other
1
Contracting Parties for all purposes covered by the present Convention.
It shall be regarded by the other Contracting Parties as having the same
force as an approval issued by them.
5
 2. A Contracting Party shall not impose any other structural safety
requirements or tests on containers covered by the present Convention,
provided however that nothing in the present Convention shall preclude the
application of provisions of national regulations or legislation or of inter-
national agreements, prescribing additional structural safety requirements or
tests for containers specially designed for the transport of dangerous goods,
or for those features unique to containers carrying bulk liquids or for
containers when carried by air. The term " dangerous goods " shall have that
meaning assigned to it by international agreements.

ARTICLE VI

Control
1. Every container which has been approved under article III shall be
subject to control in the territory of the Contracting Parties by officers duly
authorized by such Contracting Parties. This control shall be limited to
verifying that the container carries a valid Safety Approval Plate as required
by the present Convention, unless there is significant evidence for believing
that the condition of the container is such as to create an obvious risk to
safety. In that case the officer carrying out the control shall only exercise
it in so far as it may be necessary to ensure that the container is restored
to a safe condition before it continues in service.
2. Where the container appears to have become unsafe as a result of a
defect which may have existed when the container was approved, the
Administration responsible for that approval shall be informed by the
Contracting Party which detected the defect.

ARTICLE VII

Signature, ratification , acceptance , approval and accession

1. The present Convention shall be open for signature until 15 January
1973 at the Office of the United Nations at Geneva and subsequently from
1 February 1973 until 31 December 1973 inclusive at the Headquarters of the
Organization at London by all States Members of the United Nations or
Members of any of the Specialized Agencies or of the International Atomic
Energy Agency or Parties to the Statute of the International Court of Justice,
and by any other State invited by the General Assembly of the United
Nations to become a Party to the present Convention.
2. The present Convention is subject to ratification, acceptance or
approval by States which have signed it.
3. The present Convention shall remain open for accession by any State
referred to in paragraph 1.
6
 4. Instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession shall
be deposited with the Secretary-General of the Organization (herein-
after referred to as " the Secretary-General ").

ARTICLE VIII

Entry into force

1. The present Convention shall enter into force twelve months from the
date of the deposit of the tenth instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval
or accession.(
2. For each State ratifying, accepting, approving or acceding to the
present Convention after the deposit of the tenth instrument of ratification,
acceptance, approval or accession, the present Convention shall enter into
force twelve months after the date of the deposit by such State of its
instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession.
3. Any State which becomes a Party to the present Convention after the
entry into force of an amendment shall, failing an expression of a different
intention by that State,
(a) be considered as a Party to the Convention as amended; and
(b) be considered as a Party to the unamended Convention in relation
to any Party to the Convention not bound by the amendment.

ARTICLE IX

Procedure for amending any part or parts of the present Convention

1. The present Convention may be amended upon the proposal of a
Contracting Party by any of the procedures specified in this article.
2. Amendment after consideration in the Organization:
(a) Upon the request of a Contracting Party, any amendment proposed
by it to the present Convention will be considered in the Organization.
If adopted by a majority of two-thirds of those present and voting
in the Maritime Safety Committee of the Organization, to which all
Contracting Parties shall have been invited to participate and vote,
such amendment shall be communicated to all Members of the
Organization and all Contracting Parties at least six months prior to
its consideration by the Assembly of the Organization. Any
Contracting Party which is not a Member of the Organization shall be
entitled to participate and vote when the amendment is considered
by the Assembly.
(b) If adopted by a two-thirds majority of those present and voting in
the Assembly, and if such majority includes a two-thirds majority of
the Contracting Parties present and voting, the amendment shall be
communicated by the Secretary-General to all Contracting Parties for
their acceptance.
(2) The Convention entered into force on 6 September, 1977.
7
11263 c•
 (c) Such amendment shall come into force twelve months after the date
on which it is accepted by two-thirds of the Contracting Parties. The
amendment shall come into force with respect to all Contracting
Parties except those which, before it comes into force, make a
declaration that they do not accept the amendment.
3. Amendment by a Conference:
Upon the request of a Contracting Party, concurred in by at least
one-third of the Contracting Parties, a Conference to which the States
referred to in article VII shall be invited will be convened by the
Secretary-General.

