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Members of the Agriculture Transportation Coalition and the Transpacific Stabilization Agreement have formed a working committee to create best practices and address concerns surrounding new amendments to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), according to a joint statement.
The amendment requires shippers and NVOCCs to supply a verified total container weight (including contents) to the vessel master and terminal operator as a condition for loading aboard a ship. The rule goes into effect July 1, 2016.
The committee brings together industry stakeholders to discuss timing, feasibility, and documentation requirements. Its membership includes 25 AgTC member shippers and truckers, eight ocean carriers, and three software providers. The statement says it may expand to include other key participants in the
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supply chain, such as terminal operators, port authorities, etc.
"Our ocean carrier members look forward to addressing the concerns from the shipper community to come up with a system that works for all parties," said Brian Conrad, TSA Executive Administrator. "Each carrier will implement their own protocol independently of one another, but the committee provides an exceptional forum to hear from U.S. shippers before the rule goes into effect."
A Refrigerated Cargo Sub-Committee has been established, chaired by Perry Bourne of Tyson Foods, also a member of the AgTC Advisory Board, who notes: "Refrigerated shipments are particularly complex and sensitive to any delay; our objective is to ensure that these new rules do not hinder US refrigerated exports."
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