An MSC
circular on Advice to administrations, port state control authorities,
companies, port terminals and masters regarding the SOLAS requirements for verified
gross mass of packed containers has been agreed by the Maritime Safety
Committee (MSC) of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), following
discussion on the pending entry into force of the requirements in SOLAS
regulations VI/2.4 to VI/2/6 on the verification of the gross mass of packed
containers on 1 July 2016.
Concerns
were noted with regards to the application of the requirements to a container
which was loaded before 1 July 2016 and then transshipped.
The Committee,
meeting for its 96th session (11-20 May), also noted delegations’ comments that,
in the first few months after 1 July 2016, some leeway should be provided in
order for any problems resulting from software updates, required for the
electronic collection and transmittal of verified gross mass data, to be
rectified without causing delays to containers being loaded.
In this
context, the MSC agreed that while there should be no delay in the
implementation of the SOLAS requirements, it would be beneficial if
Administrations and port State control authorities could take a “practical and
pragmatic approach” when enforcing them, for a period of three months
immediately following 1 July 2016.
This would help ensure that containers that
are loaded before 1 July 2016, but transshipped on or after 1 July 2016, reach
their final port of discharge without a verified gross mass and it would
provide flexibility, for three months immediately after 1 July 2016, to all the
stakeholders in containerized transport to refine, if necessary, procedures
(e.g. updated software) for documenting, communicating and sharing electronic
verified gross mass data.
Notwithstanding
the above, the MSC emphasized that the stability and safe operation of ships,
including the safe packing, handling and transport of containers, is not
limited to the provision and use of VGM information and is also covered by a
number of SOLAS regulations, including SOLAS regulations VI/2.1, VI/2.2 and
VI/2.3, and other IMO instruments, amongst others.
Source: IMO Media Office