ARTICLE X

Special procedure for amending the Annexes

I. Any amendment to the Annexes proposed by a Contracting Party
shall be considered in the Organization at the request of that Party.
2. If adopted by a two-thirds majority of those present and voting in
the Maritime Safety Committee of the Organization to which all Contracting
Parties shall have been invited to participate and to vote, and if such
majority includes a two-thirds majority of the Contracting Parties present
and voting, such amendment shall be communicated by the Secretary-General
to all Contracting Parties for their acceptance.
3. Such an amendment shall enter into force on a date to be determined
by the Maritime Safety Committee at the time of its adoption unless, by a
prior date determined by the Maritime Safety Committtee at the same time,
one-fifth or five of the Contracting Parties, whichever number is less, notify
the Secretary-General of their objection to the amendment. Determination
by the Maritime Safety Committee of the dates referred to in this paragraph
shall be by a two-thirds majority of those present and voting, which majority
shall include a two-thirds majority of the Contracting Parties present and
voting.
4. On entry into force any amendment shall, for all Contracting Parties
which have not objected to the amendment, replace and supersede any
previous provision to which the amendment refers; an objection made -by a
Contracting Party shall not be binding on other Contracting Parties as to
acceptance of containers to which the present Convention applies.
5. The Secretary-General shall inform all Contracting Parties and
Members of the Organization of any request and communication under this
article and the date on which any amendment enters into force.
6. Where a proposed amendment to the Annexes has been considered
but not adopted by the Maritime Safety Committee, any Contracting Party
may request the convening of a Conference to which the States referred to in
article VII shall be invited. Upon receipt of notification of concurrence by at
least one-third of the other Contracting Parties such a Conference shall be
convened by the Secretary-General to consider amendments to the Annexes.
S
 ARTICLE XI

Denunciation
1. Any Contracting Party may denounce the present Convention by
effecting the deposit of an instrument with the Secretary-General. The
denunciation shall take effect one year from the date of such deposit with
the Secretary-General.
2. A Contracting Party which has communicated an objection to an
amendment to the Annexes may denounce the present Convention and such
denunciation shall take effect on the date of entry into force of such an
amendment.

ARTICLE XII

Termination
The present Convention shall cease to be in force if the number of
Contracting Parties is less than five for any period of twelve consecutive
months.

ARTICLE XIII

Settlement of disputes
1. Any dispute between two or more Contracting Parties concerning
the interpretation or application of the present Convention which cannot
be settled by negotiation or other means of settlement shall, at the request
of one of them, be referred to an arbitration tribunal composed as follows:
each party to the dispute shall appoint an arbitrator and these two arbitrators
shall appoint a third arbitrator, who shall be the Chairman. If, three
months after receipt of a request, one of the parties has failed to appoint
an arbitrator or if the arbitrators have failed to elect the Chairman, any
of the parties may request the Secretary-General to appoint an arbitrator or
the Chairman of the arbitration tribunal.
2. The decision of the arbitration tribunal established under the
provisions of paragraph l shall be binding on the parties to the dispute.

3. The arbitration tribunal shall determine its own rules of procedure.

4. Decisions of the arbitration tribunal, both as to its procedure and

its place of meeting and as to any controversy laid before it, shall be taken
by majority vote.

5. Any controversy which may arise between the parties to the dispute
as regards the interpretation and execution of the award may be submitted
by any of the parties for judgment to the arbitration tribunal which made
the award.
9
11263 02
 ARTICLE XIV

Reservations
1. Reservations to the present Convention shall be permitted, excepting
those relating to the provisions of articles I-VI, XIII, the present article
and the Annexes, on condition that such reservations are communicated in
writing and, if communicated before the deposit of the instrument of
ratification, acceptance, approval or accession, are confirmed in that instru-
ment. The Secretary-General shall communicate such reservations to all
States referred to in article VII.

2. Any reservations made in accordance with paragraph 1:

(a) modifies for the Contracting Party which made the reservation the
provisions of the present Convention to which the reservation relates
to the extent of the reservation; and
(b) modifies those provisions to the same extent for the other Contracting
Parties in their relations with the Contracting Party which entered
the reservation.
3. Any Contracting Party which has formulated a reservation under
paragraph 1 may withdraw it at any time by notification to the Secretary-
General.

ARTICLE XV

Notification
In addition to the notifications and communications provided for in
articles IX, X and XIV, the Secretary-General shall notify all the States
referred to in article VII of the following:
(a) signatures, ratifications, acceptances, approvals and accessions under
article VII;
(b) the date of entry into force of the present Convention in accordance
with article VIII;
(c) the date of entry into force of amendments to the present Convention
in accordance with articles IX and X;
(d) denunciations under article XI;
(e) the termination of the present Convention under article XII.

ARTICLE XVI

Authentic texts
The original of the present Convention, of which the Chinese, English,
French, Russian and Spanish texts are equally authentic, shall be deposited
with the Secretary-General, who shall communicate certified true copies to
all States referred to in article VII.
10
 IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned Plenipotentiaries , being duly
authorized thereto by their respective Governments, have signed the present
I Convention.

DONE at Geneva this second day of December , one thousand nine

hundred and seventy-two.

