The international convention governing the safe handling of shipping containers is the International Convention for Safe Containers, or CSC.
The convention was adopted on 2 December 1972 after the rapid expansion of marine containerization raised concerns about structural failures during lifting, stacking, transport, and transfer between ships, trains, trucks, and terminals. It was developed through cooperation between the International Maritime Organization and the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, and entered into force on 6 September 1977.
CSC establishes internationally accepted testing, inspection, approval, maintenance, and strength requirements. An approved container receives a safety approval plate, commonly called a CSC plate, displaying technical information. Contracting states generally recognize one another’s approvals, allowing containers to move internationally without repeated national safety approvals.
The convention applies to most freight containers used in international transport, though specially designed air-freight containers are excluded. SOLAS is a common mix-up: it is a wider maritime safety convention, whereas CSC specifically addresses the safety of containers themselves. IMDG primarily regulates dangerous goods by sea, and ISM concerns safety management systems for shipping companies.