SOLAS Container Weight Documentation

Overview

On July 1, 2016 an amendment to the International Maritime Organization’s Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) convention will go into effect requiring all shippers to certify and submit the Verified Gross Mass (VGM) – the combined weight of the cargo and the container – to the steamship line and terminal operator in advance of loading the container aboard a vessel. Currently, the shipper is responsible to accurately report the weight of its cargo, but does not own, control, or maintain containers. This rule was never submitted to Congress, reviewed or approved by a Federal agency, nor published in the Federal Register. There has been no input from the shipping community. Now shippers, steamship lines, terminal operators, and governments are scrambling to create best practices and implementation guidance for this new rule. Unless thoughtfully considered, by individuals with intimate familiarity with the export supply chain process, this rule will create major turmoil at the marine terminals and a very significant impediment to US exports.

SOLAS PRESS

AgTC urges U.S. terminals to adopt favorable VGM methods

June 27, 2016
American Shipper
Eric Johnson
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AgTC expresses relief from carriers using port scales to meet VGM requirement

June 21, 2016
American Shipper
Chris Dupin
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FMC urged to decide if major SOLAS breakthrough gets a shot

June 3, 2016
Journal of Commerce
Mark Szakonyi
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NEWS FLASH: Government, industry should be ‘pragmatic’ as VGM is implemented

May 23, 2016
American Shipper
Chris Dupin
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US Gulf ports seeking answers on SOLAS

May 21, 2016
Journal of Commerce
Joseph Bonney
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US Congress asks FMC if liners’ SOLAS approach is lawful

May 19, 2016
Journal of Commerce
Mark Szakonyi
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US ag exporters reject liner attempt to ease SOLAS liability fears

May 17, 2016
Journal of Commerce
Mark Szakonyi
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US exporters, container lines in high-stakes game of SOLAS chicken

May 6, 2016
Journal of Commerce
Mark Szakonyi
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GPA to offer free container weighing service at Savannah

May 5, 2016
American Shipper
Eric Kulisch
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FMC Chairman backs USCG position on container weight regulations

May 3, 2016
American Shipper
Chris Dupin
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It may be time for the FMC to work on SOLAS solution

April 25, 2016
Journal of Commerce
Chris Brooks
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US Congress urged to seek container weight clarity to avoid port congestion

April 21, 2016
Journal of Commerce
Reynolds Hutchins
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Commissioner Lidinsky Seconds Commissioner Doyle’s Call for Carriers to Work with Shippers to Find a Solution on Container Weight Responsibilities

April 13, 2016
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FMC Supports Shipper Stance on Box Weighing

April 12, 2016
Lloyd’s List
James Baker
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US Coast Guard Downplays SOLAS Confusion to Congress

March 15, 2016
Journal of Commerce
Reynolds Hutchins
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Japan Sets SOLAS Container Weight Error Margin

March 15, 2016
Journal of Commerce
Hisane Masaki
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Container Weighing Regulation is ‘Very Challenging’: INTTRA

March 15, 2016
Seatrade Maritime News
Marcus Hand
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What Should You Consider of SOLAS?

March 15, 2016
Journal of Commerce
Bill Eilenfeld, manager, Weighbridge Strategic Product Group, Mettler Toledo
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US Exporter Groups Throw Support Behind Coast Guard Container Weight Proposal

DC Velocity
March 14, 2016
DC Velocity Staff
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US Shippers Want Existing Container Weight Rules Unchanged

March 14, 2016
Journal of Commerce
Dustin Braden
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Container-Weighing Rule: And You Put the Load Right On … Who?

