Freight News, Sea

POH Supports Container Weight Mandate

[ May 6, 2016   //   Gary G Burrows ]

The Port of Houston Authority (POH) supports a new requirement to verify the gross weight of a loaded container before it is accepted by an ocean carrier for transport.
The requirement, which goes into effect July 1, 2016, is an amendment approved by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) convention. The change mandates the declaration of a verified gross mass (VGM) before a container is allowed to be loaded onto a vessel.
Safety is of utmost importance at the Port of Houston Authority and we fully support the SOLAS convention. After the requirement goes into effect, The Port Authority will gather the VGM via Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) from the ocean carrier. Containers will be required to have a VGM on file prior to in-gate. The Port Authority will continue to work with various stakeholders and partners to ensure compliance and an uninterrupted flow of cargo.
The Port Authority will continue to monitor developments on the SOLAS requirements and will update stakeholders if any changes occur.

Tags: Port of Houston Authority