By Alex Lennane

(The Loadstar) – The IMO has urged regulators to take a “pragmatic” strategy to the brand new SOLAS VGM necessities for the primary three months after launch.

The physique’s Maritime Safety Committee agreed that whereas there ought to be no delays to the July 1 implementation date, it could be useful if enforcement companies took a “practical and pragmatic approach”.

A round, despatched to related companies, famous {that a} extra relaxed strategy initially could be notably useful for containers packed earlier than July 1, however transhipped after, and thus reaching their vacation spot port with no verified gross mass.

“It would provide flexibility, for three months immediately after July 1 2016, to all the stakeholders in containerised transport to refine, if necessary, procedures (eg. updated software) for documenting, communicating and sharing electronic verified gross mass data,” famous the recommendation.

The committee emphasised that the steadiness and secure operation of ships, together with the secure packing, dealing with and transport of containers, isn’t restricted to the VGM provision.

One forwarder famous, nevertheless, that this recommendation was not binding and that it was not doable to find out which international locations, ports and carriers would undertake the “pragmatic approach”. However, he added, the recommendation helped quell considerations over containers packed earlier than July 1.

Meanwhile, greater than half of the shippers not too long ago surveyed by Drewry mentioned they anticipated delays to cargo as a direct results of the VGM rule, whereas almost all of the forwarders anticipated delays, and about two thirds of carriers.

Shippers weren’t so involved over delays, nevertheless, that they’d make adjustments to their provide chains. Most mentioned they’d not construct up shares forward of the rule implementation, whereas 80% mentioned they’d not shift to air freight.

Some 17% mentioned they’d transfer a restricted quantity by air – only one respondent mentioned it could shift to air “to a large extent”.

The survey drew blended responses from the contributors, however most bemoaned conflicting info and an absence of trade unity over the difficulty.

Meanwhile, Yantian International Container Terminal, operated by Hutchison Port Holdings, instructed prospects final week it could be prepared for “full compliance with the new amendments”, and is anticipated to supply a container weighing service for shippers.

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