TT Talk - Container weighing – control and enforcement
One aspect of the container weighing debate has concerned the way in which the port and terminal industry will participate. IAPH supported the proposed amendment to SOLAS, while terminals have sometimes seemed less enthusiastic. As the law comes into focus, what are the possible impacts for container terminals?
The new SOLAS regulation continues to place responsibility for gross mass on shippers. The revised legislation prescribes two methods by which shippers may obtain the verified gross mass of a packed container:
With the effective date of the container weighing regulation, known as Verified Gross Mass (VGM), at hand, the freight insurance specialist TT Club is accentuating the positive and assures the industry that help remains available. The mutual insurer, which sees VGM as one of the key safety measures for container operations worldwide, has published a pithy, user-friendly summary for all those involved.
The three-month settling-in period suggested by the IMO to its Member States in which competent authorities were urged to adopt a 'practical and pragmatic' approach to the enforcement of the SOLAS revision stipulating all packed containers have a verified gross mass (VGM) before being stowed aboard a ship comes to an end on 1st October.
With the effective date of 1st July getting ever closer, the need for all involved in the international transport of containers to be prepared for the revised SOLAS Convention regulations on container weighing has recently been once more emphasised by freight transport insurance specialist TT Club.
