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Global Consolidators Working Group seeks clarity on box weigh-in rules
THE Global Consolidators Working Group (GCWG) says a lack of information, transparency and guidance about the UN's compulsory container weigh-in rule "makes it nearly impossible for shippers to implement", the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported.
"There is an alarming lack of information from the shipping lines on how they will receive the VGM [Verified Gross Mass] data," said working group chairman Jens Roemer.
The GCWG letter, signed by executives from NVOCCs including CaroTrans International, Ecu-Line, Shipco Transport, and Vanguard Logistics Services, said the July 1 implementation of the rule worldwide risked supply chain disruption.
Today, shippers estimate the weight of the contents in containers, but don't have to sign off on the weight of pallets or other materials inside the boxes, or the containers themselves.
And some shipping lines and port operators say they will turn away containers without Verified Gross Mass (VGM) documentation.
This is required by the United Nations agency, under the International Maritime Organisation's amendments to the Safety of Life at Sea convention.
GCWG wants to know - by April 1 - who is the responsible party in case of violations, and how each about 170 countries will enforce the rule.
Other questions arise such as standards for how weight information is taken and submitted, how much variation in weight will be tolerated and whether there will be penalties for violations.
The International Federation of Freight Forwarders' Associations (FIATA) has already called for better communication from container shipping lines ahead of the July deadline.
FIATA, which represents 40,000 forwarding and logistics companies, is calling on shipping lines to provide greater clarity on how they wish to receive VGM data.
"There is an alarming lack of information from the shipping lines on how they will receive the VGM [Verified Gross Mass] data," said working group chairman Jens Roemer.
The GCWG letter, signed by executives from NVOCCs including CaroTrans International, Ecu-Line, Shipco Transport, and Vanguard Logistics Services, said the July 1 implementation of the rule worldwide risked supply chain disruption.
Today, shippers estimate the weight of the contents in containers, but don't have to sign off on the weight of pallets or other materials inside the boxes, or the containers themselves.
And some shipping lines and port operators say they will turn away containers without Verified Gross Mass (VGM) documentation.
This is required by the United Nations agency, under the International Maritime Organisation's amendments to the Safety of Life at Sea convention.
GCWG wants to know - by April 1 - who is the responsible party in case of violations, and how each about 170 countries will enforce the rule.
Other questions arise such as standards for how weight information is taken and submitted, how much variation in weight will be tolerated and whether there will be penalties for violations.
The International Federation of Freight Forwarders' Associations (FIATA) has already called for better communication from container shipping lines ahead of the July deadline.
FIATA, which represents 40,000 forwarding and logistics companies, is calling on shipping lines to provide greater clarity on how they wish to receive VGM data.
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