Kiwi ports ready for SOLAS regulations

As the July 1 deadline for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) convention fast approaches, the Ports’ Working Group has made it clear that shippers will be responsible for providing VGM information.

“All export-bound containers from road, rail or coastal transhipment vessels must have the VGM information before they are received onto a port container terminal,” it stated. “No VGM, no entry.

“Coastal containers via lift-on lift-off vessel handled through a port container terminal will have the same rules.”

The working group stated that the convention would not apply to inter-island vessels and that different rules might apply where a rail siding or packing operation on port is leased/operated by a third party.

Preparations are underway to make online pre-advising portals available for all shippers to provide information in order to meet the VGM requirements.

A six-hour cut-off prior to vessel start is being proposed for the receipt of VGM information. The working group noted that ports in general will not be providing weighing services. “[Although] some related inland terminals may offer a service prior to transferring containers to a port terminal.”