Forum on shipping regulations

South Asia Gateway Terminals, the first private container terminal in the Port of Colombo hosted members of the Ceylon Association of Shipping Agents (CASA) and members of the Sri Lanka Association of Vessel Operators (SLAVO) recently to an interactive forum on the implementation of the International Maritime Organization's SOLAS Verified Gross Mass (VGM) regulation at its terminal.

The forum was conducted by Chief Commercial Officer Ted Muttiah, and General Manager Operations and IT, Cinnamon Grand, Upul Jinadasa and was attended by about 100 shipping company agents and carrier representatives. Officials of the Director General of Merchant Shipping Secretariat (DGMSS) were also present. DGMSS as the government entity responsible for the implementation and compliance of the protocol in Sri Lanka, had already broadcast its guidelines to the industry.

Under the International Maritime Organization (IMO) convention, the responsibility for providing the shipping line with VGM certification for a shipment lies with the shipper. The shipping line/agent once satisfied with the VGM received from the shipper will in turn instruct the terminal via EDI message to load the container to its vessel. The safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) VGM regulations came to effect worldwide on Friday, July 1.