What are the new SOLAS Requirements for Verified Gross Mass?
This summer, the International Maritime Organization adopted amendments to the Safety of Life at Sea Convention (SOLAS) aimed at enhancing maritime safety and reducing risks in ocean freight transport. Included in these amendments are new rules pertaining to the verification of the weight of packed shipping containers.
SOLAS: An Overview
Under the new requirement, the gross mass of packed containers must be verified using one of two different methods:
- Method 1. Weighing the packed container using calibrated and certified equipment, or
- Method 2: Weighing all packages and cargo items – including the mass of pallets, dunnage and other securing material to be packed in the container and the tare mass of the container – using a certified method approved by the competent authority of the jurisdiction in which the packing was completed.
What is the shipper's responsibility?
The shipper is responsible for submitting the verified gross mass as part of the shipping documentation, well in advance of the container being loaded on the ship. Containers that don’t meet the new VGM requirement may be denied loading onto a ship to which the SOLAS regulations apply.
Detailed information on the Canadian requirements and procedures involved in meeting the new VGM requirements can be found on Transport Canada’s website.
We Can Help
Our experienced freight department can help you with all your freight forwarding needs, including making sure you comply with this and other SOLAS requirements. For detailed information, contact your Logistics Coordinator. For more general information, contact us today to discuss your shipping needs.
Information provided by: Freight Dept. - Cole International
