The Weekly Roar

SOLAS Regulations

Starting on the first of July, 2016, all shipping containers departing from any port in the world will be required to be accompanied by a document signed by the shipper which fully lists and accounts for the verified gross mass (VGM) of the container before it may be loaded onto any ship. This mandate from the International Maritime Organization (IMO) of the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) agreement comes as an emergency response to many mis-declared weights which, in numerous cases, have contributed to casualties and damage at sea and in port. One example is the breakup and beaching of the MSC Napoli on the U.K. southern coastline in 2007. Another well-known example is that of a feeder ship capsizing the port of Algeciras, Spain in 2015.

According to the new rule, the weighing must be completed in one of two ways which SOLAS calls “Method 1 and 2.” The weighing must be done on scales that are both calibrated and certified according to local standards established by the country wherein the weighing is to be done.

Transportation Logistics Points of the New SOLAS rule;

  • Containers must be weighed after they are filled, or all items in the container must be weighed and calculated.
  • The shipper named on the bill will bear the final responsibility for accurate and proper weight verification, and must communicate the weight as verified in advance.
  • For the shipper weight declaration to be considered SOLAS compliant it must be signed on behalf of the shipper.
  • The container must not be loaded onto any vessel if the declared and verified weight is not present on the manifest prior to shipping.
  • The maritime authorities of individual countries are expected to endorse the new rule and to employ various levels of implementation depending on region and nation.

Many of stipulations of the regulation are not yet finalized. How the rule is to be enforced is yet to be announced. What is to be done with containers found in violation of the rule, without the required documents, or bearing inaccurate documents, is also yet to be announced.