Permissible Load on a container will be minimum of the below four factors:

1. Maximum Payload for a Container

2. Maximum Safe Axle Weight permitted for transport vehicles
3. Lifting capacity of container handling gantry cranes at ports
4. Stacking Structure and Lashing Beam strength of vessel

Maximum payload for a container

The Net weight listed for a container is the max amount of cargo which the container is designed to hold
while maintaining structural integrity. The Tare weight is the empty weight of the container without
cargo, and the Gross weight is the total weight of Container and Cargo. Payload is therefore the gross
weight minus the tare weight for containers. Based on the structural integrity, design, weight
distribution and weight to volume ratio, each of these size/type of containers are designed to carry
specific cargo types.
 20' containers are designed to carry more weight than voluminous cargo. Example - Minerals,
Metals, Machinery, Sugar, Paper, Cement, Steel Coils all of which are heavy cargoes. Metric used
is Tons.
 40' containers are designed to carry voluminous cargo rather than heavy cargo. Example
Furniture, Steel Pipes, Paper scrap, Cotton, Tobacco all of which are voluminous cargoes. Metric
used is CBM.

Some of the Generic Payload capacity of Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) containers is
stated below. Actual Weight may vary slightly (1-2 Tones, New built container can carry slightly
more load) for different Shipping Lines
Container Type Max.
Payload
(Tones)
20’ Standard 28.26
40’ Standard 28.86
40’ High Cube 28.66
20’ Open Top 28.18
40’ Open Top 26.68
20’ Collapsible Flat Rack 37.00
40’ Collapsible Flat Rack 44.65
20’ Reefer 27.54
40’ Reefer 30.26
Max gross weight of 20ft standard container is 30.48 ton and 40ft is 32.5 ton.

Maximum Safe Axle Weight permitted for transport vehicles

Theoretically Overweight Limitations at Nhava Sheva, Chennai and New Delhi is that Cargo weight
should not exceed container maximum payload. (Cargo weight + tare weight) should not exceed rated
capacity of vehicle arranged in India. The gross vehicle weight (GVW) and maximum safe axle weight of
different types of vehicles are notified by the central government under Section 58 of the Motor
Vehicles Act. The latest notification in this regard was issued in July 2018. As per the amended rules,
the maximum safe axle weight of each axle type in relation to the transport vehicles (other than motor
cabs), with regard to the size, nature and number of tyres would be as follows :
Sl.No. Axle Type Maximum Safe
Axle (Tonnes)
1. Single Axle
1.1 Single Axle with single Tyre 3
1.2 Single Axle with two Tyres 7.5
1.3 Single Axle with four Tyres 11.5*
2 Tandem Axles (Two axles) (where the distance between two axles is less
than 1.8 Mtr. )
2.1 Tandem axle for rigid vehicles, trailers and semi-trailers 21*
2.2 Tandem axle for Puller tractors for hydraulic and pneumatic trailers 28.5
3 Tri–axles (Three axles) (where the distance between outer axles is less than
3 Mtr.)
3.1 Tri-axle for rigid vehicles, trailers and semi-trailers 27*
3.2 Axle Row (two axles with four tyres each) in Modular Hydraulic trailers 18
(9 tonnes load shall be permissible for single axle)

*Note: If the vehicle is fitted with pneumatic suspension, 1 tonne extra load is permitted for each axle.

The amendment lays down that the gross vehicle weight (GVW) will not exceed the total permissible
safe axle weight as above and in no case shall exceed-

i. 49 tonnes in case of rigid vehicles; and

ii. 55 tonnes in case of semi-articulated trailers and truck-trailers except modular hydraulic trailers

Lifting capacity of container handling gantry cranes at Ports terminal

Container cranes (also known as container handling gantry cranes) are divided into two categories, quay
and yard cranes.
 Quay cranes such as Ship-to-Shore gantry cranes (STS) and Mobile Harbour Cranes (MHC) are
used to transport containers between ships and the handling yard or vice versa
 Yard cranes like Rubber Tyre Gantry (RTG), Rail Mounted Gantry (RMG) and Straddle Carriers
(SC) work within terminal yards, where they stack containers for storage and load or unload
containers on to trucks or trains
Lifting capacities of these cranes vary from 40 Tonnes to Staggering 120 Tonnes with overload factor of
safety of 2.8 to 3 times. Terminal Limitation at Nhava Sheva International Container Terminal (NSICT)
and chennai of Gantry Crane Maximum Capacity is 40 Tons.
Stacking Structure and Lashing Beam strength of vessel

The operating principle is that the weights of containers should not exceed the prescribed limits for the
slots in which they are stowed. In modern container handling systems, the loading model for a particular
class of vessel is usually sufficiently well detailed that it prevents an operator from planning the loading
of a heavy container in a light slot. In a more sophisticated approach, the loading computer will
calculate, on an individual stack basis, the resultant forces acting upon the containers and the lashing
system. A maximum container weight will be determined for each position and it is possible that a heavy
container could be received over a unit of lesser weight, provided that securing loads are acceptable. In
both examples, if the weight is excessive for the specified position, the computer program will simply
reject the container.

