The Swedish Club has compiled guidelines from various countries such as Argentine, Germany, Singapore, Spain, South Africa and US , due to the IMO requirement of container weight verfication, that enters into force 1 July, 2016
Argentine:
On 9th March 2016, the Argentine Coastguard has enacted the attached Regulation 01-16, which gives effect to the provisions of rule VI/2 of the SOLAS and it will come into force 30 days after being published in the “Official Bulletin”.According with Regulation 01-16, the “gross mass” of the loaded containers should be verified before being shipped on board, and it will be the burden of the supplier to proceed with such verification. In addition, it establishes that, as of 1 of July 2016, a loaded container will not be loaded on board unless the verified gross mass is indicated in the relevant packed container document, and the Master or his representative and the terminal have obtained such information.
Germany:
Whilst the global law (amendment to the SOLAS Convention) has been implemented in national Law (Richtlinien zur Bestimmung der bestätigten Bruttomasse von Frachtcontainern),the necessary legislative procedure has not been finalized . We understand this process shall be finalized before 01.07.2016. Having said that there are presently merely some general guidelines available the latest developments can be taken from the official website of the responsible German Authority, Messrs. BG VERKEHR http://www.deutsche-flagge.de/en/safety-and-security/cargo/loading-of-containers?set_language=en
Singapore:
For containers that originate from Singapore, the policy of the port is as follows:
- No containers will be allowed inside the port without a VGM declaration from the Shipper.
- All entry gates at PSA terminals have a weigh bridge fitted. In total there are 52 weigh bridges fitted across the various terminal. As a container enters the port area, it will be weighed at one of these weigh bridges.
- All trailers in Singapore are registered with the LTA. As such their weights are certified. It thus becomes easy to ascertain the accurate weight of the container.
- In case the actual weight of the container if 5 T different then that declared weight in the VGM certificate, the container will be rejected and have to leave the port.
- In case the weight difference is less then 5 T but more then 5 % of the weight, the container will be allowed inside the port but will not be loaded on the vessel unless the certificate is changed.
- Any delays associated with this will have to borne by either the carrier or shipper as per the arrangements between them, but the port will not be concerned.
Spain:
Spanish Ministry of transport is in the process of drafting a resolution aimed at establishing the guidelines to comply with SOLA´s amended requirements regarding the verified weight of a container prior to be loaded onto a ship. Even though IMO´s circular dated 9th of June 2014 already incorporated some conditions to be accomplished on the above, now it appears that the coming resolution will highlight following issues:
- A packed container shall not be loaded on board a ship, to which the SOLAS regulations apply, unless the master or his representative and the terminal’s representative have obtained, in advance of vessel loading, the verified actual gross mass of the container properly documented and signed by a person duly authorised by the shipper.
- Where the container is received by the Terminal without the verified weight, the master or his representative and the terminal’s one might provide a weight verification carried out by them but on behalf of the shipper.
- Above mentioned Ministry of Transport´s resolution will emphasize that it will be on the shipper the obligation/liability of getting the weight verification according to the methods stated in the SOLAS. It is obvious that if the container is refused to be loaded, because the verification weight is not submitted, the damages arising out of its non-use, such as terminal’s piling and handling costs, will be for the shipper to sustain.
In the coming resolution it seems that specific infractions and relevant sanctions from the unfulfillment of the weight verification will not be contemplated. However, where a MOU´s inspection is effected and the lack of verification turns out the officers acting for Capitanía Maritima could qualify it as an “ irregularity” and not, in principle, as a deficiency.
South Africa:
Please find the marine notices below
US:
The Coast Guard has determined that existing U.S. laws and regulations for providing verified container weights are equivalent to the requirements in SOLAS Regulation VI/2. Please find bulletin below
Source:Swedish Club