The IMO reminds operators that from October 1st, 2016 is no longer in effect the “practical and pragmatic approach” toward enforcement of the verified gross mass (VGM) requirement for shipping containers prior to loading.
Specifically, the Committee had agreed that Administrations and port State control authorities should adopt a practical and pragmatic approach when verifying compliance with the requirements of SOLAS regulations VI/2.4 to VI/2.6, for a period of three months after 1 July 2016, with a view to
- permitting packed containers that are loaded on a ship before 1 July 2016 and are transhipped on or after 1 July 2016 to be shipped to their final port of discharge without the VGM specified in SOLAS regulations VI/2.4 to VI/2.6; and
- providing flexibility to all the stakeholders in containerized transport to refine, if necessary, procedures for documenting, communicating and sharing VGM information.
Notwithstanding the above, the Committee emphasized that the stability and safe operation of ships, including the safe packing, handling and transport of containers, is not limited to the provision and use of VGM information and is also covered by a number of SOLAS regulations, including SOLAS regulations VI/2.1, VI/2.2 and VI/2.3, and other IMO instruments, amongst others.
IMO reminds operators that three-month so-called “light touch” enforcement of the SOLAS revision that all packed containers must have a certified VGM (verified gross mass) before loading on board a ship is no longer in effect from October 1st, 2016.