Lashing systems in use on all types of container vessels are very similar and based on the twistlock and
lashing bar/turnbuckle system. Lashing beam strength is usually 3-4 times generally (and even more
depending about ship architecture) the maximum payload capacity of containers. The ship can carry
units basis the maximum pay load capacity (basis the gross weight of any container as declared by the
shipper on the VGM). The verified gross mass(VGM) of a container is the total gross mass of a packed
container, which is obtained by either of the following methods: 1-Weighing the container after packing
and sealing it 2- weighing all packages, dunnage, pallets and securing materials to be stuffed in a
container and adding them to the tare mass of the container. Upon receipt of verification of the gross
mass of the container, the shipper must communicate it to the carrier (and Master) via a shipping
document. Most ISO containers are designed to allow nine-high stacking and can handle compressive
force on the container corner posts and fittings. This force should not exceed 45 t for a standard 20 ft
container corner post or 67.5 t for a 40 ft container corner post. Larger compression forces are allowed
for corner castings at the base of a stack (83.8 t).

Conclusion

From the above information and stakeholder consultation it’s evident that the lifting capacity of
container cranes or the stacking & lashing of containers in vessels are not the limiting factors for the
maximum payload of the container. In India most common vehicles used for road shipment of container
are two and three axle rigid vehicles. As per the July 2018 notification of maximum safe axle load for
transport vehicles, the permissible Gross Vehicle Weight for two and three axle rigid trucks comes out as
18.5 and 28 tones respectively (Annexure I ). Considering average tare weight of these vehicles around 6
tonnes, the payload for cargo come down to 12.5 and 22 tonnes approx. respectively. The rationale
behind Ministry of Road Transport & Highway fixing these technical limitations are not known hence
according to stakeholder consultation reason may be the road/highway/bridge load bearing capacity.

Moreover, because of the dearth of higher capacity trucks or trailers the limiting factor for payloads are
in transport vehicles. In addition, road transport have RTO passing restriction sometime they prefer
carrying overload illegal way by paying fine. However, in lot many cases containers are stuffed below
capacity than their maximum payload capacity from origin point and then again re-stuffed at
consolidation area/CFS or other warehouses near port from where it can be loaded it to vehicles that
could allow containers carry cargo to its maximum payload capacity and also by this they optimize
container charges (per TEU) at ports. Vice-versa is also true for import containers thus involving extra
cost and loss of time for cargo movement. Revisiting the safe axle load limits for container cargo trucks
and development of physical infrastructure (highways and bridges) to support the movement of high
capacity truck and trailers is must for encouraging Indian transport sector to purchase such vehicles.
 Annexure I
Impact Analysis of increase in Safe Axle Load limits for Goods Transport Vehicles
Sr. Type of Vehicle Axle Axle No. of Single Axle Tandem Axle Dual Axles Tridem Axle Permissible
No. Combination Combination Axles GVW
on Tractor on Trailer (Tonnes)
1 Two Axle rigid trucks 2 1 0 1 0 18.5
2 Three Axle rigid trucks 3 1 1 0 0 28
3 Four Axle rigid truck 4 2 1 0 0 35
4 Five Axle rigid truck 5 3 1 0 0 42
5 Five Axle rigid truck 5 2 0 0 1 41
6 Five Axle rigid truck 5 2 1 1 0 46.5
7 Six Axle rigid truck 6 4 1 0 0 49
8 Tractor- semi Two tyres on Four tyres on 3 1 0 2 0 30
articulated tractors from axle and single axle
four tyres on
rear axle
9 Tractor- semi Two tyres on Eight tyres 4 1 1 1 0 39.5
articulated tractors from axle and on tandem
four tyres on (two) axles
rear axle
10 Tractor- semi Two tyres on Twelve tyres 5 1 0 1 1 45.5
articulated tractors from axle and on tridem
four tyres on (three) axles
rear axle
11 Tractor- semi Two tyres on Four tyres on 4 1 1 1 0 39.5
articulated tractors from axle and single axle
eigth tyres on
rear tandem
(two) axle
12 Tractor- semi Two tyres on Eight tyres 5 1 2 0 0 49
articulated tractors from axle and on tandem
eigth tyres on (two) axles
 rear tandem
6(two) axle
13 Tractor- semi Two tyres on Twelve tyres 6 1 1 0 1 55
articulated tractors from axle and on tridem
eigth tyres on (three) axles
rear tandem
(two) axle
14 Tractor Trailer Two tyres on Eight tyres 4 1 0 3 0 41.5
from axle and on two axles
four tyres on
rear axle
15 Tractor Trailer Two tyres on Eight tyres 5 1 1 2 0 51
from axle and on two axles
eigth tyres on
rear tandem
(two) axle
16 Tractor Trailer Two tyres on Four tyres on 5 1 1 2 0 51
from axle and single axle
four tyres on and Eight
rear axle tyres on
tandem
(two) axle
17 Tractor Trailer Two tyres on Four tyres on 6 1 2 1 0 55
from axle and single axle
eigth tyres on and Eight
rear tandem tyres on
(two) axle tandem
(two) axle