As your container fleet grows, tracking the examination date of every box individually becomes harder. CSC allows a second route for this problem: ACEP, the Approved Continuous Examination Programme.
The difference between PES and ACEP
Under CSC, every container must be examined by one of two routes:
- PES (Periodic Examination Scheme): Calendar-based. The first examination is carried out no later than 5 years after manufacture, and subsequent ones at most every 30 months. The date is marked on the plate.
- ACEP: Event-based. The container is examined regularly at opportunities such as on-hire and off-hire interchanges, major repairs and refurbishments. The interval between examinations of any container must also not exceed 30 months.
A container covered by ACEP carries on its plate, instead of a date, the word "ACEP", the code of the approving country and the programme number.
How is a programme approved?
ACEP is set up by the container owner and approved by the competent administration of its own country. At a minimum, the programme defines:
- In which situations and how often examinations are carried out,
- The examination criteria and who carries out the examinations (competent personnel),
- How records are kept: the last examination date of every container must be traceable.
Approved programmes are listed in IMO’s publicly accessible database (GISIS). This allows ports and inspectors to check whether the ACEP number on the plate really belongs to an approved programme.
Who benefits?
- Leasing companies and large fleets: If the container is already examined every time it returns from a lease, there is no need to plan separate calendar-based examinations.
- Line operators: A container does not sit idle in the field because of an examination date.
- For owners with only a few containers, PES is usually more practical. Setting up a programme and keeping records is an administrative burden.
What is checked in an ACEP examination?
The scope is the same as a PES examination: the container’s structural integrity. Corner posts, corner castings, bottom and top side rails, floor cross members, doors and locking gear are assessed against the CSC safety criteria. If a defect is found, the container is withdrawn from transport until it is repaired.
ACEP examination at Uskont
Uskont carries out examinations and certification for containers covered by ACEP. You can view an anonymised sample ACEP examination certificate on our inspection page. To learn how to read a CSC plate, take a look at our CSC guide.