SOLAS

Over the past decade we’ve seen a major trend in regards to safety regulations for freight transport within the United States as well as for import and export shippers—that trend is the “international­ization” of rules and regulations.

Initially adopted in 1914, the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) is generally considered the most important international treaty concerning the safety of merchant ships.

As carrier consolidation and reconfigured deployment schedules become old news, contrarian views suggest that some unexpected consequences may be on the horizon for logistics managers. A prominent shipper, retail analyst, and international trade specialist advise a measured approach for the future. Ocean freight news, State of Ocean Freight 2016, Ocean Freight News, Ocean Cargo Update 2016

What is SOLAS? Why is it necessary and what are its implications? SEKO Logistics explore this and many other consequences of the SOLAS convention.

Executive editor Patrick Burnson and a panel of ocean shipping analysts examine the range of flexibility in the methods available to shippers and forwarders and what kind of strategies should be put in place now.

As of July 1, only containers with a verified gross mass will be cleared to be loaded onto a ship under the International Maritime Organization’s Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Verified Gross Mass (VGM) amendment. Shippers hoping that the implementation of the ruling will be delayed or deferred are whistling in the dark, say industry analysts.

The relative merits of using an operating port rather than a landlord port have come into sharp relief recently as shippers confront the compliance deadline for the amendment to the International Maritime Organization’s Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) convention.