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With just 50 days until SOLAS Verified Gross Mass (VGM) comes into force, APM Terminals has announced it will provide container weighing services at 29 of its global terminals. Under international law effective July, 1, 2016, shippers are required to provide a VGM for every container before it can be loaded.
In 2014, the International Maritime organization approved amendments to the Safety of Life at Sea Convention (SOLAS) that requires verification and documentation of loaded containers before they can be loaded onto vessels.
"Our first priority remains to ensure safe and efficient operations for the supply chain," stated APM Terminals Head of Global Operations, Jack Craig. "It is crucial that these regulations are met in a way which does not create congestion bottlenecks that ultimately impose additional risk and cost for all stakeholders."
APM Terminals say they are in talks with local regulatory authorities who are providing increasing clarity on national rules governing how to ensure compliance. The company is planning to provide VGM Data Management capabilities in most facilities through accepting EDI transmissions of VGM information into terminal operating systems from the shipping lines prior to vessel load planning.
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Export containers received at APM Terminal facilities with a valid VGM will be accepted as per current local operational procedures, according to an APM statement. Those export containers that arrive at APM Terminal facilities without a valid VGM will be generally accepted, but as they are ineligible to load on a vessel, may be segregated and subject to additional re-handling and storage requirements.
Initially, APM Terminals will provide VGM Generation Services to supply chain partners at 29 locations globally, but that list could expand. The only North American port currently on the list is in Lazaro, Mexico.
The APM Terminals locations that will provide VGM services are in Aarhus, Denmark; Fos, France; Pecem, Brazil; Abidjan, Ivory Coast; Gothenburg, Sweden; Petrolesport, Russia; Aqaba, Jordan; Mumbai, India; Pointe-Noire, Congo; Bahrain; Helsinki, Finland; Santos, Brazil; Bremerhaven, Germany; Itajai, Brazil; Tanjung Pelepas, Malaysia; Buenos Aires, Argentina; Izmir, Turkey; Ust-Luga, Russia; Callao, Peru; Moby Dick, Russia; Vado, Italy; Cotonou, Benin; Pipavav, India; Vostochny, Russia; First Container Terminal, Russia; Lazaro, Mexico; Wilhelmshaven, Germany; Rades, Tunisia; Port Said, Egypt; Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Maasvlakte II, The Netherlands; Addicks & Kreye, Germany and Constanta, Romania.
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