What is International Convention for Safe Containers (CSC)

Understanding the CSC plate of shipping containers.

Here is the list of contents:

· International Convention for Safe Containers (CSC)

· CSC Safety Approval

· CSC Plate

· CSC Container Inspection

· CSC plate validity and container inspection

International Convention for Safe Containers (CSC)

In 1972, the United Nations and the International Maritime Organization jointly convened a conference to adopt the Convention for Safe Containers. 

The International Convention for Safe Containers (CSC), which has two important objectives:

1. to maintain a high level of personal safety during the transportation and handling of containers

2. to facilitate the international transport of containers by providing uniform international safety regulations.

Countries that adopt the CSC Convention are called Contracting Parties and their governments are called Authorities. The competent authority usually delegates testing, inspection and approval to an authorized organization, such as a classification society. All other Contracting Parties accept approval, which means that once approved, containers can move in international traffic with a minimum of security control procedures.

CSC Safety Approval

Combined Data Plate: The safety approval plate conforming to the reproduction model below shall be in the form of a permanent, non-corrosive, fireproof rectangular plate not less than 200 mm x 100 mm.

The CSC Safety Approval characters with a minimum letter height of 8 mm and all other words and numbers with a minimum height of 5 mm shall be embossed, embossed or displayed on the surface of the plate in any other permanent and legible manner.

All characters shall be proportional in width and thickness, they shall be durable and of a color that contrasts with the color of the container.

CSC Plate

TheInternational Convention for Safe Containers (CSC) requires that any container used for international transport be equipped with a valid security approval plate (CSC Plate).

The CSC Plate is fixed to each shipping container at the time of manufacture and is usually riveted to the outside of the left door.

Each CSC plate must contain a certain level of information, either in English or French. The plate prominently displays the words "CSC SAFETY APPROVAL", as well as the country of approval and approval number.

The date of manufacture of the container, especially the month and year, must be visible. The manufacturer's container identification number or, if the existing container does not have a manufacturer's number, the container operator's operating number (using the "BIC code") or the number assigned by the competent authority must also be present. The container's maximum load capacity (often referred to as "payload" or "maximum net mass") in kilograms and pounds, as well as the stacking and racking test load values, must be indicated.

Note: CSC nameplates are now usually included as part of a combination data plate, which includes other nameplates required for containers used in international trade, namely Customs nameplate (referring to Container Customs Convention (CCC) requirements) showing the certificate applicable to the container, allowing transport under customs envelope. Wood treatment of the wooden floor of the container in accordance with the requirements of the Australian agricultural authorities Optionally, a shipowner's plate with the name of the container operator and its operating number (using the "BIC code")

CSC Container Inspection

The container owner is responsible for maintaining the container in a safe condition and must ensure that the container is inspected at intervals appropriate to the operating conditions. However, practical considerations, commercial practice and contractual agreements mean that this responsibility shifts to the party in control of the container.

CSC offers two inspection programs:

- Periodic Inspection Schedule (PES):  Each container must be inspected no more than 5 years after manufacture and at intervals of less than 30 months thereafter. The date of the next inspection (NED) must be marked on the CSC nameplate

- Approved Continuing Examination Program (ACEP):  Containers are considered to be properly inspected each time maintenance is performed or, in many cases, each time a container is inspected at a maintenance facility. Containers operating under the ACEP program must display the program number on the CSC nameplate, which usually takes the form of a decal.

The GSC Convention requires parties to make publicly available a list of ACEP programs approved within their mandate.

The IMO recommended method of publication is the global ACEP database operated by the BIC.

CSC plate validity and container inspection

Regardless of the inspection system followed, the CSC plate is only valid if the container is in good condition. If it is damaged during use and is no longer safe to use, the owner must take appropriate action. If the container is deemed to be damaged to a dangerous degree, any authorized agent may stop using the container. annex 2 of the CSC plate includes a set of criteria to help agents determine if shipping restrictions must be applied, including immediate cancellation of service. A video explaining an important part of the Annex 2 criteria is available here.

For more information view http://www.imo.org/en/Publications