What You Need to Know About SOLAS and the Container Weight Requirement

As you are well aware, the SOLAS container weight rule went into effect on July 1, 2016, with a transition period through October 1. This new requirement states that an accurate container weight must be provided prior to loading upon an ocean vessel.

This container weight mandate is a result of recent instances where inaccurate weights have contributed to maritime casualties and capsizes. Incorrect container weights also result in dock worker injuries, container stack collapses, cargo damage and environmental devastation. As ocean vessels increase in size, the accurate weight is increasingly important to avoid larger scale incidents that might result from unreliable container and vessel weights.

So how do you obtain an accurate container weight? The SOLAS Convention identifies two methods for accurately determining the container verified gross mass (VGM):

• Method 1 declares that the pre-packed and sealed container can be weighed using calibrated and certified equipment to determine the VGM.
• Method 2, as identified by SOLAS, allows that all packages, packaging materials and cargo items can be weighed separately using calibrated and certified equipment. The total weight of the container items can then be added to the tare weight of the container for identifying the VGM.

As the trade industry, and all of the affected parties, adapt to the new SOLAS weight container regulations, maintaining speed and agility, while avoiding any operational disruptions will be key for the program’s success. The precise nature and accuracy of certification requirements is a moving target as multiple nations still need to define the parameters.

Luckily, our brand new eBook, What You Need to Know About SOLAS and the Container Weight Requirement, provides a comprehensive overview of the new regulation, including:

• How to obtain an accurate container weight
• The answers to common SOLAS VGM questions
• How to maximize global trade performance while addressing the VGM requirement

Download this free eBook to learn how you can ensure compliance with the SOLAS container weight requirement!