The Container Weighing Rule: Will Shippers Be Ready to Comply by July 1, 2016?
Six months from now, the new Container Weighing Rule goes into affect. According to joc(dot)com, on July,1, 2016, shippers of packed shipping containers will have to verify a container’s weight before it is loaded onto a ship for export.
A big concern is whether carriers, shippers and forwarders will be ready on time? Or, will there be disruptions as a result of non-compliance with the new regulations?
The article states that a survey held by Inttra Marketplace (an “ocean shipping electronic marketplace”) revealed that 48% of Intrra’s surveyed customers claim they “have their doubts” about whether or not they will be ready in time. As well, “Sixty-six percent said they expect the new rules to produce moderate or major disruptions.”
One of the driving factors that may cause disruption is that to adapt to the new rule, businesses must change their practices and re-adapt how they structure their work. Issues such as when weight certification should take place in the shipping process complicates matters, for example.
Two methods for obtaining the shipping container weight can be found here: http://www.worldshipping.org/industry-issues/safety/WSC_Guidelines_for_Implementing_the_SOLAS_Container_Weight_Verification_Requirement.pdf
What do players in the shipping industry need to do to be prepared on time? What key changes need to take place now to avoid costly disruptions? What policies need to be established to guarantee that the new regulation is adhered to? While there are still many unanswered questions, there are a few key areas that we believe need to be addressed and addressed immediately so that all parties concerned can meet the implementation deadline:
1. There must be several electronic data transmission options for shippers and forwarders alike. Attempting to force all concerned into the exact same data formats would not be prudent.
2. It is clear that the container weight information MUST be provided at least 24-48 hours before the container arrives at the port.
3. The steamship lines also must have the ability to weigh each container before it is loaded on the vessel for transport.
4. And finally, if there were “severe” penalties for not complying with the new weight regulations that in and of itself would go a long way towards enforcing compliance.
Original Article:
Note: the adoption of amendments for the mandatory verification of container weight was originally announced in November 2014.