[For signatures, ratifications. etc. see page 23]

11
 ANNex I

REGULATIONS FOR THE TESTING, INSPECTION, APPROVAL r

AND MAINTENANCE OF CONTAINERS

CHAPTER I. REGULATIONS COMMON TO ALL

SYSTEMS OF APPROVAL

Regulation 1
Safety Approval Plate
1. A Safety Approval Plate conforming to the specifications set out
in the Appendix to this Annex shall be permanently affixed to every
approved container at a readily visible place, adjacent to any other approval
plate issued for official purposes, where it would not be easily damaged.
2. (a) The plate shall contain the following information in at least the
English or French language:
" CSC SAFETY APPROVAL"
Country of approval and approval reference
Date (month and year) of manufacture
Manufacturer's identification number of the container or, in the case of
existing containers for which that number is unknown, the number
allocated by the Administration
Maximum operating gross weight (kilogrammes and lbs)
Allowable stacking weight for 1-8g (kilogrammes and Ibs)
Transverse racking test load value (kilogrammes and Ibs).
(b) A blank space should be reserved on the Plate for insertion of end-
wall and/or side-wall strength values (factors) in accordance with paragraph
3 of this Regulation and Annex IT, tests 6 and 7. A blank space should also
be reserved on the Plate for the first and subsequent maintenance examination
dates (month and year) when used.
3. Where the Administration considers that a new container satisfies
the requirements of the present Convention in respect of safety and if, for
such container, the end-wall and/or side-wall strength values (factor) are
designed to be greater or less than those stipulated in Annex II, such values
shall be indicated on the Safety Approval Plate.
4. The presence of the Safety Approval Plate does not remove the
necessity of displaying such labels or other information as may be required
by other regulations which may be in force.

Regulation 2
Maintenance
1. The owner of the container shall be responsible for maintaining it in
safe condition.
12
 2. The owner of an approved container shall examine the container or
have it examined in accordance with the procedure either prescribed or
approved by the Contracting Party concerned, at intervals appropriate to
operating conditions. The date (month and year) before which a new
container shall undergo its first examination shall be marked on the Safety
Approval Plate.
3. The date (month and year) before which the container shall be
re-examined shall be clearly marked on the container on or as close as
practicable to the Safety Approval Plate and in a manner acceptable. to that
Contracting Party which. prescribed or approved the particular maintenance
procedure involved.
4. The interval from the date of manufacture to the date of the first
examination shall not exceed five years. Subsequent examination of new
containers and re-examination of existing containers shall be at intervals
of not more than 24 months. All examinations shall determine whether the
container has any defects which could place any person in danger.
5. For the purpose of this Regulation " the Contracting Party concerned "
is the Contracting Party of the territory in which the owner is domiciled or
has his head office.

CHAPTER II. REGULATIONS FOR APPROVAL OF NEW

CONTAINERS BY DESIGN TYPE

Regulation 3
Approval of New Containers
To qualify for approval for safety purposes under the present Convention
all new containers shall comply with the requirements set out in Annex II.

Regulation 4

Design Type Approval

In the case of containers for which an application for approval has been
submitted, the Administration will examine designs and witness testing of
a prototype container to ensure that the containers will conform with the
requirements set out in Annex 11. When satisfied, the Administration shall
notify the applicants in writing that the container meets the requirements of
the present Convention and this notification shall entitle the manufacturer to
affix the Safety Approval Plate to every container of the design type series.

Regulation S
Provisions for Approval by Design Type
1. Where the containers are to be manufactured by design type series,
application made to an Administration for approval by design type shall be
accompanied by drawings, a design specification of the type of container to
be approved and such other data as may be required by the Administration.
13
 2. The applicant shall state the identification symbols which will be
assigned by the manufacturer to the type of container to which the application
for approval relates.

3. The application shall also be accompanied by an assurance from the

manufacturer that he will:
(a) produce to the Administration such containers of the design type
concerned as the Administration may wish to examine;
(b) advise the Administration of any change in the design or specification
and await its approval before affixing the Safety Approval Plate to the
container;
(c) affix the Safety Approval Plate to each container in the design type
series and to no others;
(d) keep a record of containers manufactured to the approved design type.
This record shall at least contain the manufacturer's identification
numbers, dates of delivery and names and addresses of customers to
whom the containers are delivered.
4. Approval may be granted by the Administration to containers manu-
factured as modifications of an approved design type if the Administration is
satisfied that the modifications do not affect the validity of tests conducted in
the course of design type approval.

5. The Administration shall not confer on a manufacturer authority to

affix Safety Approval Plates on the basis of design type approval unless
satisfied that the manufacturer has instituted internal production-control
features to ensure that the containers produced will conform to the approved
prototype.

