Customer Advisory: SOLAS VGM Advisory – June 29, 2016 Update 

    

Dear Valued OOCL Export Customer, 

 

 

Pursuant to IMO MSC.1/Circ.1548; packed containers that are loaded on a ship before 1 July 2016 and are transshipped on or after 1 July 2016 may be shipped to their final port of discharge without the VGM specified in SOLAS regulations VI/2.4 to VI/2.6.

 

IMO has also confirmed adoption of a practical and pragmatic approach by the port state control authorities when verifying compliance with the requirements of SOLAS regulations VI/2.4 to VI/2.6, for a period of three months after 1 July 2016.

 

The SOLAS Convention methods to obtain VGM:

 

Method No. 1 - Weighing packed container

 

Using calibrated and certified weighing equipment

 

Method No. 2 – Calculating weight packed container

 

Weighing all packages and cargo items, including pallets, dunnage and other securing material in the container and adding the tare mass of the container to give the total weight packed container, using certified method approved by the relevant port state control authorities.

 

Alternative – Equivalency, United States Coast Guard:

 

The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), the port state control authorities of USA, in Maritime Safety Information Bulletin (“MSIB”) 009/16 has determined that US existing laws for providing verified container weights are equivalent to the requirements under SOLAS. To this end, U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) in its Maritime Safety Information Bulletin (“MSIB”) 009/16 has announced a practical and pragmatic approach for marine terminal operators having equipment that meets equivalency requirements for obtaining VGM pursuant to the MSIB. OOCL will accept terminal gate weight from equipment that meets equivalency requirements of MSIB as Shipper’s declaration of VGM for Method 1 for all locally received cargo. For marine terminal operators that do not have the equipment that meets MSIB for USCG equivalency requirements for obtaining VGM, OOCL will accept the SOLAS Convention methods for all locally received cargo.

 

On-Dock Rail Cargo:

 

For certain marine terminals that do not have scales and processes that meet the U.S. Coast Guard’s equivalency determination for cargo arriving by on-dock rail, SOLAS Convention methods remain available for Shippers to submit VGM declaration for all intermodal rail cargo.

 

OOCL will continue to work through OCEMA together with the other key industry stakeholders to agree on the procedures for documenting, communicating and sharing VGM information including marine terminal and intermodal on-dock rail, for MSIB equivalency requirement towards a common VGM solution while observing the Intermodal Safe Container Transportation Act (ISCTA) and we will inform you immediately on these processes for your guidance.

 

We will provide more information once available.

 

Canada & Mexico:

 

For all locally received cargo over Canada or Mexico, OOCL will receive VGM declaration based on SOLAS Convention through one OOCL’s defined e-channels

 

OOCL VGM e- Channels:

OOCL ‘E-Submission’ channel is preferred and will expedite transmission of data for shipper to submit VGM declaration. Should, OOCL would also receive manual submission of VGM declaration. However, WE DO NOT ACCEPT submission of VGM declaration over the phone, voice mail or other verbal means.

 

E-Submission (preferred options)

  • OOCL Web Portal – My OOCL Center (MOC), except document upload to Shipment Folder
    • Easy steps to submit VGM declaration online
    • Accepts batch submissions of VGM declaration
    • History Log to trace your past submission VGM declaration
  • EDI (Type of Message: VERMAS, IFTMIN, or 304)
  • OOCL Mobile App - OOCL Lite
  • Other Web Portal Services (e.g. CargoSmart, GT Nexus)

For more detail, please refer our VGM Submission user guide (English link)

Manual document-based submission

  • E-mail request with OOCL’s standard spreadsheet form
 

 

 

OOCL VGM declaration process:

 

For more detailed and comprehensive information regarding SOLAS implementation and the VGM declaration process, please visit OOCL’s resource center located on our website.

 

Thank you for your patience and understanding.  OOCL will continue to provide updates as relevant port state control authorities confirms the procedures for documenting, communicating and sharing VGM information.

 

 

Yours faithfully,

 

OOCL Customer Service