REGULATORY changes to container weight verification requirements will need to be carefully considered by all those involved in the shipping industry before they take effect on July 1, 2016.

The changes to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974 (SOLAS) which now requires, as a condition for loading a container onto a ship for export, that the shipper has provided a verified gross mass (VGM) weight of the container.

The intention is that the amendments will reduce the incidence of shipping disasters where inaccurate weight declarations have been a major contributing factor.

Fiji Ports Corporation Ltd chief executive Vajira Piyasena said the change would impact shippers.

“As mentioned previously container weigh-in arrangement is between the shipping line and the shipper. Therefore, there is no direct impact to FPCL as the Port landlord or management company,” he said.

“However, we are in the process of setting up weighbridge facilities in Suva and Lautoka to facilitate this.”

Although legislation has required shippers to accurately declare gross mass weight, these changes represent a stricter regime and increased accuracy requirements. The VGM must be obtained by shippers by either weighing the packed container or weighing all the packages and cargo items including pallets and then adding the tare mass of the container. Estimates are not permitted.

The shipper must ensure the VGM is communicated in shipping documents sufficiently in advance to be used in preparation of the ship stowage plan, at a time that is likely to be governed by the requirements of the relevant terminal.

Should a shipper fail to provide a VGM, the container will not be processed for loading and further, should a container arrive without a VGM stated in its shipping documentation, carriers must not load the container. Carriers and shippers face penalties for non-compliance with strict liability offences and civil penalties.

However, the International Maritime Organisation has given a three-month grace period to regulators and shippers to get their act in order before penalties could be considered.