Tag: Verified Gross Mass

Cedric Chatteleyn, Thomas Miller Hellas explains that following a recent amendment to SOLAS, it is required a container to have a verified gross mass. Therefore, it is a violation of SOLAS to load a packed container onto a ship if the ship operator or the terminal operator does not have a verified gross mass.

A new regulation requiring the gross mass of a container to be verified before it is loaded onto a ship entered into force on July 1st 2016. It will assist in ensuring that the millions of containers carried on ships each year are optimally stowed, thereby helping to prevent container stacks collapsing and containers being lost overboard, and the associated injury and loss of life.

Broad industry coalition including WSC, TT Club, ICHCA and the GSF, jointly released a second FAQ document designed to support the smooth implementation of the container weighing regulations that take effect globally on 1 July 2016.

The UK MCA issued a notice listing the organizations whose method for determining the verified gross mass of a packed container has been approved by the MCA for method 2 under the applicable SOLAS standard.

Circular MSC.1/Circ.1548, has been agreed by IMO MSC 96th Session to provide advice to Administrations, port State control authorities, companies, port terminals and masters regarding the SOLAS requirements for verified gross mass of packed containers

With just 50 days until SOLAS Verified Gross Mass (VGM)comes into force, APM Terminals announced that it will provide VGM Generation Services to supply chain partners at 29 loactions globally.

The UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) has published a guide including FAQs on verified gross mass to assist with the implementation of the upcoming amendments to SOLAS VI Regulation 2.

The US Coast Guard issued a Marine Safety Information Bulletin to clarify that existing US laws and regulations for providing verified container weights are equivalent to the requirements in the amended SOLAS Regulation VI/2 regarding verified gross mass (VGM) of maritime shipping containers.

UK P&I Club says that some terminals and shippers are unprepared for the enforcement of the SOLAS amendment on 1st July. The Club notes that without steps to address the requirements of the SOLAS amendment, chaos and commercial disputes may ensue and warns that a failure to comply will result in fines, delays and potential loss of business for carriers

UK P&I Club has issued a briefing to alert operators of the amendment to SOLAS Chapter VI Part A Reg.2 which comes into force on July 1st, 2016. The amendment requires, as a condition for loading a packed container onto a ship for export, that the container has a verified gross mass