PSA, CMA CGM outline preparations for VGM

Singapore-based global terminal operator PSA International and ocean carrier CMA CGM of France said they are ready to accept container weight data from shippers.     Singapore-based global terminal operator PSA International and French ocean carrier CMA CGM said they are ready to comply with a July 1 deadline set by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) for shippers to submit documentation certifying the weight of containers tendered. Without receiving the measurements in advance, carriers are prohibited from loading cargo boxes on vessels.
   The new standard is designed to cut down on incidences of overweight containers delivered to ports for transport with misdeclared weights, which the maritime industry says poses a serious safety hazard for vessels at sea and for workers on land if a heavy box falls from container handling equipment. The rule, which was approved more than two years ago, caught many shippers by surprise as the deadline approached and some have complained that the process adds extra cost to the process, including the possibility of containers missing a sailing because of tight windows to file the information.
   PSA said that all of its terminals have procedures in place to accept the verified gross mass (VGM) of export containers from shippers. Most terminals will be able to provide a weighing service to determine the VGM upon request in cases when the container arrives without having the required data.
   The company provided few details in a news release and urged customers to contact its local PSA terminal to determine specific procedures for meeting the requirement.
   On Wednesday, the liner CMA CGM said it has created a dedicated page on its website to guide customers through the VGM submission process.
   The VGM can be submitted along with the shipping instructions or through a separate filing free of charge. The information will be shared with the marine terminal at the port to facilitate acceptance and loading of the cargo.
   The carrier has an electronic platform that will enable shippers to track the VGM status of all containers in a single view.
   To give the parties more time, the IMO issued a circular May 23 urging member-states to employ a “practical and pragmatic approach” when verifying compliance during the initial three months of implementation.