The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) has amended the Safety of Life at Sea Convention (SOLAS) to require, as a condition for loading a packed container onto a ship for export, that the container has a verified weight. The Shipper is responsible for the verification of the packed container’s weight. This requirement will become legally effective on July 1, 2016. After that date, it would be a violation of SOLAS to load a packed container onto a vessel if the vessel operator and marine terminal operator do not have a verified container weight.

Requirements:

• • The Shipper (listed as shipper in the bill of lading or sea waybill) is responsible for providing the VGM to the carrier in reasonable time prior to vessel loading.
• • The VGM (Verified Gross Mass) consists of cargo weight including packaging and dunnage (securing) materials and tare weight of container.
• • The Carrier is responsible for relaying the VGM to its terminal.
• • Container means standard containers, tank containers, flat racks and bulk containers.
• • The NVOCC is the shipper vis-à-vis the carrier and, therefore, responsible for providing the VGM to the carrier.
• • The Data to be provided to the carrier consists of the VGM and the shipper’s (Individual’s) authorized signature (can be electronic). Local/national Laws/Rules might require additional data, processes or documents (e.g. weighing note).
• • The Scale used for weighing has to be calibrated/certified in accordance with local/national Rules.
• • There are two Methodologies for calculating the VGM:
  • ○ Weigh the packed/laden container
  • ○ Weigh all packages, packaging and dunnage material and add the tare weight of the container
• • Carriers WILL NOT LOAD containers without having VGM

For further information, please see the Maritime and Coastguard Agency website – https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/maritime-and-coastguard-agency

We will endeavour to keep you fully informed of any changes updates or relevant information regarding this amendment that may be useful on our website and via our mailing list – Sign up now!

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Special Conditions Regarding the Importation of Certain Commodities

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There are new restrictions applicable for the shipment of hazardous cargo through Saudi ports from Nov 2015. Saudi Arabia will not allow the discharge of any chemicals in the port except for shipments that have been pre-cleared by the customs authority.

Please read the below pdf for full details:

Saudi Port Hazardous Notice

All food items now need to arrive in Doha in a non-operational reefer container and need to be approved by the Doha Port authority. Due to the new regulation this will cause delays in the transhipment of the cargo from Dubai to Doha. We will not be able to guarantee the transit time as the authority to allow the import of the cargo in Doha is controlled by the Doha Port Authority.

Any items of Pharmaceuticals and medicine shipments need to be check with the Doha Port Health Authority before the cargo can be accepted for shipment to verify what (if any) import restrictions would apply to this type of cargo.

Please note that with effect from 1st August our main loading depot at Tilbury will be under the management of Maritime Transport Limited.

Full receiving address details are as follows:

Maritime Transport Limited
Portside Logistics Centre
Ferry Road
Tilbury
Essex
RM18 7NH

Telephone: 01375 659123
Facsimile: 01375 855618

Receiving 0800 hours – 1600 hours Monday to Friday
Max Lift 4000 kgs with container spec equipment

Drivers must have booking reference/destination on paperwork when delivering cargo in.

All drivers must wear hi-vis clothing and protective boots when entering the site – this will be enforced by Maritime staff and may cause vehicles to be turned away if they fail to comply.

As of Monday 20th July Yorkshire Freight
have moved to the below address.

Please note their telephone and fax numbers have also changed.

Yorkshire Freight Company Ltd
Unit 2
QF Industrial Estate
Bradford
BD4 8TU

Tel: 01274 724555
Fax: 01274 721444

Due to recent adverse weather conditions the rail line was extensively damaged from/to Pipavav Port In India.
The weather has caused extensive damage to the rail line operated by Pipavav Rail Corporation Limited.

The Terminal has notified it as a “Force Majeure” Event.
It is expected to take approximately three weeks to rectify and operationalise the damaged sections of rails.
There will not be any loadings or arrivals in the PIPAPAV port until the situation returns back to normal.

In the mean time the Inbound containers that are planned/pending for loading to Pipavav Terminal should be diverted to Nhavasheva Port with immediate effect to avoid delay and additional costs.