Majority of SA shippers choose Method 1

The overwhelming majority
of South African shippers
are opting for Method 1 to
comply with the amendment
to the Safety of Life at Sea
convention (Solas), which
mandates the verification
of the gross mass of every
container before it is loaded
aboard ship.
This as the majority
of shippers in the rest of
the world have opted for
Method 2.
“We simply have no
choice but to use Method
1 as it is by far the easiest
way to get the verified
gross mass (VGM),” said a
forwarder, who preferred
not to be named. “This is
probably due to the fact
that so few companies have
been accredited to approve
shippers using Method 2 of
the amended regulation.”
Method 2 requires
weighing of all the cargo
and contents of the
container and adding
those weights to the
container’s tare weight as
indicated on the door end
of the container – using
equipment that has been
verified by a Samsaaccredited
company. To
date less than 20 companies
had been approved as VGM
certification companies by
Samsa, he said.
“For this reason, many
companies have invested in
weighbridges so they are not
having to use Method 2,”
he said.
Mike Walwyn of the
South African Association
of Freight Forwarders told
FTW that at least 80% of
South African companies
were relying on Method 1.
And this was not
expected to change anytime
soon, despite the additional
costs. “While the actual
VGM weighing fee is only
around R300 there are
other costs involved that
increase the figure to an
average of around R1500
per container. This includes
truck standing time and
other miscellaneous costs.”
He said Method 2 was a
simpler and slightly more
cost-efficient method. “It
would be beneficial to move
more shippers to Method
2, but it’s just not a feasible
option at the moment.”