How to get a Seaworthy Certificate for a Shipping Container in Canada

If you are planning to ship a container overseas from Canada, you will need a seaworthy certificate. This certificate shows that your container is legal and safe for international transport under the International Convention for Safe Containers (CSC). Here are the steps you'll need to take to make sure your container can be certified for overseas transport:

Step 1: Confirm you actually need a seaworthy certificate

Shipping containers being used for on-site storage don't need a seaworthy certificate. CSC. But if it being used in international transport, Canada’s Safe Containers Convention Regulations apply.

Step 2: Find and read the CSC Safety Approval Plate on the container

A CSC plate is a metal safety approval plate attached to the container (commonly on the left door area). The CSC system requires that containers used for international transport be fitted with a valid Safety Approval Plate.

On the plate, look for:

• “CSC SAFETY APPROVAL”

• Country of approval and approval reference

• Date of manufacture

• Maximum gross weight and stacking limits

• Most importantly for used containers: the next examination date or related examination markings (depending on the scheme)

If the plate is missing, illegible, or clearly tampered with, treat it as a problem that must be fixed before the container is accepted for international movement.

Step 3: Check whether the CSC approval is still valid

Canada’s guidance to owners is straightforward: containers used for overseas transportation must be maintained in safe condition and examined periodically in accordance with an approved examination procedure, and they must carry a valid Safety Approval Plate.

In the CSC framework, there are two common ways containers stay up to date with certification:

Option A: Periodic Examination Scheme (PES)
This is the schedule-based approach. Industry guidance commonly summarizes CSC timing like this: new containers generally do not need formal examination for the first five years, and after that, examinations must occur at least every 30 months.

Option B: ACEP (Approved Continuous Examination Program)
ACEP is one of the two examination schemes permitted under CSC. Instead of relying only on fixed date intervals, it ties safety checks into an approved continuous process. 

What you do next depends on what your plate shows:

• If the next exam date is in the future (or the container is properly under ACEP), it may already be “seaworthy” in the way terminals mean it.

• If the exam date is expired, you will need a new examination through an approved pathway.

Step 4: If you need certification, arrange for an inspection

Arrange for a container condition and safety inspection performed by a qualified container inspector or marine surveyor, along with ensuring the container’s CSC status is current.

1. Have the container examined under an approved examination procedure (PES or ACEP, depending on the container and owner program).

2. Repair any safety defects that would prevent safe transport.

3. Ensure the CSC plate and examination markings reflect current status before the container is presented for export.

If the container has obvious structural issues, Canada’s marine safety bulletin indicates that when there is significant evidence the container condition creates a risk, the owner or representative should submit it to an approved repair facility with written repair specifications.

Practical tip: inspections often require access to the underside and corner castings, so inspections commonly happen at depots, repair yards, or ports where the container can be safely lifted.

Step 5: Know what inspectors are looking for

While inspection checklists vary, common pass/fail items are tied to whether the container is structurally safe for stacking and lifting in intermodal service. Expect the inspector to pay close attention to:

• Condition of corner castings and corner posts

• Top and bottom rails for deformation

• Floor condition (soft spots, rot on plywood floors, holes)

• Door operation and security (alignment, gasket seal)

• Roof and side panels for punctures and severe buckling

• Evidence of prior improper repairs or welded modifications

If you have modified the container (added doors, windows, vents, cut openings), be aware that modifications can affect structural integrity and may complicate CSC acceptance unless engineered and repaired to an acceptable standard.

Step 6: Know what paperwork shippers and terminals will ask for

Even when a container is CSC compliant, a shipper, freight forwarder, or carrier may still request documentation to reduce risk. Be ready to provide:

• Photos of the CSC plate and markings

• Inspection report or statement from the inspecting party

• Repair documentation if work was completed

• Container number and markings (for tracking and booking)

The key is that your documentation should support what Canada’s CSC-linked rules require.

Step 7: Avoid common misunderstandings that cause export delays

• “Wind and watertight” is not the same thing as export-ready. Wind and watertight is a condition description; CSC compliance is a safety approval regime for international transport.

• A stamped plate is not enough if the exam is expired. Expired examination status is one of the fastest ways to get rejected at the booking or gate stage.

• Do not assume a used container is automatically acceptable for overseas transport. Always verify the plate and the current examination status before you schedule drayage to a port.

The seaworthy certificate you will be issued will show that your shipping container has passed a recognized safety examination and meets CSC requirements for international transport. Securing and keeping this certification current before export helps satisfy carriers and terminals, reduces the risk of rejection at the port, and provides written assurance that your container is fit to travel by sea.