2
Shipper
BULKDISTRIBUTOR
Insurers welcome
container weight move
Ship operators will need to ensure that the verified gross mass of a container is recorded and used in stow planning
F
reight transport insurance groups UK P&I
Club and TT Club have welcomed the
amendment to the Safety of Life at Sea
Convention (SOLAS) from the International
Maritime Organization (IMO) on the
requirement that containers have a verified
gross mass before being loaded onto a ship.
The requirement becomes mandatory on 1 July
2016, after which date it would be a violation of
SOLAS to load a packed container onto a ship if
the ship and marine terminal operator do not have
a verified container gross mass. Operators who fail
to comply will be fined or penalised.
According to the new amendment, the shipper is
responsible for obtaining the verified gross mass of
a packed container and communicating it to the
ocean carrier.
UK P&I and TT Club have published a joint
advisory briefing for ship operators. This outlines
the key issues for ship operating members to
consider in advance of the 1 July 2016
enforcement date.
The briefing points out that there are
complexities in international trade and logistics
supply chains which can make it difficult to
identify ‘the shipper’. The different parties involved
in any given supply chain will need to determine
how verified gross mass of containers will be
obtained, and how this information can be
provided by the shipper to the ocean carrier in a
timely manner.
Ship operators will need to ensure that the
verified gross mass is recorded and used in ship
stow planning. It is important to consider the
impact of this on existing data capture and control
processes, in order to ensure that a container
cannot be loaded on board a ship without this
verified gross mass. This will affect procedures
from the point of initial booking of the cargo
through to loading, including communications
between partner lines and the terminal operator.
SOLAS requires that the verified gross mass
should be obtained by using weighing equipment
that meets the relevant accuracy standards and
requirements in the State in which the packing of
the container is completed.
Finally, failure to abide by the SOLAS amendment
may result in fines and other penalties, imposed by
Competent Authorities or Port State Control in
accordance with relevant national legislation.
However, additional costs and charges will be
incurred due to the need to re-pack cargo,
administration fees for amending documents and
container demurrage charges. Such containers are
likely to be delayed and may miss their designated
ship, resulting in additional commercial or
contractual exposures for cargo interests.
The full joint advisory briefing is available at
www.ttclub.com
or
www.ukpandi.com
November/December 2015
Duel fuel for XPO
T
he first XPO Logistics LNG-powered trucks
in the UK are now being refuelled at
BOC’s new LNG refuelling station in Teesport,
Middlesbrough.
Opened recently by BOC, the station is designed
to serve the gas supplier’s fleet of 11 dual fuel
vehicles transporting industrial gases from its
Middlesbrough plant to customers in the
surrounding region.
This station is also available to third parties by
arrangement.
XPO Logistics is trialling dual fuel technology as
part of its commitment to develop sustainable
logistics. XPO has invested in 10 dual fuel (LNG
and diesel-powered) trucks, and is one of the first
third parties to sign up to access the Teesport
station to refuel.
The station incorporates the latest ‘zero loss’
refuelling technology developed by BOC, which is
part of The Linde Group. This uses cryogenic
cooling to ‘temperature-condition’ the fuel just
prior to dispensing.
Dual fuel allows natural gas to be used in
conjunction with diesel, reducing the total
consumption of diesel and cutting CO2 emissions.
LNG typically accounts for up to 60 percent of
total fuel consumption for a dual-fuel vehicle.
Diesel produces around 2.6kg of CO2 for every
litre burned, whereas LNG, when used with diesel
in a dual fuel vehicle, typically reduces CO2
emissions by 10-14 percent.
Mark Lowe, BOC’s LNG business manager, said:
“BOC is extremely pleased to offer XPO Logistics
access to this important, environmentally-friendly
alternative to diesel at our new LNG refuelling
station. BOC has a long-term commitment to play
an active part in the transition to low carbon
transport and we look forward to continuing to
work with XPO Logistics in the future.”
Ian Marguet, general manager, bulk UK and
Ireland for XPO Logistics, added: “We are
delighted with the support that BOC has provided
as we explore the potential of LNG as a clean
alternative fuel to diesel within our heavy truck
and tanker fleet. XPO Logistics shares BOC’s
commitment to environmentally friendly transport
practices.”
In Ireland, BOC Gases has become the first
company to achieve FTA Ireland’s silver level of
accreditation, recognising its high standards of
safety and compliance.
The award was announced at FTAI’s council
meeting in October.
The membership accreditation scheme - the first
of its type in Ireland – has been designed by FTAI
with input from members and is recognised by the
country’s Road Safety Authority (RSA).
Sally Thornley, FTA’s director of standards, audit
and accreditation, said the award is a significant
achievement for the FTAI accreditation scheme
and its members.
“The scheme was introduced to improve
compliance levels and industry image, both within
Ireland and abroad,” she commented. “A silver
accreditation means that the organisation has not
only put in place a broad range of safety-related
standards by way of an annual audit, but also that
those systems are being implemented through
additional vehicle and driver encounters as well as
a site implementation audit.
“This important milestone shows that, through
this voluntary scheme, industry can recognise
good practice and make a positive contribution to
improving road safety.