Nigeria missing as APM Terminals provides container weighing services at 35 ports

One month to the July 1, 2016 deadline for SOLAS Verified Gross Mass (VGM) to come into force as mandated by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), APM Terminals has perfected plans to provide container weighing services in 35 ports.

The Danish terminal operator, which is taking the lead to ensure a smooth transition into the new regulatory environment facing over 120 million containers entering the international supply chain, said the VGM generation services will be offered to enable the supply chain partners to comply with new the IMO SOLAS regulations.

According to the list of the 35 locations, where the VGM service will be provided, Apapa Container Terminal, the busiest and largest container terminal in West Africa, is not listed among the first set of beneficiaries of the new technology.

However, there is hope that Apapa Container Terminal will benefit from the second phase of the project as the company says that “operational procedures and processes are being reviewed to ensure VGM process compliance throughout the APM Terminals Global Terminal Network.”

“Our focus is on constantly improving operations for the supply chain. It is crucial that these regulations are met in a way which does not create congestion bottlenecks for all stakeholders,” states Jack Craig, head, Global Operations of APM Terminals.

He further said that APM Terminals teams are in dialogue with local regulatory authorities who are providing increasing clarity on national rules governing how to ensure compliance into the new IMO rule.

APM Terminals is also planning to provide VGM Data Management capabilities in most facilities through accepting EDI transmissions of VGM information into terminal operating systems from the shipping lines prior to vessel load planning.

The ports that will benefit from the initial phase of the project include: Aarhus, Denmark; Fos, France; Pecem, Brazil; Abidjan, Ivory Coast; Gothenburg, Sweden; Petrolesport, Russia; Aqaba, Jordan; Mumbai, India; Pointe-Noire, Congo; Bahrain ; Helsinki, Finland; Santos, Brazil ;Bremerhaven, Germany; Itajai, Brazil; Tanjung Pelepas, Malaysia and Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Others include: Izmir, Turkey; Ust-Luga, Russia; Callao, Peru; Moby Dick, Russia; Vado, Italy; Cotonou, Benin; Pipavav, India; Vostochny, Russia; First Container Terminal, Russia ; Lazaro, Mexico; Wilhelmshaven, Germany; Maasvlakte II, The Netherlands and Port Said, Egypt.  The 35 locations may be adjusted subject to market developments, even as APM Terminals aims to add further locations where VGM support services can be offered. Other locations include Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Barcelona, Spain; Gijon, Spain; Castellon, Spain ; Yucatan, Mexico and Buenaventura, Colombia.

Recall that in 2014,IMO, the agency of the United Nations responsible for regulating international seaborne trade, approved amendments to the Safety of Life at Sea Convention (SOLAS) which as of July 1, 2016, will require verification and documentation of loaded containers (Verified Gross Mass, or “VGM”) before they can be loaded onto vessels.

This can be accomplished by either weighing the loaded container with calibrated and certified equipment, or weighing the cargo prior to loading and adding it to the tare weight of the empty container. The purpose of the VGM regulations is to assure safety of the vessel, as well as dockworkers and other cargo handlers by preventing overweight or otherwise misrepresented containers from jeopardising shipments or container movements.

According to the new international law, shippers are required to provide a VGM for every container before it can be loaded with the shipping line.

APM Terminals further noted that export containers which are received at APM Terminal facilities with a valid VGM will be accepted as per current local operational procedures. Those export containers which arrive at APM Terminal facilities without a valid VGM will be generally accepted, but as they are ineligible to load on a vessel, may be segregated and subject to additional re-handling and storage requirements.

 Uzoamaka Anagor-Ewuzie