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Forwarders warned of implications in SOLAS box weighing amendment

WITH implementation of the new SOLAS just two months away, the European Liaison Committee of Common Market Forwarders (CLECAT) has warned that the container weighing amendment has profound implications for freight forwarders.

CLECAT senior policy advisor Aidan Flanagan said that while it looks it is a problem for carriers and shippers, closer examination shows it has as much to do with forwarders. 



The most the most important issue, Mr Flanagan said, is the question of shipper identity. This arises when a freight forwarder is named as shipper on the bill of lading, when acting as carrier towards the original shipper. 



This makes the forwarder responsible for providing the verified gross mass, according to Lloyd's Loading List.



As the forwarder is not actually loading the container, they do not qualify to verify the weight under the calculation method. Furthermore, the shipper will have established the verified weight using this method, so re-determining the weight would be to reproduce a legal document, which already exists.



CLECAT, which represents 19,000 companies employing more than one million staff in logistics, freight forwarding and customs services, recently-issued guidelines on implementing the amendment recommend that the forwarder issue their own document stating the verified gross mass (VGM), using the information received from the shipper.



This requires procedures to be identified for the forwarder to create a separate document that follows the verified weight as provided by the actual shipper.



As freight forwarders will, in the most part, opt to use the calculation method, or relay the weight information they receive from the shipper, and therefore require certainty over how they may do so.



Other issues with the rules which affect freight forwarders include the transmission of VGM information, where shipping lines must examine their policies for timeframes and means of submission and ensure clear communication to forwarders.



The new rules do bring some benefits, notably greater certainty and predictability for forwarders in receiving weight declarations from shippers. 



Under the new rules, forwarders will receive an accurate, verified weight in a timely manner and with the legal protection offered by a signed official document. This limits potential exposure to legal action from shipping lines.



Nonetheless, the broad range of issues for forwarders with the rules, and their implications, underscores the urgency of the current situation. 



CLECAT's guidelines aim to resolve these questions by setting out recommendations to carriers and national authorities in particular.



What is needed most, he said, is transparent, coordinated action by carriers and national authorities. 



Authorities must outline their policies to implement the amendment, and must coordinate to the greatest extent possible. This will ensure a level playing field between countries, which is of particular importance in Europe.
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