By Gavin van Marle (The Loadstar) - Shipper representatives have claimed that some freight forwarders and carriers have looked to use the recently implemented VGM regulations as a way generating further revenues, with reports of VGM-related costs steadily being added to ocean freight invoices. Friday saw the official implementation of the new SOLAS legislation, now … [Read more...]
APM Terminals: ‘Smooth Transition’ to New Container Weight Verification Rule
One of the world's largest container terminal operators is reporting a "smooth transition" to the new container weight verification rule now in effect for export containers worldwide. With three days of terminal operations under its belt with the International Maritime Organization's new Verified Gross Mass (VGM) Regulations, APM Terminals, the container terminal … [Read more...]
One in Five Countries Still Haven’t Identified Authority Over New Container Weight Verification
By Gavin van Marle (The Loadstar) - A new survey of ship agents and brokers has discovered that nearly 20% of countries signed up to IMO international maritime conventions have report to say which national authority will oversee implementation of the new container weight regulations. A survey conducted by the Federation of National Agents and Ship Brokers Association … [Read more...]
US Exporters Exempt From SOLAS, says USCG
By Alex Lennane, TheLoadStar - The US Coast Guard (USCG), which this week added further confusion to the soon-to-be enforced SOLAS rules on container weight verification, has written a blog post clarifying its position. As Rear-Admiral Paul Thomas noted at the JOC’s TPM event in Long Beach for US exports, the USCG will not require the exporter to … [Read more...]
Felixstowe, London Gateway and Southampton First UK Ports to Offer Container Weighing Service
By Mike Wackett (The Loadstar) - DP World’s two UK container terminals at London Gateway and Southampton are to offer shippers container weighing services – to overcome what it said could be “a significant logistics barrier for UK exports”. From 1 July an amendment to the SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea) regulations will require the named shipper on a bill of lading to … [Read more...]
Maersk Launches New Container Weighing Campaign
By Sam Whelan (The Loadstar) Maersk Line is preparing an awareness campaign to alert shippers to container weighing regulations that come into effect on 1 July. Amid confusion over the IMO’s guidelines for implementing the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) regulations, which state a verified gross mass (VGM) must be provided by shippers to shipping lines … [Read more...]
How To Avoid Chaos From New Container Weight Verification Laws
By San Whelan & Gavin van Marle (TheLoadstar) LONDON - The imminent enforcement of mandatory container weight verification is causing widespread fear of disruption among shippers and freight forwarders, according to a new customer survey by INTTRA, the ocean shipping e-marketplace. The 410 respondents overwhelmingly expressed concern about the readiness of the ocean … [Read more...]