Using a shipping container for inland or maritime transport? You’ll need to obtain a special safety document, called a CSC certificate, before you get started. In this guide, we’ll walk through the basics of CSC certification, including technical requirements, examination criteria, and renewal options.
What is CSC Certification?
A CSC certificate is a safety certification that proves your shipping container meets all the safety requirements set out by the International Maritime Organization (IMO). Any shipping container that is being used for inland or maritime transport must have a valid CSC certificate—and valid CSC plates—before it hits the road or sets sail.
The acronym CSC stands for the Convention for Safe Containers, a set of safety standards created by the IMO and codified in 1972. The Convention for Safe Containers lays out the characteristics a freight container must demonstrate to ensure the safety of the people handling this equipment. By creating one global standard, the convention also helps avoid regional differences and makes the safe, intermodal movement of cargo worldwide possible.
CSC Certification Requirements
To obtain a valid CSC certification, a shipping container must be thoroughly examined by a specially trained CSC inspector. For a shipping container to successfully pass this examination (also known as a “CSC survey”), it must:
- Be completely wind and watertight, with no holes or spots where light or water can leak into the container when closed.
- Be deemed structurally sound (cargoworthy/seaworthy) via a series of strength tests, confirming the container can be safely stacked while loaded for an ocean voyage.
A shipping container that passes its CSC certification must then be fitted with CSC plates, which proves that it can be safely used for intermodal transport. A container that fails a CSC certification can still be used for storage but must not be used for intermodal transport.
What Are CSC Plates?
CSC plates, also known as “Safety Approval Plates”, are fastened to the container directly at the time of manufacture. You will typically find them placed on the outside of your container’s left door. CSC plates contain important data about the container’s lifecycle and characteristics, including:
- Manufacturer name & date
- Unique identification numbers
- Maximum gross weight
- Allowed stacking weight
- Racking test load value
- Next examination date (if applicable)
- Approved Continuous Examination Program scheme number (if applicable)
To meet the requirements of the Convention for Safe Containers, CSC plates must be permanent, non-corrosive, and fireproof, with high-contrast lettering that is either stamped on or embossed. A detailed breakdown of CSC plate components can be found below, courtesy of the Bureau for International Containers (BIC):
Intermodal terminals will not accept a shipping container with invalid, incomplete, or missing CSC plates. It is the responsibility of the container’s owner or lessor to ensure a container has valid CSC plates prior to its sail date.
How to Get CSC Certification
To obtain a CSC certification, you must work with an approved CSC surveyor. The surveyor will conduct a thorough examination of all components of your cargo container, including a detailed inspection of the underside. Because this part of the inspection requires access underneath the container, most surveyors only visit select depots, repair facilities, or ports where containers can be safely lifted with a forklift or crane. If you do not have the ability to lift your container on your property, it is advisable to obtain CSC certification before delivery.
CHS Container Group conducts CSC examinations at our in-house workshop in Bremen, Germany. This specially equipped facility has all the necessary resources and personnel to perform CSC examinations directly, minimizing the cost and lead time associated with obtaining your container’s certification. In North America, we maintain a strong network of CSC surveyors across more than 45 U.S. and Canadian cities.
Renewing CSC Certifications
There are two routes to keeping a shipping container’s safety approval plates valid: a Periodic Examination Scheme (PES) or an Approved Continuous Examination Program (ACEP).
To participate in the Periodic Examination Scheme, your container must:
- Undergo its first CSC survey within five years of its manufacturing date.
- Undergo subsequent inspections every thirty months or less.
- Clearly have its next inspection date (NED) listed on its CSC plate.
To participate in the Approved Continuous Examination Programme (ACEP), your container must:
- Undergo a CSC survey every time it is inspected at a repair facility.
- Undergo a CSC survey any time a repair is conducted.
- Clearly have its ACEP scheme number listed on its CSC plate.
Most major ocean carriers and container lessors opt for the ACEP safety examination scheme, which is easier to track and execute at scale. Regardless of the examination scheme selected, if a shipping container sustains damage that compromises its structural integrity, it must be taken out of service until it has been appropriately repaired and re-certified.
CSC Certifications: Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a CSC certification cost?
A CSC certification facilitated by CHS Container Group USA costs $150.
Can I use a new (one-trip) shipping container for intermodal transport?
Yes, with a valid CSC certification. New (one-trip) containers are units sold after carrying a single load of cargo to North America, usually within five years of manufacture.
Can I use an IICL shipping container for intermodal transport?
Yes, with a valid CSC certification. IICL containers, also known as multi-trips, are used units maintained to the high standard of the Institute of International Container Lessors (IICL) for extended service life.
Can I use a cargo-worthy shipping container for intermodal transport?
Yes, with a valid CSC certification. Cargo-worthy containers are used units that still meet the requirements for transport by sea, rail, and road.
Can I use a wind & watertight shipping container for intermodal transport?
No. Wind & watertight containers are well-used units that can no longer be safely stacked and therefore do not meet CSC survey requirements. They are suitable for storage purposes only.
Does CHS Container Group offer CSC certification training?
Yes, CHS provides free training courses on a variety of container-based topics, including CSC certification. Please contact us for more information.
