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DGX - Dependable Global Express
7/18/2016
DGX USA new Ocean export requirements:
Safety
of Life at Sea (SOLAS)/Verified Gross Mass (VGM) Update
There have been several
changes over the past few weeks regarding how VGM will be handled for US
Exports, and we would like to advise you of the current status.
The International Maritime
Organization (IMO) has adopted amendments to the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS)
Convention to mandate the Verified Gross Mass (VGM) for proper stowage of
containers on a vessel effective July 1, 2016. The rule remains the same, in
that, it is the shipper's’ responsibility to obtain and provide the VGM to the
ocean carrier in accordance with local government guidelines as per the
carrier’s cut-off.
What has changed is the
method in which the VGM will be submitted to the Carrier’s, since the U.S. Coast
Guard (USCG) declared equivalency, whereas the existing terminal weighing
practice for on-dock scales in the United States has been confirmed by the USCG
to be compliant with SOLAS regulation - all U.S. marine terminals are now
allowed to use their certified scales to record the VGM.
Most carriers will accept
the “Terminal Weighing Approach” to derive a compliant VGM for stowing the
containers. Under this approach, the ocean terminal operators in the U.S. would
weigh containers moving through their truck gates and provide the gross
container weights to the Carrier’s, eliminating the need for Shippers to submit
the VGM separately.
However, the “Terminal
Weighing Approach” excludes on-dock rail or intermodal containers due to the
lack of appropriate scales and processes at most U.S. terminals to handle the
weighing of containers arriving in this mode.
As such, VGM would be required for these moves, or in the event the
Carrier does not accept the Terminal Weighing approach. This means, shippers are still required to
submit VGM to DGX for container shipments moving under the above excluded
modes, or in the event the Carrier does not accept the terminal weighing
method.
The cut-off for submitting
the VGM to the Carrier will depend on the individual Carrier and their cut-off
times. As such, we will require the VGM to be provided to DGX for FCL (full
container load) shipments within 24-hours before the announced VGM cut-off by
the Carrier. The VGM must be presented electronically to DGX, by email to your
booking agent, noting the VGM in the body of the SLI or Bill of Lading
instructions.
Lastly, the VGM fees
previously announced by DGX will be updated to adopt the Terminal Weighing
Approach, as follows:
|
RATE NAME
|
EFFECTIVE
DATE
|
APPLIES TO
|
AMOUNT
|
|
VGM Admin Fee
|
7/1/16
|
From United States to all
destinations, when the Carrier does not accept the terminal weighing
approach.
|
LCL Fees CANCELLED
AMENDED: FCL: USD $10 per
container, minimum of $25 per Bill of Lading.
|
|
Scale Fee
|
7/21/16
|
From United States to all
destinations, when the Carrier does not accept the terminal weighing
approach.
|
LCL Fees CANCELLED
FCL: USD $25 per
container plus any and all additional third party charges (obtaining actual
weight certificate, additional dray, demurrage, waiting time, repositioning,
chassis fees etc.), when Shipper requires DGX to weigh the container to
verify the gross mass.
|
Rate
Changes
In
addition to the VGM and Scale fees discussed above, the following rate change
will apply, respectively:
|
RATE NAME
|
EFFECTIVE
DATE
|
APPLIES TO
|
AMOUNT
|
|
Traffic Mitigation Fee
(Pier Pass)
|
8/14/16
|
Traffic Mitigation Fee at
the Ports of LGB/LAX
|
LCL: $4 WM (minimum of
$4); FCL: 20' / $70.49 and 40' / $140.98
|
Should
you have additional questions, please contact your local representative or call
our Corporate office at 1-310-669-8888 (local USA) or 1-888-488-4888
(toll-free).
Thank
you for your business - we appreciate it!
Sincerely,
Brad
Dechter
President