When it comes to ensuring uniform international safety regulations for transportation, every container requires a valid shipping container CSC plate. They maintain the utmost level of safety for human life during the handling and transport of maritime containers. Convention for Safe Containers (CSC) is an international agreement where it incorporates a container’s design requirements, minimum functionality requirements, measurements of volume, weight, as well as resistance to forces when they’re subjected to be shipped either by sea via ships or by land within trains, or trucks. Jointly congregated by the UN and the International Maritime Organization, this agreement dates back its origins to 1972.

What is a CSC plate?

The shipping container CSC plate indicates that the freight container qualifies for specific examinations for minimum standards for capacity, weight, resistance to shipping forces, and container dimensions. After this, the box gets a four-digit alpha code that identifies the container’s owner and its desired usage. The plate also provides proof of its authenticity of them according to CSC, as well as ISO standards.

Importance/Role of CSC plates on containers

The IMO conducted a study to find more about the safety of steel shipping containers which steadily increased over the years. The main reason behind the foundation of the CSC standards is to provide the highest safety levels during logistical transportation. Presently, all international cargo transport needs to have valid CSC approval. Without the right shipping container CSC plate, irrelevant of whether it’s any container type, they won’t be able to move goods for international maritime transport. The plate also assures traders whether a cargo container is good to buy and sell during container trading.

What does a CSC plate contain?

• Classification society rules: Different governing bodies around the world, mostly for other countries, take responsibility for ensuring that the freight containers are CSC compliant. Generally, the country code is the letter before the first hyphen or slash. For the next step, the classification society adheres to the inspection criteria. And the next step is the approval year mentioned on the plate.
• Container model: The container model refers to the manufacturing model of the concerned metal shipping container. It helps in identifying the container type and purpose, like whether it’s an open top high cube container, flat rack, reefer, or any other.
• Manufacturer’s serial number: It refers to the ID number assigned to the shipping unit by the manufacturer. It is the general ID number that CSC classification societies provide.
• Manufacturer’s name: It usually has the name of the manufacturer as well as their point of operation. Owner’s name and address: This number is used by the owner to identify their shipping boxes. The organization or company that operates the container fleet and coordinates shipping is usually the owner. Sometimes the manufacturer is also the owner.
• Fumigation details: The lining of shipping container floors is usually made of marine-grade plywood or bamboo. In case of treatment of floors with basileum, radaleum, or talileum-400, the plate will have indication marks for it.
• Classification society approval number: It’s the ID number for the approval process. This ID number is for the individual action of approval for a single container.
• Date Manufactured: It displays the manufacturing date of the freight container.
• Container number: This is the unique container number given to each cargo box following specifications laid down by the Classification society rules.
• Maximum operating gross mass: It refers to the maximum weight of a cargo unit that one can load with its content safely. The gross mass is the inclusion of the total weight of the unit.
• Allowable stacking weight: This number indicates the amount of weightage one can stack on the top of the freight unit even if the container experiences 1.8 GS at sea.
• Racking test: It refers to the amount of pressure or force that one applies to the top edge before the frame bends.
• ACEP number: Containers operated under an ACEP scheme must display the scheme number on the CSC plate; this is often in the form of a decal.

The Two CSC Inspections:

PES (Periodic Examination Scheme)

A small fleet or single container ownership uses the PES scheme. Metal shipping containers over five years of age must have a physical survey to determine their safety for being used as a means of transporting cargo, or whether it’s safe to be lifted and be included in stack situations within fleet containers causing harm to personnel or other equipment. The certification has a maximum of thirty months limit. During this time, the owner must continue to ensure that the container is maintained in a safe and utilitarian condition. The CSC plate displays The Next Examination Date (NED) as to when the cargo boxes need to go for the next inspection. The containers converted for purposes other than cargo carrying are still regarded as ISO units. Thus they also have this certification.

ACEP (Approved Continuous Examination Scheme)

It is an alternative to the PES and is the most common inspection scheme. The major ocean carriers and container lessors widely use it to ensure ongoing safety compliance of the metal shipping containers. Concerning container safety, the administrators list all valid ACEPs regularly, audit ACEP holders, and renew the ACEPs every ten years. To address these new requirements, the Global ACEP Database came up. It brings all the data into one centralized database. Thus, ensuring complete transparency for all concerned groups involved.

Validity of a CSC plate

It’s essential to keep in mind that the shipping container CSC pate is valid only if the maritime container is in good condition, irrespective of the inspection system. If there’s damage during service and the cargo box is not good for further use; the owner must act upon it immediately. One should oust the container from the service in the case it is unsafe for use. A set of criteria called Annex 2 helps an agent determine whether transport restrictions should exist. This includes its immediate removal from service.

LOTUS Containers is one of the top cargo container companies that are the best in providing CSC and ISO certified containers since 2008. With affordability and flexibility in mind, whether it’s open top high cube containers, flat racks, reefers, or others, we provide the right unit for each cargo.