SOLAS VGM implementation on the horizon

As noted in our news section, Federal Maritime Commission Mario Cordero has expressed frustration that with the SOLAS VGM implementation date looming, uncertainty remains as to what will be expected of shippers, especially given the Marine Safety Information Bulletin (009/16) issued by the United States Coast Guard on April 28th announced that “… existing U.S. laws and regulations for providing verified container weights are equivalent to the requirements in SOLAS Regulation VI/2.”

“The Coast Guard has made it clear that the existing methods and procedures for tendering export cargo and declaring container weights are already in compliance with what was mandated via the International Maritime Organization’s amendment to SOLAS,” said Cordero. “While I certainly applaud efforts to make the maritime transportation of cargo safer, I am increasingly struggling to fathom why the ocean carrier community has not fully embraced the equivalency declaration as a way to demonstrate flexibility and sensitivity to our U.S.-export shippers. Additionally, such an approach would further the objectives of the President’s Export Initiative.”

In an effort to introduce more clarity on the issue, LM is staging a webcast on July 1 with a panel of ocean shipping analysts to examine the range of flexibility in the methods available to shippers and forwarders and what kind of strategies should be put in place NOW.

This panel discussion is designed to bring clarity to the issue just before dawn breaks on a new era of compliance:
• What the “market norm” will look like for VGM submission cutoff times
• How to ensure your suppliers are providing accurate weights
• How ocean carriers are collaborating with shippers in providing proper documentation and protocols

Panelists:
Dan Smith, Principal, The Tioga Group
Andrea Morreira, International Logistics Manager, Orchard Supply Hardware
Donald J. Kassilke, Counsel, Ocean Carrier Equipment Management Association (OCEMA)