International Convention on Tonnage Measurement of Ships

The International Convention on Tonnage Measurement of Ships is an agreement that standardizes how the size or "tonnage" of ships is calculated across different countries. Tonnage affects various aspects like port fees, safety rules, and regulations. Instead of just measuring weight, it uses a vessel’s volume—how much space it occupies—to ensure fair and consistent assessments worldwide. This helps ship owners, port authorities, and regulators have a clear, uniform way to determine a ship’s size, promoting transparency and fairness in maritime operations.