The Maritime Statistics Collection Help Desk is available to answer any questions about information supply requirements or how they may affect data providers. Below are some of the most frequently asked questions:

Question: What do you mean by “Gross Weight” of Goods?

Answer: For statistical purposes, the gross weight is that of the goods themselves together with their immediate packaging, i.e., the cartons or crates in which they are packed. It DOES NOT include the tare weight of the container if the shipment is containerised, or the tare weight of the truck if it is shipped as RO/RO cargo.

Question: We are acting as agents for a vessel owned by a shipping line which is not in the code list. How do we fill in the mandatory "Shipping Line" identifier on Form MSD1?

Answer: If there is no appropriate code available in the code lists (whether for an agent, a shipping line or a port) you should contact the Maritime Statistics Collection Agency and you will be given a code to use. Do not leave the field empty on the form.

Question: We are agents working for an oil company that has time-chartered a vessel from a foreign shipping line? What do we include for "Vessel details" on Form MSD1?

Answer: If the agent is working on behalf of the oil company, then the agent should put its own reference code down, plus the reference code of the foreign shipping line. As the vessel in question is not a containership, the Ship's Operator (the oil company) reference code does not have to be included, but you can include it if you wish.

Question: We have received an e-mail message in reply to a submission telling us that the average gross weight for cargo code 63 is too heavy for the number of units. The gross weight for the number of units is correct so why do we get the error message?

Answer: The average weight of code 63 cargo units (e.g. MAFFI or SECU) is limited in order to capture errors in reporting. Unfortunately, the average gross weight is reduced when a large numbers of units are reported in a single submission. Please contact the Maritime Statistics Collection Agency to discuss the best way to overcome this problem. In most cases the Maritime Statistics Collection Agency can make changes to your submission and resubmit it for you.

Question: We are acting as agents for a vessel owned by a shipping line which is not in the code list. How do we fill in the mandatory "Shipping Line" identifier on Form MSD1?

Answer: If there is no appropriate code available in the code lists (whether for an agent, a shipping line or a port) you should contact the Maritime Statistics Collection Agency and you will be given a code to use. Do not leave the field empty on the form.

Question: We are agents working for an oil company that has time-chartered a vessel from a foreign shipping line? What do we include for "Vessel details" on Form MSD1?

Answer: If the agent is working on behalf of the oil company, then the agent should put its own reference code down, plus the reference code of the foreign shipping line. As the vessel in question is not a containership, the Ship's Operator (the oil company) reference code does not have to be included, but you can include it if you wish.

If you are still having trouble completing your return, please contact the UK maritime statistics.