Effective July 1, 2016, a new amendment to Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) regulations will require the declaration of the Verified Gross Mass (VGM) of a packed container before the container can be loaded onto a vessel to which SOLAS applies. The incorrect declaration of cargo weight can lead to various casualties, including cargo claims, hull claims, and other casualties aboard a vessel or shoreside. In an effort to mitigate this risk, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) studied measures to prevent the loss of containers, which led to the new amendment to SOLAS regulation VI/2. Continue reading >