Shippers get their Solas VGM ducks in a row

More and more shippers
are making practical moves
to ensure compliance with
the new Safety of Life at Sea
(Solas) verified gross mass
(VGM) regulations that take
effect on July 1, according to
Dave Johnson of SA Maritime
Safety Authority-accredited
certification company General
& Marine Surveyors and
Assessors.
Shippers using Method 2 –
which involves the weighing of
the contents and dunnage and
adding that to the tare weight
of the container – must have
their equipment audited by a
Samsa-accredited company.
“We have close to 75 shippers
nearing completion of both
their desktop and physical site
audits and are comfortable
that our clients will be certified
before the deadline.”
Johnson believes that
thanks to the slew of notices
issued by the Samsa, there is a
fairly good understanding of
the requirements – but not so
when it comes to the practical
implementation.
“Shippers
need to
understand
that this is
a long-term
commitment
– there are
no quick and
easy once-off
solutions.
It requires
ongoing
monitoring,
fine-tuning and
maintenance.
Shippers are
not buying a
certificate valid for five years;
they are being certified to show
their ongoing commitment to
ensuring that they accurately
determine the gross mass of
their packed containers.
“Our challenge is to
demonstrate to shippers
that our service offering is
a partnership, where we
take ownership to ensure
our clients, and their service
providers,
comply for five
years – not just
for the one day
of a site visit.”
The company
has simplified
the process,
says Johnson,
so that there are
three easy steps
– application
online, a site
visit and audit
followed by the
issuing of the
certificate.
He’s confident that enough
shippers will be certified
in time for the deadline –
and that those who can’t
be accommodated will use
Method 1 – which involves the
weighing of the full container
at a weighbridge for which no
audit is necessary.
INSERT & CAPTION
Shippers need to
understand that
this is a long-term
commitment − there
are no quick and easy
once-off solutions.
– Dave Johnson