IMO Amends SOLAS
Shippers who load containers in Canadian waters must comply with the Canada Shipping Act, 2001 and section 104.(1) of the Cargo, Fumigation and Tackle Regulations (CFTR) which incorporates SOLAS (International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea) Chapter VI, regulation 2.
There is a new amendment adopted by the IMO (International Maritime Organization) to SOLAS that is intended to:
- improve container safety;
- enhance maritime safety; and
- reduce the dangers to container ships, their crews and all involved in moving containers through the supply chain.
This amendment will become effective July 1, 2016. They require that the shipper of a packed container to provide a signed shipping document that verifies the gross mass (VGM).
The shipper can determine the gross weight in one of two ways:
- When a container is packed and sealed, the shipper may weigh, or have arranged that a third party weigh it.
- The shipper or, a third party arranged by the shipper; may weigh:
- each item of cargo (including package, non-packaged, unitized cargoes),
- dunnage (loose material under and between items to prevent damage to cargo)
- securing material that will be loaded into a container.
Then add the tare mass of the container to the sum of the single masses of the container’s contents.
The container cannot be loaded until the VGM has been verified by the terminal representative.
Shippers must adapt procedures to ensure that this requirement is met to avoid costly delays. The following links, provided by Transport Canada, Marine Safety and Security (TCMSS), in consultation with Measurement Canada will assist you with the requirements.
https://www.ic.gc.ca/app/mc/asp/srch/aspSearch.html
https://tc.canada.ca/en/marine-transportation/marine-safety/marine-safety-publications