Regulation 6

Examination during Production

In order to ensure that containers of the same design type series are
manufactured to the approved design, the Administration shall examine or
test as many units as it considers necessary, at any stage during production
of the design type series concerned.

Regulation 7

Notification of Administration

The manufacturer shall notify the Administration prior to commencement J

of production of each new series of containers to be manufactured in

accordance with an approved design type.
14 C
 CHAPTER III. REGULATIONS FOR APPROVAL OF NEW
CONTAINERS BY INDIVIDUAL APPROVAL

Regulation 8
Approval of Individual Containers
Approval of individual containers may be granted where the Administra-
tion, after examination and witnessing of tests, is satisfied that the container
meets the requirements of the present Convention; the Administration, when
so satisfied, shall notify the applicant in writing of approval and this
notification shall entitle him to affix the Safety Approval Plate to such
container.

CHAPTER IV. REGULATIONS FOR APPROVAL OF

EXISTING CONTAINERS

Regulation 9

Approval of Existing Containers

1. If, within 5 years from the date of entry into force of the present
Convention, the owner of an existing container presents the following
information to an Administration:
(a) date and place of manufacture;
(b) manufacturer's identification number of the container if available;
(c) maximum operating gross weight capability;
(d) (i) evidence that a container of this type has been safely operated in
maritime and/or inland transport for a period of at least two
years, or
(ii) evidence to the satisfaction of the Administration that the con-
tainer was manufactured to a design type which had been tested
and found to comply with the technical conditions set out in
Annex II, with the exception of those technical conditions relating
to the end-wall and side-wall strength tests, or
(iii) evidence that the container was constructed to standards which,
in the opinion of the Administration, were equivalent to the
technical conditions set out in Annex II, with the exception of
those technical conditions relating to the end-wall and side-wall
strength tests;
(e) allowable stacking weight for 1.8 g (kilogrammes and lbs); and
(f) such other data as required for the Safety Approval Plate,
15
then the Administration , after investigation , shall notify the owner in writing
whether approval is granted ; and if so , this notification shall entitle the owner
to affix the Safety Approval Plate after an examination of the container
concerned has been carried out in accordance with Regulation 2.
2. Existing containers which do not qualify for approval under
paragraph I of this Regulation may be presented for approval under the
provisions of Chapter II or Chapter III of this Annex . For such containers
the requirements of Annex II relating to end-wall and/or side-wall strength
tests shall not apply. The Administration may, if it is satisfied that the
containers in question have been in service , waive such of the requirements
in respect of presentation of drawings and testing, other than the lifting and
floor-strength tests, as it may deem appropriate.

16
 APPENDIX

The Safety Approval Plate, conforming to the model reproduced below,

shall take the form of a permanent, non-corrosive, fire-proof rectangular
plate measuring not less than 200 mm by 100mm. The words "CSC Safety
Approval " of a minimum letter height of 8 mm and all other words and
numbers of a minimum height of 5 mm shall be stamped into, embossed on or
indicated on the surface of the Plate in any other permanent and legible way.

CSC SAFETY APPROVAL

[G8-L/749/2/7/7S]
DATE MANUFACTURED ........................
I, IDENTIFICATION No ............................
MAXIMUM GROSS WEIGHT...... kg-......lb E
E
ALLOWABLE STACKING WEIGHT S
FOR I.Bg ......... kg-.........lb
Al
RACKING TEST LOAD VALUE..... kg -.....lb

> 200 mm

1. Country of Approval and Approval Reference as given in the example

on line 1. (The country of Approval should be indicated by means of the
distinguishing sign used to indicate country of registration of motor vehicles
in international road traffic.)
2. Date (month and year) of manufacture.
3. Manufacturer's identification number of the container or, in the case
of existing containers for which that number is unknown, the number allotted
by the Administration.
4. Maximum Operating Gross Weight (kilogrammes and lbs.).
5. Allowable Stacking Weight for 1.8 g (kilogrammes and lbs.).
6. Transverse Racking Test Load Value (kilogrammes and lbs.).
7. End Wall strength to be indicated on plate only if end walls are
designed to withstand a load of less or greater than 0-4 times the maximum
permissible payload, i.e. 0.4 P.
8. Side Wall strength to be indicated on plate only if the side walls are
designed to withstand a load of less or greater than 0.6 times the maximum
permissible payload, i.e. 0.6 P.
9. First maintenance examination date (month and year) for new
containers and subsequent maintenance examination dates (month and year) if
Plate used for this purpose.
17
 ANNEX II

