Views: 0 Author: Site Editor Publish Time: 2025-09-10 Origin: Site
Every shipping container has a maximum weight limit indicated on its door, such as "MAX GROSS: 30480KGS", meaning the total weight of the container plus its cargo must not exceed this value. Typical tare weights are around 2200KGS for 20-foot general-purpose containers (20GP) and 3720-4200KGS for 40-foot containers. Some High Cube (HQ) containers may have a higher MAX GROSS of 32000KGS.
This limit represents the maximum load the container structure can withstand. Exceeding it may cause damage like container deformation, floor panel detachment, or top beam bending. The shipper will bear full responsibility for any losses resulting from such overloading. Currently, most professional container terminals in China are equipped with automatic weighbridges, and they will refuse acceptance of any container that exceeds its rated weight. Therefore, it is advisable to check the weight limit on the container before loading to avoid unnecessary rework such as returning and reloading the container.
If the cargo is indeed overweight and cannot be split, overweight containers can be an option. However, this incurs a "heavy container selection fee". Normally, terminals or yards stack standard dry containers of shipping lines together. To select specific heavy-duty containers (e.g., the 20-foot heavy-duty containers mentioned earlier), terminals or yards must search through them one by one. The selection fee for this service is usually the same as the fee for designated containers.
Container transportation is a collaborative process involving multiple parties. Beyond the container's own weight limit, several other factors must be considered:
1. Shipping Line Weight Limits
Weight policies vary among shipping lines, but the general standard is to avoid damaging the containers.
Balance between Cargo Space and Weight: Each container ship has specific cargo space and weight capacities. However, on a particular route, these two are not always fully utilized in balance. A common issue arises in North China, where heavy cargo is concentrated. Often, the ship's weight capacity is reached while significant cargo space remains unused. To offset this space loss, shipping lines frequently adopt a surcharge strategy, imposing additional fees when the cargo weight exceeds a certain tonnage.
Space Chartering Constraints: Some shipping lines do not use their own vessels but charter space from other lines. In such cases, weight restrictions are even stricter. This is because space transactions between shipping lines typically follow a standard of 1 TEU = 14 TONS or 16 TONS, and cargo exceeding this weight is denied shipment.
Peak Season Adjustments: During peak shipping seasons, shipping lines may lower the weight limits for each container type based on the popularity of different routes.
When booking cargo space, it is essential to inquire with the freight forwarder about the shipping line's weight limits, preferably by the latest shipment date. If this confirmation is skipped and the cargo is heavy, risks arise. Some shipping lines offer no room for negotiation once overweight is detected; they directly require the shipper to haul the cargo away from the port, unload it, and have it reweighed. The costs associated with this process are difficult to control.
2. Port and Terminal Weight Limits
These limits primarily depend on the load capacity of the machinery and equipment at the terminal or container yard. After a container ship berths at the port, terminal cranes are generally used for loading and unloading operations. The containers are then transported by trucks to the yard, where forklifts unload them. If a container's weight exceeds the machinery's load capacity, it will hinder operations at the terminal and yard. Consequently, for smaller ports with outdated equipment, shipping lines usually inform shippers of the port's weight limit in advance and refuse cargo exceeding this limit.
3. Feeder Vessel or Road Transportation Weight Limits
Those who have handled shipments to U.S. inland points are well aware of the strict weight limits for road transportation in the U.S. Since many containers are unloaded at the port and then transported by truck to inland areas, road weight limits also become a factor for shipping lines to restrict container weights. Of course, this does not apply to shipments destined only for the port itself. Cargo bound for the U.S. route has strict weight requirements, mainly influenced by the road weight limits for U.S. inland points. Typically, the limit is 17.3 tons for 20-foot containers and 19.5 tons for 40-foot HQ containers. However, specific weight limits may vary depending on the port.
4. Route-Specific Weight Limits
For different routes, shipping lines allocate capacity based on factors such as the sequence of port calls, the type of cargo exported, and cargo popularity. Additionally, considering the load capacity of handling equipment at the destination port, weight limits for 20-foot and 40-foot containers naturally differ across routes.
What to Do When Overweight Occurs?
This mainly depends on whether the overweight issue arises at the port/terminal, with the shipping line, or at the destination port:
Overweight with the Shipping Line: Negotiate with the shipowner to pay an overweight surcharge, and proceed with the shipment as normal otherwise.
Overweight Exceeding Port/Terminal Regulations: If overweight is detected upon port entry, negotiate with the port/terminal. Options include paying an overweight fee plus a manual handling fee, or unloading and reloading the cargo.
Overweight at the Destination Port: Generally, if the overweight is within a certain range, the issue can be resolved by paying a fine. If the overweight is severe and the cranes along the route cannot handle the load, the container may have to be unloaded at a nearby port or returned to the origin.
