Mandatory sea container weighing by 2016

LONDON: The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has approved amendments to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) to require mandatory verification of the gross mass of containers.

From July 2016, shippers and forwarders will be required to either weigh the packed container, or weigh all packages and cargo inside it, using a check process approved by a government authority from the originating country.

CIMC Holiday Inn container hotel London City The IMO has also approved the International Labor Organization/ U.N. Economic Commission for Europe code of practice for packing of Cargo Transport Units (CTU code) in a bid to improve the integrity of maritime cargo.

Meanwhile in addition to carrying most of the world's trade, containers are also being used to accommodate the world's traders: Early next year a £12.5 million Holiday Inn Express hotel (right) will open near London City airport using converted shipping containers as bedrooms.

UK construction company Anglo Holt has been appointed by China International Marine Containers (CIMC) to build the hotel with 204 bedroom containers that are delivered complete with decoration, furniture and all fittings.

CIMC, which also manufactures airport and logistics equipment, produces the modules in China as construction work continues in London. Paul Blackmore, UK managing director of CIMC Modular Building Systems commented: "One of the most obvious advantages of parallel work is the enhancement of work efficiency and time saving. It is also an environmentally-friendly option, with on-site waste reduced by 10-15 percent."

Anglo Holt managing director Andy Elwell added: "The CIMC modular system is a fantastic innovation and the quality of each container is very good. There is an enormous amount of interest in this system and other hotel operators are considering similar modular systems for the construction of new hotels of various brands in the UK."

CIMC is reported to have won a contract to build a new 200-bed Hilton Group hotel out of containers as part of a £120 million Bristol airport expansion program.