STRUCTURAL SAFETY REQUIREMENTS AND TESTS

Introduction
. In setting the requirements of this Annex, it is implicit that in all phases
of the operation of containers the forces as a result of motion, location,
stacking and weight of the loaded container and external forces will not
exceed the design strength of the container. In particular, the following
assumptions have been made:
(a) the container will be so restrained that it is not subjected to forces
in excess of those for which it has been designed;
(b) the container will have its cargo stowed in accordance with the
recommended practices of the trade so that the cargo does not impose
upon the container forces in excess of those for which it has been
designed.
Construction
1. A container made from any suitable material which satisfactorily
performs the following tests without sustaining any permanent deformation or
abnormality which would render it incapable of being used for its designed
purpose shall be considered safe.
2. The dimensions, positioning and associated tolerances of comer fittings
shall be checked having regard to the lifting and securing systems in which
they will function.
3. When containers are provided with special fittings for use only when
such containers are empty, this restriction shall be marked on the container.
Test loads and test procedures
Where appropriate to the design of the container, the following test
loads and test procedures shall be applied to all kinds of containers under
test :
TEST LOADINGS AND APPLIED TEST PROCEDURES
FORCES
1. LIFTING
The container, having the prescribed INTERNAL LOADING, shall be lifted in such
a way that no significant acceleration forces are applied. After lifting, the container
shall be suspended or supported for five minutes and then lowered to the ground.
(A) LIFTING FROM CORNER FITTINGS
Internal loading : (i) Lifting from top corner fittings:
A uniformly distributed load such that the Containers greater than 3,000 nun
combined weight of container and test (10 ft) (nominal) in length shall have
load is equal to 211 lifting forces applied vertically at all
four top corner fittings.
Containers of 3,000 mm (10 ft)
(nominal) in length or less shall
have lifting forces applied at all four
r
top corner fittings, in such a way
that the angle between each lifting
device and the vertical shall be 30°.

18
 TEST LOADINGS AND APPLIED TEST PROCEDURES
ti FORCES

Externally applied forces: (ii) Lifting from bottom corner fittings:

Such as to lift the combined weight of 2 R Containers shall have lifting forces
in the manner prescribed (under the applied in such a manner that the
heading TEST PROCEDURES). lifting devices bear on the bottom
corner fittings only. The lifting
forces shall be applied at angles to
the horizontal of:
30° for containers of length
12,000 mm (40 ft) (nominal) or
greater;
37° for containers of length
9,000 mm (30 ft) (nominal) and
4 up to but not including 12,000 mm
(40 ft) (nominal),
45° for containers of length
6,000 mm (20 ft) (nominal) and
up to but not including 9,000 mm
(30 ft) (nominal),
60° for containers of less than
6,000 mm (20 ft) (nominal).

(B) LIFTING BY ANY OTHER ADDITIONAL METHODS

Internal loading: (i) Lifting from fork lift pockets:
A uniformly distributed load such that The container shall be placed on
the combined weight of container and test bars which are in the same horizontal
load is equal to i 25 R. plane , one bar centred within each
fork lift pocket which is used for
Externally applied forces: lifting the loaded container. The
Such as to lift the combined weight of bars shall be of the same width as
1.25 R in the manner prescribed (under the forks intended to be used in
the heading TEST PROCEDURES). the handling, and shall project into
the fork pocket 75 per cent of the
length of the fork pocket.
Internal loading: (ii) Lifting from grappler arm positions:
A uniformly distributed load such that The container shall be placed on
the combined weight of containers and pads in the same horizontal plane,
test load is equal to I.25 R. one under each grappler arm
position . These pads shall be of
Externally applied forces: the same sizes as the lifting area of
Such as to lift the combined weight of the grappler arms intended to be
1.25 R, in the manner prescribed (under used.
the heading TEST PROCEDURES). (iii) Other methods
Where containers are designed to be
lifted in the loaded condition by any
method not mentioned in (A) or (B)
(i) and (ii ) they shall also be tested
with the INTERNAL LOADING
AND EXTERNALLY APPLIED
FORCES representative of the
acceleration conditions appropriate
to that method.

19
 TEST LOADINGS AND APPLIED TEST PROCEDURES
FORCES

2. STACKING
1. For conditions of international transport where the maximum vertical acceleration
forces vary significantly from 1.8 g and when the container is reliably and effectively
limited to such conditions of transport, the stacking load may be varied by the
appropriate ratio of acceleration forces.
2. On successful completion of this test the container may be rated for the allowable
superimposed static stacking weight which should be indicated on the Safety Approval
Plate, against the heading " Allowable stacking weight for 1.8 g (kilogrammes and
lbs) ".
Internal loading:
A uniformly distributed load such that the The container, having the prescribed
combined weight of container and test INTERNAL LOADING, shall be placed
load is equal to 1.8 R. on four level pads which are in turn
supported on a rigid horizontal surface,
one under each bottom corner fitting or
equivalent corner structure. The pads
shall be centralized under the fittings and
shall be of approximately the same plan
dimensions as the fittings.
Externally applied forces:
Such as to subject each of the four top Each EXTERNALLY APPLIED
corner fittings to a vertical downward force FORCE shall be applied to each of the
equal to 3 x 1.8 x the allowable super- corner fittings through a corresponding
imposed static stacking weight. test corner fitting or through a pad of the
same plan dimensions. The test corner
fitting or pad shall be offset with respect
to the top corner fitting of the container
by 25 mm (1 in.) laterally and 38 mm
(11 in.) longitudinally.

