Introduction
In order to enhance maritime safety and reduce dangers throughout ocean freight transports, International Maritime Organization (IMO) has adopted amendments to the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Convention, Chapter VI Regulation 2 – regarding mandatory Verification of the gross mass of a container carrying cargo (packed container) together with associated guidelines published as MSC.1/Circ. 1475.
Effective 1 July, 2016, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) will start enforcing the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), all loaded containers are required to have a Verified Gross Mass (VGM) declared by shippers prior to loading on the vessels for export.
Below you can find some useful links regarding SOLAS (VGM)
https://www.imo.org/en/OurWork/Safety/Cargoes/Containers/Pages/Verification-of-the-gross-mass.aspx
IMO – Advice regarding verification of gross mass of packed containers
https://www.imo.org/en/MediaCentre/PressBriefings/Pages/14-VGM.aspx
IMO – Advice to Administrations, Port State Control Authorities, Companies, Port Terminals and Masters regarding the SOLAS requirements for Verified Gross Mass of packed containers. (MSC.1/Circ.1548)
https://www.imo.org/en/MediaCentre/HotTopics/container/Documents/MSC.1Circ.1548%20Advice.pdf
IMO – SOLAS container mass verification requirements
https://www.imo.org/en/MediaCentre/HotTopics/container/Pages/default.aspx
WSC – IMO Requirement for Container Weight Verification
https://www.worldshipping.org/industry-issues/safety/cargo-weight
WSC – The SOLAS Container Weight Verification Requirement
https://www.worldshipping.org/industry-issues/safety/WSC_Summarizes_the_Basic_Elements_of_the_SOLAS_Container_Weight_Verification_Requirement___February_2015.pdf
WSC – Safe Transport of Containers by Sea Industry Guidance for Shippers and Container Stuffers
https://www.worldshipping.org/pdf/industry_guidance_shippers_container_stuffers.pdf
WSC – Guidelines for Improving Safety and Implementing the SOLAS Container Weight Verification Requirements
https://www.worldshipping.org/industry-issues/safety/WSC_Guidelines_for_Implementing_the_SOLAS_Container_Weight_Verification_Requirement.pdf