On 1st July 2016 the amendments to the SOLAS (International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea) regulations, came into force requiring all shippers to provide a Verified Gross Mass (VGM) for each container. To help shippers, a collaboration of authoritative organisations – the World Shipping Council (WSC), the TT Club, the International Cargo Handling Coordination Association (ICHCA), and the Global Shippers’ Forum (GSF) – have jointly released a second Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document.
The supplementary FAQs seek to provide further assistance in explaining the SOLAS VGM requirements by building on existing guidance material. They explain in more detail how the SOLAS container VGM requirements should be fulfilled in various circumstances and give additional information regarding the two methods that may be used to obtain the VGM of a packed container.
Shippers are urged to continue to approach any of the collaborating organizations with additional questions if necessary. Contact details of subject-matter experts from each of the organizations can be found at the end of the FAQs document.
Container safety is a shared responsibility, and all parties have an interest in improving the safety of ships, their crews and others throughout the containerized supply chain while reducing the risk of damage to cargo.
The FAQs document can be accessed at:
http://www.worldshipping.org/industry-issues/safety/faqs