3. CONCENTRATED LOADS (a) ON ROOF

Internal loading:
None.

Externally applied forces:

A concentrated load of 300 kg (660 lb) The EXTERNALLY APPLIED
uniformly distributed over an area of FORCES shall be applied vertically
600 mm x 300 mm (24 in. x 12 in.). downwards to the outer surface of the
weakest area of the roof of the container.

3. CONCENTRATED LOADS (b) ON FLOOR

Internal loading:
Two concentrated loads each of 2,730 kg The test should be made with the
(6,000 lb) and each applied to the container resting on four level supports
container floor through a contact area of under its four bottom corners in such a
142 cm" (22 sq. in.). manner that the base structure of the
container is free to deflect.
20
 TEST LOADINGS AND APPLIED TEST PROCEDURES
ti FORCES

A testing device loaded to a weight of

5,460 kilogrammes (12,000 Ibs) that is
2,730 kg (6,000 Ibs) on each of two
v
surfaces having, when loaded, a total
contact area of 284 cm' (44 sq in) that is
142 em' (22 sq in) on each surface, the
surface width being 180 mm (7 in) spaced
760 mm (30 in) apart, centre to centre,
should be manoeuvred over the entire
floor area of the container.
Externally applied forces:
None.

4. TRANSVERSE RACKING
Internal loading:
None. The container in tare condition shall be
placed on four level supports one under
each bottom corner and shall be restrained
against lateral and vertical movement by
means of anchor devices so arranged that
the lateral restraint is provided only at
the bottom corners diagonally opposite to
those at which the forces are applied.
Externally applied forces:
Such as to rack the end structures of the The EXTERNALLY APPLIED
container sideways. The forces shall be FORCES shall be applied either separ-
equal to those for which the container was ately or simultaneously to each of the top
designed. corner fittings on one side of the container
-1 in lines parallel both to the base and to
the planes of the ends of the container.
The forces shall be applied first towards
and then away from the top corner
fittings. In the case of containers in
which each end is symmetrical about its
own vertical centreline, one side only need
be tested, but both sides of containers
with asymmetric ends shall be tested.

5. LONGITUDINAL RESTRAINT (STATIC TEST)

When designing and constructing containers , it must be borne in mind that containers,
when carried by inland modes of transport may sustain accelerations of 2 g applied
horizontally in a longitudinal direction.
Internal loading:
A uniformly distributed load, such that The container having the prescribed
the combined weight of a container and INTERNAL LOADING shall be
test load is equal to the maximum restrained longitudinally by securing the
operating gross weight or rating, R. two bottom comer fittings or equivalent
comer structures at one end to suitable
anchor points.

21
 TEST LOADINGS AND APPLIED TEST PROCEDURES
FORCES

Externally applied forces:

Such asto subjecteach side of the container The EXTERNALLY APPLIED
to longitudinal compressive and tensile FORCES shall be applied first towards
forces of magnitude R, that is, a combined and then away from the anchor points.
force of 2R on the base of the container as- Each side of the container shall be tested.
a whole.

6. END-WALLS'
The end-walls should be capable of withstanding a load of not less than 0 . 4 times the
maximum permissible payload . If, however , the end- walls are designed to withstand
a load of less or greater than 0 . 4 times the maximum permissible payload such a
strength factor shall be indicated on the Safety Approval Plate in accordance with
Annex I, Regulation 1.
Internal loading:
Such as to subject the inside of an end-wall The prescribed INTERNAL LOADING
to a uniformly distributed load of 0,4P or shall be applied as follows:
such other load forwhich'the container Both ends of a container shall be tested
may be designed. except where the ends are identical only
one end need be tested. The end-walls
of containers which do not have open
sides or side doors may be tested
'separetely or simultaneously.
The end-walls of containers which do
have open sides or side doors should be
tested separately. When the ends are
tested separately the reactions to the
forces applied to the end-wall shall be
Externally applied forces: confined to the base structure of the
None. container.

