IHW Inland Haulage Container Weighing
ContainerKey Information
What is IHW?
Inland Haulage Container Weighing, abbreviated as IHW, is a crucial service fee associated with the transportation of shipping containers to designated weighing facilities. This service is essential for obtaining the Verified Gross Mass (VGM) certification, which is a requirement under the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Convention. The VGM certification is mandated to ensure the accurate declaration of a container's total weight, thereby enhancing maritime safety and preventing accidents caused by overweight containers.
The IHW fee is typically charged by logistics providers or freight forwarders who facilitate the movement of containers from a port or a storage yard to an approved weighing station. This fee is generally borne by the shipper, although it could be negotiated to be included in the service package offered by the freight forwarder or logistics service provider. The charge is calculated based on factors such as the distance from the container's location to the weighing facility and additional handling requirements.
IHW is distinct from other related fees such as terminal handling charges or documentation fees, as it specifically pertains to the transportation and weighing process for VGM compliance. In practical terms, stakeholders must ensure that the IHW service is scheduled promptly within the logistics timeline to avoid delays in cargo departure. Accurate coordination with weighing facilities is essential to prevent bottlenecks and ensure that the VGM certification is acquired in a timely manner. Thus, logistical planning should factor in the availability and proximity of weighing facilities to optimize the cost and time efficiency of this mandatory process.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Inland Haulage Container Weighing (IHW) fee is a charge for transporting shipping containers to weighing facilities to obtain Verified Gross Mass (VGM) certification. This certification is crucial under the SOLAS Convention for ensuring accurate container weight declarations, thereby enhancing maritime safety.
The shipper is responsible for paying the Inland Haulage Container Weighing (IHW) fee, while freight forwarders typically charge this fee. It covers the cost of transporting containers to designated facilities for VGM certification.
The IHW fee is calculated per container. The exact amount may vary based on the distance to the weighing facility and other logistical considerations. Shippers should consult their freight forwarders for specific pricing details.
The IHW fee applies when containers need VGM certification. To avoid this fee, ensure containers are pre-weighed and certified before transport. However, this may not always be feasible depending on shipping requirements and regulations.