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IMO's 'light-touch' enforcement of VGM ends by October
THE "pragmatic approach" by regulators to new SOLAS global container-weighing rules will "expire" on September 30.
The "pragmatic" approach to the enforcement of new international container-weighing rules introduced on July 1 will not be extended beyond its current "expiry date" of September 30.
The World Shipping Council (WSC) said the International Maritime Organisation (IMO)'s guidance for "a practical and pragmatic approach" when verifying compliance in the first three months of the requirements for packed containers to have a verified gross mass (VGM) as a condition for loading aboard ship had been "helpful for avoiding major disruptions of international containerised maritime traffic during the implementation phase-in".
But the WSC indicated it did not expect the three-month period to be extended. This was one of the many conclusions from discussions at the IMO's Sub-Committee on Carriage of Cargoes and Containers, 3rd session (CCC 3), earlier this month.
Said WSC president John Butler: "The operational takeaway from the CCC 3 discussion of the SOLAS VGM requirements is that the IMO's 'pragmatic approach" Circular will not be extended beyond its current expiry date of 30 September, meaning that, as of October 1, it would be against international law to load packed containers without VGMs aboard SOLAS-regulated ships."
The so-called "pragmatic approach" was announced in May shortly before the implementation of the amendments to the IMO's Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) convention.
It encouraged regulators to provide "some leeway in the first few months 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" the IMO had said in the circular.
In a presentation to the IMO's CCC 3 committee the WSC noted that this three-month light-touch enforcement period would expire by the end of September. Although the WSC does not expect an extension, it requested continued understanding from regulators.
"From October 1 onwards, we encourage an understanding by regulators and enforcers that the industry has been, and is, working diligently and cooperatively towards the end goal of having all packed containers accompanied by VGMs. A small residual number of exception cases should not detract from the fact that the overwhelmingly majority of packed containers are already in compliance with these important safety requirements."
The "pragmatic" approach to the enforcement of new international container-weighing rules introduced on July 1 will not be extended beyond its current "expiry date" of September 30.
The World Shipping Council (WSC) said the International Maritime Organisation (IMO)'s guidance for "a practical and pragmatic approach" when verifying compliance in the first three months of the requirements for packed containers to have a verified gross mass (VGM) as a condition for loading aboard ship had been "helpful for avoiding major disruptions of international containerised maritime traffic during the implementation phase-in".
But the WSC indicated it did not expect the three-month period to be extended. This was one of the many conclusions from discussions at the IMO's Sub-Committee on Carriage of Cargoes and Containers, 3rd session (CCC 3), earlier this month.
Said WSC president John Butler: "The operational takeaway from the CCC 3 discussion of the SOLAS VGM requirements is that the IMO's 'pragmatic approach" Circular will not be extended beyond its current expiry date of 30 September, meaning that, as of October 1, it would be against international law to load packed containers without VGMs aboard SOLAS-regulated ships."
The so-called "pragmatic approach" was announced in May shortly before the implementation of the amendments to the IMO's Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) convention.
It encouraged regulators to provide "some leeway in the first few months 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" the IMO had said in the circular.
In a presentation to the IMO's CCC 3 committee the WSC noted that this three-month light-touch enforcement period would expire by the end of September. Although the WSC does not expect an extension, it requested continued understanding from regulators.
"From October 1 onwards, we encourage an understanding by regulators and enforcers that the industry has been, and is, working diligently and cooperatively towards the end goal of having all packed containers accompanied by VGMs. A small residual number of exception cases should not detract from the fact that the overwhelmingly majority of packed containers are already in compliance with these important safety requirements."
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