7. SIDE-WALLS
The side-walls should be capable of withstanding a load of not less than 0 . 6 times the
maximum permissible payload . If, however , the side -walls are designed to withstand
a load of less or greater than 0 . 6 times the maximum permissible payload, such a
strength factor shall be indicated on the Safety Approval Plate in accordance with
Annex I, Regulation 1.
Internal loading:
Such as to subject the inside of a side-wall The prescribed INTERNAL LOADING
to a uniformly distributed load of 0.6P or shall be applied as follows:
such other load for which the container Both sides of a container shall be tested
may be designed. except where the sides are identical only
one side need be tested . Side-walls
shall be tested separately and the
reactions to the internal loading shall be
confined to the corner fittings or
equivalent corner structures. Open
topped containers shall be tested in the
condition in which they are designed to
Externally applied forces: be operated , for example , with remov-
None. able top members in position.
22
 SIGNATURES, RATIFICATIONS AND APPROVALS

Date of deposit
State Date of signature of ratification/
approval(A)
Austria ... ... 16 May, 1973
Bulgaria ... ... ... .. 12 Jan. 1973 17 Nov. 1976:
Byelorussia ... ... 9 Nov. 1973: 6 Sept. 1976:
Canada ... ... ... 5 Dec. 1972*
Czechoslovakia ... ... 28 Dec. 1973$ 8 May 1974: (A)
Finland ... ... ... 20 Dec' 1973
France ... ... 13 Dec. 1973:* 21 Oct. 1974: (A)
Germany, Federal Republic of 5 Dec. 1972* 27 July 1976t.
ti
Hungary... 10 Jan. 1973 9 Jan. 1974
Korea, Republic of ... 11 Jan. 1973* 18 Dec. 1978
Poland ... ... ... 20 Dec. 1972
Romania ... ... 19 Dec. 1973:* 26 Nov. 1975:
Soviet Union ... ... 23 Aug. 1973: 24 Aug. 1976:
Switzerland ... . 8 Dec. 1972
Turkey ... 15 Dec. 1972:
Ukraine ... ... ... 9 Nov. 1973: 6 Sept. 1976:
United Kingdom ... 13 Feb. 1973 8 Mar. 1978: i
United States ... ... 5 Dec. 1972* 3 Jan. 1978
Yugoslavia ... ... 20 Mar. 1973*

ACCESSIONS
Date of deposit
Germany, Democratic Republic of 27 Sept. 1974:
India ... ... ... ... 27 Jan. 1978
Japan ... ... ... ... 12 June 1978
Liberia ... ... ... ... 14 Feb. 1978
New Zealand ... ... ... 23 Dec. 1974:
Saudi Arabia ... ... ... 6 Oct. 1978
Spain ... ... ... ... 13 May 1974

* Signed subject to ratification or approval.

t Includes Berlin West.
t For reservations and declarations see p. 24-26.

23
 Declarations and Reservations

BULGARIA
On depositing their instrument of ratification the Government of the People's
Republic of Bulgaria made the following declarations:
(Translation) "The People's Republic of Bulgaria considers that Article 7,
which restricts the participation of a number of States in the Convention, is
contrary to the generally accepted principle of the sovereign equality of States. r
The People's Republic of Bulgaria considers that the acceptance on its part
of Article 13 is not to be understood as a change in its position and that a
given dispute may be referred to an arbitral tribunal only with the consent. of all
the parties to the particular dispute."

BYELORUSSIA
On signing the Agreement the Government of the Byelorussion Soviet Socialist
Republic made the following reservations:
(Translation) " It is the view of the Government of the Byelorussian Soviet e
Socialist Republic that the Provisions of Article VII of the International
Convention for Safe Containers restricting participation of some States in the
Convention contradict the generally recognised principle of the sovereign equality
of States.
" As to the provisions of Article XIII concerning the settlement of disputes on
the interpretation and application of the present Convention through arbitration
the Government of the BSSR puts it on record that the acceptance of these
provisions must not be interpreted as modifying the view of the BSSR Government
that a dispute can be referred to an arbitration tribunal only with the
agreement of all parties to a dispute in each particular case".
The instrument of ratification deposited by the Government of the Byelorussian
SSR contained similar reservations.

CZECHOSLOVAKIA
On signing the Convention the Government of the, Czechoslovak Socialist
Republic declared:
(Translation) "The Government of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic
considers that the provisions of Article VII of the International Convention for
Safe Containers, done at Geneva on 2 December 1972, which bar certain States
from participation in it, are contrary to the universally recognised principle of
the sovereign equality of States."
On depositing their instrument of approval the Government of the
Czechoslovak Socialist Republic made a declaration in similar terms.

