The World Shipping Council (WSC) called all parties involved in the international transportation of maritime containers to ensure that they are prepared to meet the new SOLAS regulatory requirement before the implementation date arrives.
At the end of 2014, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) adopted amendments to the Safety of Life at Sea Convention (SOLAS) that will require every packed export container to have a verified container weight as a condition for loading aboard a vessel. This requirement will become legally binding on July 1, 2016.
“There currently is more than a year to get ready. That time should not be wasted. All parties should use the time that is available to understand what will be required of them, and to prepare to be able to meet those requirements before July 1, 2016, ” the Council said.
In addition, WSC has been joined by the European Shippers Council, the European freight forwarders’ association (CLECAT) and the European Community Shipowners Association (ECSA) in opposing the EU Commission’s proposal to require the identity of the buyer and seller of goods being imported into the EU to be a part of a carrier’s ENS filing.
Other trade associations representing European businesses and importers have also raised serious concerns about the proposal; however, such opposition has been unsuccessful to date.
The Commission regulations for the implementation of the UCC are scheduled to be adopted in May so that they, in principle, can take effect as of May 1, 2016.