In response to the increasing concerns over the number of containers lost at sea in recent years, IACS adopts two new Unified Requirements, UR C6 and UR C7, to enhance the cargo securing arrangements of container ships.
Container ships play a vital role in global trade, facilitating the transportation of goods across vast distances. However, the safe transport of this cargo type poses unique challenges, particularly with regards to stowage and securing of containers on onboard vessels. By mandating lashing software for all seagoing dedicated container ships as an additional means to supplement the container stowage and securing plan, UR C6, ‘Requirements for Lashing Software’, provides harmonised performance standards and requirements.
Lashing software serves as a critical tool in optimising cargo securing arrangements, mitigating the risk of shifting and potential loss of containers during transit. UR C6 therefore details the functional requirements the lashing software is to comply with, together with the requirements of the test loading conditions used to approve and survey the software as well as the approval and survey procedures for the software. By adopting uniform standards, IACS aims to enhance consistency and reliability in the implementation of lashing software, thereby promoting safer shipping practices by providing vessels with advanced tools to optimize cargo securing arrangements.
Ensuring the proper securing of cargo is paramount not only for the safety of the vessel, but also for the protection of the cargo and the personnel onboard. This requires properly accounting for the strength of the container securing systems used onboard the vessel. Therefore, in conjunction with UR C6, IACS has also developed and adopted UR C7, ‘Approval and Certification of Container Securing Systems’, which mandates minimum requirements for the approval and certification of container securing systems for container ships. UR C7 defines a comprehensive scope of approval and/or certification for container securing system, encompassing fixed and portable container securing fittings, arrangement plans, drawings of container supporting structures, and cargo safe access plans.
Both UR C6 and C7 will be uniformly implemented by IACS Member Societies on ships contracted for construction on or after 1 July 2025.
Commenting on the new UR C6 and C7, IACS Secretary General, Mr. Robert Ashdown said:
“With the adoption of UR C6 and C7, IACS further demonstrates its commitment to the safety and reliability of container ship operations, mitigating the risk of accidents and cargo loss, and thus enhancing maritime safety and the protection of the marine environment.”