CargoSmart Limited has announced that its customers are preparing to submit the verified gross mass (VGM) of their cargo through CargoSmart's platform to comply with the new Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Convention requirements that go into effect on July 1, 2016.
CargoSmart is a global shipment management software solutions provider that leverages big data for greater visibility and benchmarking.
Nippon Express, Globaltransol, and Al Dahra ACX Global are three companies that have selected to submit the VGMs through CargoSmart's platform.
In addition, thousands of shippers and freight forwarders have signed into CargoSmart's website to become familiar with the application, set up protocols, and train colleagues.
When the new regulation goes into effect in two weeks, the shipper named on the ocean bill of lading will be required to provide their carrier and terminal operator with the VGM of each packed container.
Weighing services, weight accuracy tolerance levels, cutoff times, and penalties for non-compliance vary by country, terminal, and carrier, making it challenging for shippers to prepare their weighing, verification, and processes in time for the implementation date.
CargoSmart opened its EDI and online testing environments in May for shippers to prepare to submit the VGM to their ocean carriers. Nippon Express USA has connected to CargoSmart to submit the VGM by EDI and online for multiple carriers.
"Each steamship line has its own procedure to receive the VGM," said Rei Goshima of Nippon Express USA's ocean cargo division. "CargoSmart has one window to submit the VGM, making it easy and simple to comply by the implementation date."
CargoSmart's solution allows Nippon Express to collect the weight information from its customers and other weighing parties and to have visibility to the status of the required data before submitting the VGM to its carriers.