THECSC approval The Convention for Safe Containers (CSSC) is fundamental in the world of logistics. It is, in a way, the “technical inspection” and safety passport of a shipping container.
Here is a detailed explanation of what this approval is and the complex procedure for renewing it after a modification.
- What is CSC accreditation?
The International Convention on Safe Containers (CSC) is a 1972 regulation aimed at standardizing safety standards for intermodal transport (ship, train, truck).
Its main objectives:
- Human security: Ensuring the safety of handlers and transporters.
- Standardization: Ensure that the container can withstand the extreme mechanical stresses of transport (stacking, crane lifting, swell).
The CSC Plate
Proof of this approval is a rectangular stainless steel plate affixed to the container door. It must be indelible and non-combustible.
It contains vital information:
- The mention “CSC SAFETY APPROVAL”.
- The country of approval and the reference.
- The date of manufacture.
- The container identification number.
- The maximum gross weight (Max Gross Weight).
- Stacking resistance.
- The load value for the transverse stiffness test (Racking).
- The date of the first control visit (usually 5 years after manufacture) or the reference to the ACEP program (continuous control).
Important note: Without a valid CSC plate, a container cannot be loaded onto a commercial container ship.
- Obtaining a new approval after modification
This is where the situation gets complicated. Any significant structural modification to the container once modified (cutting walls, adding side doors, structural modification, opening the roof or floor, welding on the uprights) automatically invalidates the original CSC approval.
The modified container no longer meets the manufacturer's original test specifications. To use it again for maritime transport (export), you must... re-certify as if it were a new type of container.
Here is the step-by-step procedure:
Step 1: Study and Calculation Note
Before even touching the container, a design office must produce detailed plans for the modification.
- You must prove through material strength calculations that the modification does not compromise structural integrity (e.g., if you cut a wall, you must add equivalent reinforcements).
Step 2: Contact a Classification Society
Approval is not issued directly by the state, but by approved classification societies (also called “Class Societies”). The best known are:
- Bureau Veritas (BV)
- DNV
- Lloyd's Register (LR)
- ABS (American Bureau of Shipping)
You will need to submit your plans and calculation notes to them for validation. before the works.
Step 3: Carrying out the work
The modifications must be carried out by certified professionals, often in accordance with specific welding standards. The classification society may require inspection of the work in progress.
Step 4: Physical Tests
In some cases, depending on the type of transformation made to the container, the classification society will likely require the modified container to undergo a battery of real-world tests to validate the calculations:
- Levage: Lift the loaded container to its maximum capacity (and beyond for the safety factor).
- Stacking: Prove that it can support the weight of other containers above it (despite your modifications).
- Racking: Test the lateral rigidity.
Step 5: Issuance of the new license plate
If the tests are successful, the classification society will issue a new certificate and authorize you to affix a new CSC plate reflecting the new characteristics (often, the maximum payload is reduced after modification).
