16Marking of cargo mass

16 Marking of cargo mass

(1) The shipper of an individual article of cargo, or unitised articles of cargo of at least 1 tonne gross mass, to be loaded on or unloaded from a vessel at an Australian port must mark the cargo with its gross mass in accordance with Schedule 7.

Note An article of cargo, or unitised articles of cargo, could include a container, a portable tank, an intermediate bulk container, a returnable cargo unit, logs, timber, steel products, break bulk or pre slung cargo.

(4) A shipper must not provide information, or place a marking on, a unitised article of cargo mentioned in subsection (1), that indicates a false gross mass or a false maximum gross mass.

(5) An offence against subsection (4) is a strict liability offence.

(6) A person is liable to a civil penalty if the person contravenes subsection (4).

(7) A marking or representation is not taken to be false if the actual mass of the unitised article of cargo is less than:

(a) the declared mass; or

(b) if no mass is declared — the safe working load SWL or maximum gross mass marked on the unitised article of cargo.