One in Five Countries Still Haven’t Identified Authority Over New Container Weight Verification
By Gavin van Marle
(The Loadstar) – A brand new survey of ship brokers and brokers has found that almost 20% of nations signed as much as IMO worldwide maritime conventions have report back to say which nationwide authority will oversee implementation of the brand new container weight rules.
A survey performed by the Federation of National Agents and Ship Brokers Association (FONASBA) of its members throughout greater than 50 international locations, discovered that in 10, the identification of designated authority had but to be revealed, regardless of there being simply three months earlier than the brand new guidelines come into pressure.
In addition, in nearly half the international locations, “no guidance has been issued on the practical application of the measures in the country concerned”.
Just 25% of respondents mentioned implementation plans have been in place, whereas 31% mentioned there have been no plans and 44% mentioned they remained underneath improvement.
FONASBA’s president designate and liner and port company committee chairman, John Foord, mentioned: “It is staggering that, with such a short while left earlier than the amendments take impact, a big variety of international locations had to this point didn’t take motion at nationwide degree to make sure that the required measures can be in place on time.
“The SOLAS modification has been underneath improvement in IMO for 4 years, so it’s worrying that at this late stage ship brokers, forwarders and shippers in lots of international locations nonetheless lack applicable measures to conform.
“As a supporter of the accurate verification of container weights since its initial proposal, FONASBA’s members have been proactive in working with their national authorities and the container transport chain to ensure the measures are in place in good time, and it is frustrating that so little progress has been made in some member states,” he mentioned.
There was higher information in that the majority the weighbridges in international locations coated within the survey have been already licensed by authorities, however there’s nonetheless concern over the variety of weighbridges and their capability to deal with present commerce flows.
The survey mentioned: “Where these [weighbridges] exist however, many are reported as being out of service or in need of overhaul. Another common comment is that there are not enough weighbridges available to meet the anticipated demand after implementation.”
A major variance in container weighing charges was additionally reported, with plenty of respondents advising that no cost might be levied, whereas elsewhere charges vary from $3/€3.50 to as a lot as $225/€200, a few of which incorporates haulage and different extra prices.
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