From July 1st, shipping lines will be able to deny containers on board that do not have a VGM (Verified Gross Mass). Many details of this regulation have not yet been finalized or confirmed so the implementation is likely to vary between countries, carriers and terminals.
Effective from July 1st, 2016, shipping containers stuffed with cargo can be rejected for shipment at ports if they do not have a VGM (Verified Gross Mass). This is because of a new international regulation from the IMO (International Maritime Organization/).
Shipping lines may not take on board containers that do not have a certified VGM.
The SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea) requirement, although just weeks away from being implemented, is a hot item for the freight forwarding industry, as well as for cargo owners, as companies prepare for this change without clarity on the new process.
Important points:
- The VGM must be declared by the SHIPPER or his authorized representative, therefore the carrier and terminal operator are not responsible for ensuring the accuracy of the VGM.
- If the shipper delegates the responsibility of obtaining the VGM to a third party, the shipper will remain responsible for the VGM.
- All actors in the logistics chain are entitled to rely on the VGM declared by the original shipper as being accurate.
- The shipper will be liable for any costs incurred due to a missing VGM.
- All weighting needs to be done on scales calibrated and certified to the national standards of the country where the weighing will be performed.
Our advice:
When shipping your goods, allow additional time to organize this weight verification documentation process.
In EccoFreight we are anticipated and prepared for the implementation of this new legislation through an agreement with INTTRA, achieving the VGM system to meet all requirements of VGM and to represent our clients before all participants in the supply chain.
Company management for businesses that import/export internationally need to be aware that the SOLAS mandate is international law under the IMO, which includes the 162 countries that have signed up to the SOLAS Convention.
