Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2019, published 109th ILC session (2021)

Marking of Weight (Packages Transported by Vessels) Convention, 1929 (No. 27) - Honduras (Ratification: 1980)

The Committee notes the observations by the Honduran National Business Council (COHEP), received on 22 August 2017, as well as the Government’s response to those observations. The Committee recalls that in its direct request of 2012 it noted that the Government did not provide any comments on the COHEP observations of 2008, indicating that it was fully in favour of a revision of the Convention to take account of developments in cargo transportation methods. The Committee also notes the observations of COHEP, in which it states that it has not been informed by the Government that the latter intends to revise the national legislation in respect of the Convention. COHEP adds that neither has the Government indicated that it intends to discuss the matter in the Economic and Social Council (responsible for tripartite discussions on these matters). In its response, the Government indicates that it was awaiting more information on the observations submitted in 2008 by COHEP, given that the representative of that organization put forward arguments that were unrelated to the matter. The Government indicates in its 2017 report that the Convention was publicized during two sessions, on 3 August 2017, which COHEP did not attend, and on 15 August 2017. The Government also proposed holding regular meetings with the aim of reviewing, on a tripartite basis, the requirements of the Convention and both partners agreed to support the initiative. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the consultations held with the social partners, including COHEP, in the context of developments in cargo transportation methods.

With reference to its general observation of 2007 on the application of the Convention, the Committee recalls that it invites Governments to provide information on how the Convention is applied in relation to modern methods of cargo handling, particularly with regard to containers. In this respect, the Committee notes that the Directorate General of Merchant Shipping issued Order No. DGMM 008-2016 on 24 June 2016, implementing the amendments to Regulation 2 of Chapter VI of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974 (SOLAS Convention), which entered into force on 1 July 2016, and which refers to the verified gross weight of a full container. The Committee notes that this Order constitutes a measure contributing to the application of Article 1 of the Convention. The Committee requests the Government to provide all information it considers useful on the application of Order No. DGMM 008-2016 of the Directorate General for Merchant Shipping.