In January of 2015, the
International Maritime Organisation (IMO) amended the Safety of Life at Sea
Convention (SOLAS) to require - as a condition for loading a packed container
on to a ship for export, that the container has a verified gross mass (VGM).
20Cube provided an update to our clients earlier this month on the issues
that shippers must address and the potential consequences for not doing so.
With the legislation
due to start from 1 July 2016, there are still some in the industry asking who
is ultimately responsible for VGM.
While the immediate
answer is that it is the responsibility of the port where the weighing and
weight verification should occur (as it is the last stop before shipping), our
view is that it is too late in the supply chain and does not align with the
purpose of the legislation. Safety is a consideration for road transport as
much as it is for sea freight.
The responsibility
ultimately lies with the shipper (i.e. the sender of goods), who has the
responsibility of obtaining the Verified Container Gross Mass and forwarding
this information to relevant parties involved in moving the containers. By
definition, the shipper is the legal entity or person indicated on the bill of
loading (or sea waybill or its equivalent transport document), not the company
that moves goods on their behalf.
Port and ship masters
can only plan based on information provided to them, which means that ports do
not need to prepare for the IMO/SOLAS changes: their role is to ensure proper
stowage based on container weight information provided to them.
For more information about methods for VGM and
ongoing dialogue about the legislation,please view our recent update here or contact 20Cube for more information.
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