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New regulations will improve safety in Ocean Freight Industry

The SOLAS amendments are effective as of 1st July 2016 for packed containers received for transportation (gate-in or off-rail). They place a requirement on the shipper of a packed container (or their dedicated agents), to verify and provide the container’s gross verified weight to the Ocean carrier and port terminal - and/ or their representative - prior to it being loaded onto a vessel.

What are the objectives of this initiative?

Elimination of accidents caused by misdeclared container weights

Provision of assurance to other parties within a supply chain

Improvement of security of the stevedores, vessel crews and vessel itself

Maintenance of equipment and terminals in good condition

IMPORTANT: Estimating the weight is not at all permitted under this new regulation.

As per today, the liability and legal consequences on SOLAS VGM requirements are not clearly defined and ratified. Penalties, fines and/ or prosecution are subject to national laws which are yet to come.

The DB Schenker Ocean Freight team in Vietnam will keep a close eye on the developments. We will provide further operational guidelines as soon as they become available.

For further information, please check out the SOLAS section on the DB Schenker website.