SOLAS amendments on container weighing will become effective July 1st, 2016
On July 1st, 2016, the SOLAS amendments will become effective for packed containers received for transportation (gate-in or off-rail).
In November 2014, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) adopted mandatory amendments to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Chapter VI, Part A, Regulation 2 – Cargo information.
The SOLAS amendments, effective next year, place a requirement on the shipper of a packed container, regardless of who packed the container, to verify and provide the container’s gross verified weight to the ocean carrier and port terminal representative prior to it being loaded onto a ship.
A verified container weight is a condition for loading a packed container aboard a vessel for export. The vessel operator and the terminal operator are required to use verified container weights in vessel stowage plans and are prohibited from loading a packed container aboard a vessel for export if the container does not have a verified container weight.
World Shipping Council released the following document to provide an outline of what the implementation of the SOLAS amendments requires of the various commercial parties.
Source: World Shipping Council
