By Sam Whelan (The Loadstar) Maersk Line is getting ready an consciousness marketing campaign to alert shippers to container weighing laws that come into impact on 1 July.

Amid confusion over the IMO’s tips for implementing the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) laws, which state a verified gross mass (VGM) should be offered by shippers to delivery traces earlier than a container is loaded, Maersk Line’s VGM programme supervisor Lars Lorenzen informed The Loadstar the present state of trade readiness was in vital want of enchancment.

“Unlike previous IMO regulations, the number of impacted parties this time around is much higher,” mentioned Mr Lorenzen.

“The key is transparent and clear communication to and by all regulated parties, and earliest possible identification of requirements and timely adjustment to the specific supply chain by each shipper.”

He added: “Both the IMO and World Shipping Council (WSC) have provided adequate guidance to implement the regulation in a structured manner, which should assist eliminating concerns raised over the lack of governmental guidance in a number of countries.”

A current survey by INTTRA, an ocean delivery e-marketplace, confirmed that solely 30% of shippers anticipated their firm, and/or their clients, to be compliant by the point the laws come into impact.

One space of confusion seems to be the timing of VGM submission, because the laws doesn’t present any official deadlines.

Mr Lorenzen mentioned Maersk Line would proceed setting deadlines for submissions domestically, and that the road was capable of “receive submissions of the VGM from shippers in the usual manner, ie via mymaerskline.com, industry portals, direct electronic data interchange (EDI) and manually.”

One method of avoiding potential provide chain disruptions might be a standardised methodology for digital VGM submission. INTTRA is working in the direction of a uniform expertise customary for digital documentation of VGM submission, whereas Maersk Line can also be focusing its preparations on EDI.

“Maersk Line has been preparing for the implementation of this SOLAS amendment for the past 15 months,” mentioned Mr Lorenzen. “This consists of modifications to proprietary methods and processes in addition to elevating consciousness internally and externally.

“The current main focus is on updating EDI with service providers (mainly terminals) and shippers. We are preparing, and will soon launch, an awareness campaign directed at the shipper community.”

Meanwhile, the European Shippers’ Council (ESC) has expressed concern over the dearth of presidency steerage surrounding the laws. The ESC says shippers all through Europe are “fully aware” of the modifications, however {that a} “lack of international harmonisation poses a challenge for many businesses”.

In an announcement in December, the ESC mentioned: “Just a handful of countries have published national regulations for the weighing of containers. Businesses need these regulations in order to ship their products overseas following the right guidelines.”

Their issues have been shared publicly by at the very least one main European shipper. On LinkedIn.com, Nestlé’s international logistics procurement head Jochen Gutschmidt commented: “Many people rightfully talk about the readiness of shippers. It is clear, however, that the entire system, carriers, terminals and governments included, likewise have huge awareness gaps. Too many open questions…”

©2016 TheLoadStar