SOLAS Convention

The International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) is an international maritime treaty which requires Signatory flag states to ensure that ships flagged by them comply with minimum safety standards in construction, equipment and operation. The current version of the SOLAS Convention is the 1974 version, known as SOLAS 1974, which came into force on 25 May 1980. As at March 2016, SOLAS 1974 has 162 contracting States, which flag about 99% of merchant ships around the world in terms of gross tonnage. The SOLAS Convention in its successive forms is generally regarded as the most important of all international treaties concerning the safety of merchant ships. The up-to-date list of amendments to SOLAS is maintained by the IMO. Previous amendments were made in May 2011. In 2015, another later amendment is the SOLAS Container Weight Verification Regulation VI/2.
This regulation, implemented by the IMO Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) requires that the full weight of loaded containers must be obtained prior to being on boarded on an ocean vessel. Communicating a weight value has called for the introduction of a new Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) communication protocol called VGM (Verified Gross Mass) or VERMAS (Verification of Mass), and involves cooperation between ocean carriers, Freight Forwarders/NVOCCs, EDI providers as well as exporters. The regulation states that exporters (shippers) are ultimately responsible to obtain a verified container weight. Originally scheduled for implementation on July 1, 2016, the regulation allows for flexibility and practical refinement according to the Maritime Safety Committee Memorandum to October 1, 2016 under certain conditions.

Implementation in Nigeria
The process kicked off in Nigeria 1st July, 2016 and compliance level has been encouraging although not without the usual teething errors witnessed during implementation of any new policy. Exports leaving any country must have a Verified Gross Mass (VGM) which should either be presented by shippers (exporters) to shipping line which ensures same is sent to the terminal of loading via Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) before the export container gets to the terminal and if this is not possible the Verified Gross Mass (VGM) should be written on the export entry permit presented at the terminal gates and updated by the terminal for a fee.
It has also been confirmed that some terminals can carry out weighing services for shippers that don’t have weighing facilities and charge stipulated amount for these services. It is not wise to advise a false Verified Gross Mass (VGM) as all advised Verified Gross Mass (VGM) are subject to confirmation and when it is below or exceeds the accepted tolerance level stipulated by the terminal it only increases the amount of charges incurred. Further consultation is available at below site http://www.mohbib.com