The VGM has to be known accurate weights
South African shippers
will have zero room to
manouevre come July 1
when the new Safety of Life
at Sea (Solas) verified gross
mass (VGM) regulations
take effect as “tolerance” is
not on the cards.
Many countries have
set a tolerance of 5% or
500kg, whichever is the
greater value, which they
will accept, said Gavin
Fitzmaurice of Webber
Wentzel. “This estimation
of 5% is included in
the UK guidance on the
implementation of Solas
amendments for example.
Many other countries,
however, including South
Africa still need to solidify
their position on variance,”
he said.
Kirsty Goodwin of the
South African Maritime
Safety Authority (Samsa)
however said since the
intention of the amendment
was accuracy, allowing for
tolerances made no sense.
Speaking during an event
on the new regulation in
Cape Town hosted by the
Exporters’ Club Western
Cape, she said requests
from industry to hike up or
set a 5% tolerance were
not being considered.
“If we allow tolerances
it is almost like an open
invitation to load to that
tolerance and – depending
on the weight of the
container – if you pack
every container to 5%
over its verified gross mass
(VGM) you are going to
affect the stability of the
ship. And that is what we
are trying to prevent,” she
said. “The aim of Solas is to
prevent stows collapsing on
ships, to prevent damage
to property at sea and to
prevent loss of life.”
Goodwin said with this in
mind South Africa had not
agreed to any tolerance.
“We will not be
implementing any
tolerances and if we find
containers are being
overloaded we will deal
with these each on a case
by case basis.”
But even in countries like
the UK and Holland where
a 5% tolerance has been
set experts are stressing
to shippers that this value
is only for the guidance of
enforcers and it still remains
the shipper’s responsibility
to give as accurate a weight
as possible.
Goodwin said that even
with tolerances the Solas
regulation was very clear
– that the shipper or its
agents were not allowed
to estimate the weight of
containers or their contents.
“The VGM has to be
known accurate weights,
ascertained and verified
using accredited equipment.
There really is no leeway to
this regulation,” she said.
INSERT & CAPTION
If we allow tolerances
it is almost like an open
invitation to load to
that tolerance which will
ultimately affect the
stability of the ship.
Kirsty Goodwin
