The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) are currently conducting compliance sampling of FCL container exports to verify that the Verified Gross Mass (VGM) requirements of those consignments are being met.
The requirements are contained in AMSA Marine Order 42 (Carriage, stowage and securing of cargoes and containers) 2016 (‘MO42’).
The legislation essentially specifies two acceptable methods by which the gross mass of a container shall be verified by the shipper:
1. Weighing the packed container using calibrated and certified equipment; or
2. Weighing all packages and cargo items (including the mass of pallets, dunnage and other securing material to be packed in the container) and adding the tare mass of the container to the sum of the single masses.
Shippers should be aware of the following information, should evidence be called upon:
1. Which method of verification/weighing was used for your container/s.
2. Evidence that the equipment in use is certified and calibrated as required.
Full details of the requirement can be found on the AMSA website. Please contact one of our team if you have any questions or concerns and we’ll be pleased to assist.
