11.3 Documentation

11.3.1     In conformance with paragraph 4.2.4, the shipper is responsible for ensuring that all documents required by applicable international and national regulations are received from the consignor and the packer, that the documents are accurate, and, where required, are provided to the carrier before the transport commences respectively as early as required by the carrier.

11.3.2     The packer is responsible for accurately determining the gross mass of the packed CTU. Applicable international and national regulations may prescribe how the gross mass should be determined, and should be followed.

11.3.3     The packer of the CTU should inform the shipper of the identification number of the CTU (container number or vehicle number as appropriate), the verified gross mass of the unit and the identification number of the seal (if applicable), thus to ensure that the verified gross mass and the identification numbers are included in all transport documents, such as bills of lading, way bills, consignment notes or cargo manifests, and are communicated to the carrier as early as required by the carrier.         

11.3.4     Whenever the cargo projects beyond the overall dimensions of the CTU the information described in paragraph 11.3.3 should state the exact maximum over-height, over-width or over-length, as appropriate.

11.3.5     If a freight container having an allowable stacking mass of less than 192,000 kg marked on the safety approval plate (see subsection 8.2.1) is intended to be carried by ship, the carrier should be informed of the reduced stacking capability of that freight container.

11.3.6     In addition, whenever dangerous goods are packed into a CTU for transport by sea or where a maritime leg is included in the transport route, the IMDG Code and other transport regulations may require that those responsible for the packing of the CTU provide a “container/vehicle packing certificate” specifying the identification number of the container or the vehicle and certifying that the packing operation was carried out in accordance with the requirements of the applicable dangerous goods regulations. For all details of documentation, the relevant dangerous goods regulations should be referred to.