March 14, 2016
SuppluChainBrain
Robert Bowman
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AgTC Supports USCG on Box Weighing Rules

March 14, 2016
Lloyd’s List
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Ag Shipper Associations Support USCG’s Stance on Container Weight Regulations

March 14, 2016
American Shipper
Chris Dupin
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India Releases Draft SOLAS Guidelines

March 10, 2016
Journal of Commerce
India Special Correspondent
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European Terminal Operators Demand Clarity on SOLAS

March 9, 2016
Journal of Commerce
Reynolds Hutchins
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US Coast Guard, World Shipping Council Work to Clear Up SOLAS Confusion

March 7, 2016
Journal of Commerce
Reynolds Hutchins
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AgTC Backs Coast Guard Admiral’s SOLAS Interpretation

March 4, 2016
Journal of Commerce
Joseph Bonney
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US Coast Guard Urges to Clarify SOLAS Position After Apparent Flip-Flop

March 3, 2016
Journal of Commerce
Dustin Braden
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US Exporters Do Not Need To Weigh Containers for SOLAS, Says USCG

March 3, 2016
The Load Star
Alex Lennane
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WSC “Stunned” by USCG Position on Enforcement of Verified Gross Mass Requirement

March 2, 2016
American Shipper
Chris Dupin
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US Shippers Move to Head Off Future Port Disruptions

March 1, 2016
Journal of Commerce
Peter T. Leach
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BREAKING NEWS – US Coast Guard: SOLAS container weight guidelines not mandatory

March 1, 2016
Journal of Commerce
Greg Knowler
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NVOCC Group Asks IMO to Clarify Implementation of Container-Weight Amendment

February 29, 2016
DC Velocity
DC Velocity Staff
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Confusion Surrounds Looming IMO Container Weight Mandate

February 29, 2016
Journal of Commerce
Greg Knowler
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AgTC Tells US Exporters to Resist Some SOLAS Guidance From Carriers

February 26, 2016
Journal of Commerce
JOC Staff
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Coast Guard: Ag Cargo Weight Measures Comply with UN Rules

February 26, 2016
PoliticoPro
Catherine Boudreau
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Coast Guard Comments on Overweight Container Enforcement Leads to Conflicting Interpretations

February 24, 2016
DC Velocity
Mark Solomon
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US Won’t Delay SOLAS, But Won’t Penalize Shippers

February 18, 2016
Journal of Commerce
Reynolds Hutchins
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Shippers’ Group to Attend FMC Meeting

February 17, 2016
Lloyd’s List
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Industry Chimes in on SOLAS COntainer Weight Regulations

February 17, 2016
American Shipper
Eric Johnson
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AgTC Members Speak Out on SOLAS Amendment

February 17, 2016
This Diesel Guy
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FMC and USCG to Hold Hearing on Box Weights

February 14, 2016
Brazil Modal
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When Maersk Sneezes, The Container Industry Catches Cold

February 12, 2016
Lloyd’s List
Helen Kelly
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USCG: No Special Enforcement Planned For Container Weight Regulations

February 12, 2016
American Shipper
Chris Dupin
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Call for Delay to Container Weighing Rule

February 11, 2016
The Maritime Executive
MarEx
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NEWS FLASH: USCG Plans No SPecial Enforcement of Container Weight Regulations

February 11, 2016
American Shipper
Chris Dupin
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FMC, Coast Guard to Meet Feb. 18 to Hear Industry Concerns Over Container-Weight Amendment

February 11, 2016
DC Velocity
DC Velocity Staff
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Ag Shippers Call for “Reality Check” Before New Shipping Law Is Enforced

February 11, 2016
Logistics Management
Patrick Burnson
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New Maritime Rule May Jeopardize Container Trade, Coalition Says

February 11, 2016
Capital Press
Dan Wheat
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Agriculture Transportation Coalition Challenges SOLAS Container Weight Documentation Rule

February 11, 2016
Food Logistics
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Credit rating agency – Container weight rule likely to slow US port traffic

February 11, 2016
Journal of Commerce
Dustin Braden
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Ag Exporters Want US Congressional Inquiry into Box-Weight Rule

February 9, 2016
Journal of Commerce
Joseph Bonney
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Agriculture, Forest-Products Shipper Group Urges Changes to Maritime-Container Weight Rule

February 9, 2016
DC Velocity
DC Velocity Staff
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US Coast Guard: SOLAS Enforcement Falls on Each Port, Delay Unlikely

February 8, 2016
Journal of Commerce
JOC Staff
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US Exporters Urge Coast Guard to Delay SOLAS Container Weight Mandate

February 4, 2016
Journal of Commerce
Peter Tirschwell
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Concern rising about how SOLAS weight rule can actually be implemented

January 26, 2016
Journal of Commerce
Peter Tirschwell
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