FRANCE
On signing the Convention the Government of the French Republic made the r
following declaration:
Le Gouvernement francais, conformdment aux dispositions de ('article XIV,
dmet one reserve a 1'encontre do 4eme paragraphe de Particle X rddige comme
suit: "une objection elevde contre cet amendement par one partie contractante
n'aura pas force obligatoire a l'dgard des autres parties contractantes pour cc qui
cst do 1'agr6ment des conteneurs auxquels la prdsente Convention s'applique ".
Lorsqu'une objection aura ete dlevee contre on amendement par. une partie
contractante, les dispositions de cet amendement ne Jui seront pas opposables.
Translation
"The French Government, in accordance with the provisions of Article XIV,
enters a reservation against (that part of) the fourth paragraph of Article X which
reads as follows: "an objection made by a Contracting Party shall not be binding
on other Contracting Parties as to acceptance of containers to which the present
Convention applies."
When an objection to an amendment is raised by a Contracting Party, the
provisions of that amendment shall not be invoked against the said Party."
A similar declaration by the Government of the French Republic was made on
depositing their instrument of approval.
24
 GERMAN DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC
On depositing its instrument of accession the Government of the German
Democratic Republic made the following statements:
"The German Democratic Republic considers it necessary to point out that
Article Vii deprives some States of the possibility to become parties to this
Convention."
"The Convention regulates questions affecting the interests of all States ; there-
fore it must be open for all States which are guided in their policies by the principles
and purposes of the United Nations Charter to become parties to it.
With regard to the provisions of Article XIII of the Convention dealing with
the settlement of disputes concerning the interpretation or application of the Con-
vention by arbitration the German Democratic Republic declares that the acceptance
of this provision should not be interpreted in such a way as if the view of the
German Democratic Republic changed that a dispute may only be referred to an
arbitration tribunal for consideration with the consent of all parties to the dispute."

NEW ZEALAND
The instrument of accession deposited by the Government of New Zealand contained
the following paragraph:
"and the Government of New Zealand declares that its accession to the
Convention shall not extend to the Cook Islands, Niue and the Tokelau Islands".

ROMANIA

M
On signing the Convention the Government of Romania made the following
declaration:
(Translation) "The Government of the Socialist Republic of Romania considers
that the provisions of Article VII of the International Convention for Safe Con-
tainers, done at Geneva on 2 December 1972, are not consistent with the principle
that multilateral international treaties, whose aim and object affect the international
community as a whole, should be open to universal participation."
The instrument of ratification deposited by the Government of Romania was
accompanied by a similar statement.

SOVIET UNION
On signing the Convention the Government of the Soviet Union made the following
reservations:
"it is the view of the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
that the provisions of Article VII of the International Convention for Safe Con-
tainers restricting participation of some states in the Convention contradict the
generally recognised principle of the sovereign equality of states.
As to the provisions of Article XIII concerning the settlement of disputes on
r
the interpretation and applicationabf the present Convention through arbitration the
USSR Government puts it on record that the acceptance of these provisions must
not be interpreted as modifying the view of the USSR Government that a dispute
can be referred to an arbitration tribunal only with the agreement of all parties to
a dispute in each particular case".
The instrument of ratification deposited by the Government of the USSR contained
similar reservations.

TURKEY
On signing the Convention the Government of Turkey made the following
reservation:
Avec one reservation sur la partie ci-dessous reproduite du 48me paragraphe de
l'article X: "une objection elevee contre cet amendement par one Partie con-
tractante n 'aura pas force obligatoire a 1'egard des autres Parties Contractantes pour
cc qui est de l'agrement des conteneurs auxquels la presente Convention
s'applique."

25
 Translation :
" With a reservation concerning that part of the fourth paragraph of Article X
which reads: "an objection made by a Contracting Party shall not be binding on
other Contracting Parties as to acceptance of containers to which the present
Convention applies."

UKRAINE
On signing the Convention the Government of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist
Republic made the following reservations:
"It is the view of the Government of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic
that the provisions of Article VII of the International Convention for Safe
Containers restricting participation of some states in the Convention contradict the
generally recognised principle of the sovereign equality of states.
As to the provisions of Article XIII concerning the settlement of disputes on
the interpretation and application of the present Convention through arbitration
the Ukrainian SSR Government puts it on record that the acceptance of these
provisions must not be interpreted as modifying the view of the Ukrainian SSR
Government that a dispute can be referred to an arbitration tribunal only with r
the agreement of all parties to a dispute "in each particular case ".
The instrument of ratification deposited by the Government of the Ukrainian SSR
contained similar reservations.

UNITED KINGDOM
In the instrument of ratification deposited by the Government of the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland that Government stated that it
reserved : N
11 the right not to apply the said Convention in respect of any territory
for -whose international relations the Government of the United Kingdom is
responsible until twelve months after the date on which the Government of the
United Kingdom notify the Secretary-General of the Inter-Governmental Maritime
Consultative Organization that the said Convention shall apply in respect of any
such territory."

or

Printed in England by Her Majesty ' s Stationery Office

20972-5 311263 Dd 0291783 Kit 5179