Scale-less weighing of containers for SOLAS VGM
SOLAS VGM – probably a term which may have slipped many people’s minds as it seems to have successfully integrated itself into the mainstream container shipping process since its mandatory implementation in July 2016.. Now it seems to be back, but in a good way though..
In July 2016, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) issued a mandatory requirement which required all shipping containers to be weighed and the weight information (Verified Gross Mass) be provided to the shipping lines as part of the SOLAS (Safety of Life At Sea convention) Chapter VI Regulation 2..
This requirement came on the back of continued misdeclaration of weights by shippers many of which resulted in incidents at sea causing loss of property and/or lives..
The regulation allowed shippers to provide the VGM to the carriers using two different methods
- Weigh the packed container using calibrated and certified weighing equipment like a weighbridge to get the VGM
- Weigh the cargo, dunnage, lashing material and add the tare weight of the container to get the VGM
Although there has not been any real comments or incidents relating to the misdeclaration of weights after the implementation of the SOLAS VGM regulation in 2016, it has been reported that shipping industry has been struggling with Method 1, as physically weighing every shipping container requires significant efforts and costly, space-consuming scales..
Well, it seems there is a solution for that..
Life after SOLAS VGM.. How has it been..??
It has been 1 year, 1 month & 29 days, or 13 months & 29 days, or 60 weeks & 5 days, or quite simply 425 days since SOLAS VGM was implemented on the 1st of July 2016..
Now it is time to review how has it been.. Read on..
To Tare or not to Tare – Should the VGM match the Bill of Lading Weight..??
A burning question that is circulating currently in the container industry is whether the Tare Weight of a container should be included in the weight shown in the Bill of Lading or not and whether the SOLAS VGM should match the Bill of Lading weight..
SOLAS VGM Method 2 – How it works in South Africa
SOLAS VGM Method 2 – How it works in South Africa.. An accredited 3rd party assessor’s view..
Update to SOLAS VGM – South Africa Version
This is an update to my previous article reg SOLAS VGM – South Africa Version with some crucial information shared from FTW Online..
SOLAS VGM – South Africa Version
An infographic about SOLAS VGM – South Africa Version.. How this will work in South Africa..
What is SOLAS VGM – Verified Gross Mass..??
In November 2014 the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) amended SOLAS (Safety of Life At Sea convention) Chapter VI Regulation 2 to tighten up the process of weighing containerised cargoes and declaring the correct weights after verification..
What is this SOLAS (Safety of Life At Sea convention) Chapter VI Regulation 2 and what does this amendment mean to the day to day shipping industry..??
This article gives you an infographic which will clear it all.. 🙂
Difference between Maritime, Shipping, Freight, Logistics and Supply Chain
To the uninitiated (which included me at one stage), these industries are same or similar and it might come across that there is no difference between Maritime, Shipping, Freight, Logistics and Supply Chain ..
But once you are involved in the business or know about these businesses, you will very soon understand that these are very different industries with different workings, assets, architecture, requiring very different sets of qualifications, experience, expertise, knowledge and attitudes..
In this article I unpack the difference between Maritime, Shipping, Freight, Logistics and Supply Chain and how it is all connected..
The importance of declaring correct cargo details and consequences of cargo misdeclaration
Incorrect cargo details, misdeclaration of cargo and its details has been the bane of many shipping lines over the years..
The consequences of cargo and weight misdeclaration were so severe that the IMO had to implement SOLAS VGM regulations..
However there are still several incidents of such cargo misdeclaration including hazardous goods which have caused several maritime disasters..
In this article, Peregrine Storrs-Fox, Risk Management Director of TT Club writes about the importance of declaring correct cargo details and consequences of cargo misdeclaration..
Evergreen Line enters the digitalisation fray with its GreenX Platform
As we have seen and read, the digital advances in the shipping and freight industry has given rise to the “digital shipping line“ with several shipping lines providing several digital services to customers either on their own or through digital alliances or associations such as TradeLens and Digital Container Shipping Association (DCSA)..
In line with this, Evergreen Line became the latest shipping line to provide digital services to its clients, fulfilling its mission to provide the most optimized service to its customers..