First Container Weighing Authority Announced

General & Marine Surveyors has been appointed by the South African Maritime Safety Authority as the first third party company able to issue and approve verified gross mass (VGM) certificates, which is anticipated to help along the International Maritime Organization’s new container weighing regulation, which is due to come into force on July 1, 2016, according to ftwonline.

The container weighing regulation, although a forward-thinking concept aimed at improving safety, has caused much confusion among shippers and terminal operators.

Read: 5 Must-Know Points on Container Weighing

European terminal operators are the most recent professionals to express concerns that the upcoming regulations do not provide much clarity for the verification process.

Whitepaper: Container Weighing Explained

Shippers recently argued that the upcoming container weighing rule is too vague to implement, after a letter was sent to the IMO saying that it would be impossible to comply in a proper manner.

However, the IMO has since stated that the rule will be coming into force and is set to fulfil its date of effect on July 1.

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