SOLAS Update on Container Weight Requirement

There are less than two months until a global container weight mandate will go into effect making it a violation of SOLAS to load a packed container onto a vessel, to which SOLAS applies, without a verified gross weight. Unfortunately, since the ruling was announced, industry updates have only muddled general understanding of the rule and its implementation. The industry is fearful that on July 1st, the effective date of the ruling, there will be a disruption in trade, similar to the West Coast port congestion.

The U.S. has seen a number of terminals announce a refusal to offer weighing services, including LA-Long Beach terminals, the Port of Oakland, and the Port of Houston. The Port of Charleston, the Port of Savannah, Port Newark Container Terminal, and the Virginia Port Authority have stated that they will have methods available for verification of container weights. The U.S. Coast Guard reported it will accept two alternative methods for obtaining the verified gross mass, however with the U.S. Coast Guard having stated that the container ruling is a “business practice” it appears that individual carriers will be able to choose if they are willing to accept a certain method.

Going beyond the U.S., we are seeing more countries submit their SOLAS guidelines, including China, India, Israel, Japan, the U.K., and Brazil. Russia is working on developing a plan to certify container weighing scales and set rates for container weighing completed at ports. There are still a great number of SOLAS signatory countries that have yet to issue any guidelines.

Allyn Contributor: April King

Reference: http://www.joc.com/