## Regarding Safety Measures in the Ground Transportation of International Maritime Containers

With regard to the ground transportation of international maritime containers, in December 2005, related groups and government agencies cooperated and instituted the "International Maritime Container Safety Transport Guidelines on Land". However, accidents are still occurring continuously such as rollover accidents involving international maritime containers even after the issue of guidelines.

Factors for the international maritime container rollover accidents include the speeding trailer, failure of the containers to remain fixed to the trailer, accidents caused by the driver of the container and etc. In addition to the factors attributed to the driver based on not being able to confirm the condition of the container contents, a variety of factors are presumed including the occurrence of overloading.

With regard to these issues, awareness is being shared with the cooperation of affiliate related departments in the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, truck company, terminal operator, forwarder, chartering broker, and related members of the shipping company etc. In order for discussion to move forward in relation to possible specific safety measures in the future, the "International Maritime Container Safety Measure in Land Transport Review Meeting" was established in December last year, and discussion was held for more safety measures. Based on the results, the "Bill Relating to the Safety and Security of the Vehicle Transport of International Maritime Container Integrated Transport" was decided in the cabinet in March 5 $ ^{th} $ this year, and a summary is shown below.

## 1 Transmission of container data

(When Importing)

The consignee requests provision of the container weight and stowage information etc. for the foreign shipper.

The container material information and weight and stowage information from the foreign shipper etc. are sequentially transmitted from the consignee to the chartering broker, from the chartering broker to the truck company, and from the truck company to the truck driver.

When the weight amount information is unobtainable, the consignee measures the weight and takes steps transmit the results.

(When Exporting)

The shipper sequentially transmits the container item/weight/stowage information to the driver.

2 Discovery and revision of import containers in an improper state at the port

When there is a request from the truck company, the shipper implements the necessary equipment for discovering or correcting the improper containers.

The minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transportation establishes policies for discovering or correcting improper containers.

☑ Authorized officials are able to hold a conference for discovering and correcting improper containers for every port and pier.

## 3 Compliance items for the truck operator and driver

The truck operator cannot order or approve the transport of improper containers. Advice is sought from the shipper who gave instructions for this.

The truck operator and driver implement the safe operation and container lock based on the container information.

$ ^{*} $ The items above are implemented sequentially according to the contents.

Conditions of Rollover Accidents of Container Semi-Trailers Carrying International Maritime Container

Imported Containers	Exported Containers	Total
2006	6	0	6
2007	3	5	8
2008	3	2	5
2009	5	3	8
Total	17	10	27

(10 fatalities and 8 severe injuries from 2006 to 2009)