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Agri-biz shippers puzzled by rules to needlessly re-weigh containers
THE Agriculture Transportation Coalition (AgTC) is perplexed by new guidelines released by the Ocean Carrier Equipment Management Association (OCEMA) to comply with the UN's International Maritime Organisation's (IMO) container weight verification rules, saying export containers have already been weighed.
The AgTC sought to clarify how and when carriers want to receive data related to the verification of container weights. The OCEMA said if the container verification weight data is not submitted before a stipulated cut-off time, the container will be denied loading.
"We are puzzled by the inflexibility of carrier/OCEMA/World Shipping Council interpretation of the UN amendment, which appears more focused on (the) strictest legal reading than on the intent of the SOLAS [Safety of Life at Sea] amendment and the economic health of the ocean carriers," AgTC said in a statement.
"Similarly we were hoping that OCEMA would consider mechanisms that would meet VGM and SOLAS objectives while reducing costs and complexity for carriers (and shippers), rather than increase them."
OCEMA's recommendations covered the verification of export containers arriving at US ports, and the AgTC has been vocal in its disapproval of the verified gross mass (VGM) rule and its enforcement.
AgTC and its members believe that exporters shouldn't be held responsible for verifying the weight of equipment they don't own or maintain, including containers.
The AgTC sought to clarify how and when carriers want to receive data related to the verification of container weights. The OCEMA said if the container verification weight data is not submitted before a stipulated cut-off time, the container will be denied loading.
"We are puzzled by the inflexibility of carrier/OCEMA/World Shipping Council interpretation of the UN amendment, which appears more focused on (the) strictest legal reading than on the intent of the SOLAS [Safety of Life at Sea] amendment and the economic health of the ocean carriers," AgTC said in a statement.
"Similarly we were hoping that OCEMA would consider mechanisms that would meet VGM and SOLAS objectives while reducing costs and complexity for carriers (and shippers), rather than increase them."
OCEMA's recommendations covered the verification of export containers arriving at US ports, and the AgTC has been vocal in its disapproval of the verified gross mass (VGM) rule and its enforcement.
AgTC and its members believe that exporters shouldn't be held responsible for verifying the weight of equipment they don't own or maintain, including containers.
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