Verified Gross Mass SOLAS Regulations

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Training on SOLAS container weight verification requirements and Risk

Management



The consequences of unverified gross mass


The Shipper is responsible for VGMShipper - means a legal entity or person named on the bill of lading or sea waybill or equivalent multimodal transport document (e.g. "through" bill of lading) as shipper and/or who (or in whose name or on whose behalf) a contract of carriage has been concluded with a shipping company.

According to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) chapter VI, Part A, Regulation 2 “Prior to loading cargo units on board ships, the shipper shall ensure that the gross mass of such units is in accordance with the VGM (verified gross mass) declared on the shipping documents”

Exporters, consignors, consolidators, NVOCC (Non Vessel Owning Common Carrier), co-loaders, etc. that conform to the definition of SHIPPER require VGM certification

Consignor - The party who prepares a consignment for transport. If the consignor contracts the transport operation with the carrier, the consignor will undertake the function of the shipper and may also be known as the shipper.

Packer - The party that loads, places or fills the cargo within or on the CTU; the packer may be contracted either by the consignor, by the shipper, by the freight forwarder or by the carrier; if the consignor or the shipper packs a CTU within his own premises, the consignor or the shipper is also the packer.

Transnet Port Terminals – Containers must be weighed at source. TPT will have no involvement in the weighing of containers. TPT equipment is used for safety purposes. The VGM must be verified at source – not in transit and not at the port itself. TPT is also busy with upgrades to their EDI system and is pursuing a SOLAS compliant NAVIS system. Source: Zeph Ndlovu (GM of TPT) - FTW 18.03.2016 – No. 2190


Three essential steps for shipper requiring approval and certification for method 2 (VGM)


Method 1 – physical weighing of the packed and sealed container using a weigh bridge, equipment (such as forklifts) equipped with weighing devices, container scales, etc. This method does not require approval and certification.

Method 2 – calculation method: weighing all the packages and cargo items including mass of pallets, dunnage and other packing and securing materials to be packed in the container and add the tare mass of the container to the sum of the single masses. This method requires approval and certification by SAMSA 3rd Party.

Methods for weighing containers


VERIFIED GROSS MASS : METHOD 2 CALCULATION

VGM


Documentation The SOLAS regulations require the shipper to

verify the gross mass of the packed container using Method No. 1 or Method No. 2 and to communicate the verified gross mass in a shipping document.

This document can be part of the shipping instructions to the shipping company or a separate communication e.g. a declaration including a weight certificate produced by a weigh station utilizing verified and certified equipment en route between the shipper’s origin and the port terminal.

In either case the document should clearly highlight that the gross mass provided is the “verified gross mass”.

Irrespective of its form, the document declaring the verified gross mass of the packed container should be signed by the person duly authorised by the shipper.

The signature may be an electronic signature or may be replaced by the name in capitals of the person authorised to sign it.

Information The shipper, or their

legal agency representative, is responsible for providing a “verified gross mass” to the carrier, regardless of who actually packs the container.

How this is achieved will be for the relevant parties in the supply chain involved in moving goods to determine.

SOLAS requires that the information is submitted efficiently in advance to be used in the preparation of the ship’s stowage plan. It is essential that the verified gross mass is obtained before the container is physically loaded on to a ship.


Information Flow

the Company 3rd Party

the Company Customs Broker

NAVISShipping

LineTransnet




Whether you use a weigh bridge (method 1) or platform scale (method 2) the following conditions must be met: -

1. the scale must be type approved.2. the scale must be regularly verified according to

legislation.3. the verification company must be accredited by

SANAS,4. the verification company must be certified by NRCS,5. the officer performing the calibration must possess a

certificate of competence.6. the company must have a maintenance plan for the

scale7. personnel using the scale at the company must be

trained to use the scale (i.e. training register must be maintained).


FAULTY – DO NOT

USE


Verification of weighing equipment


Record Keeping


Container inspection


Safe packing of CTU The CTU must not be overloaded Load must be properly distributed cargo must be properly supported cargo must be secured void spaces must be filled. Pictures must be taken during and on completion of

packingDoor must be properly door and must enable opening

without the contents falling out of the CTU.


Enforcement and Penalties for Non Compliance

EnforcementSAMSA will enforce the amended SOLAS requirements and Merchant Shipping Carriage of CargoRegulations through: Port State Control Inspections Ad hoc inspections Continuous auditing of SAMSA appointed third parties Reporting of non-conforming containers and/or cargo

information by third parties

Penalties

A person who commits an offence in terms of these regulations is liable on conviction to a fine or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding 12 months.


If SAMSA or one of the appointed third parties identifies that a shipper has mis-declared the gross mass of a packed container, SAMSA may:

Require that the SAMSA appointed third party, suspend or revoke the shipper’s approval. It will then be necessary for the shipper to use Method 1 to verify the gross mass of a packed container.

Require an Admission of Contravention to be signed and paid, failing which, the alleged contravention will be prosecuted.


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Verified Gross Mass SOLAS Regulations