Scale-less weighing of containers for SOLAS VGM
SOLAS VGM – probably a term which may have slipped many people’s minds as it seems to have successfully integrated itself into the mainstream container shipping process since its mandatory implementation in July 2016.. Now it seems to be back, but in a good way though..
In July 2016, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) issued a mandatory requirement which required all shipping containers to be weighed and the weight information (Verified Gross Mass) be provided to the shipping lines as part of the SOLAS (Safety of Life At Sea convention) Chapter VI Regulation 2..
This requirement came on the back of continued misdeclaration of weights by shippers many of which resulted in incidents at sea causing loss of property and/or lives..
The regulation allowed shippers to provide the VGM to the carriers using two different methods
- Weigh the packed container using calibrated and certified weighing equipment like a weighbridge to get the VGM
- Weigh the cargo, dunnage, lashing material and add the tare weight of the container to get the VGM
Although there has not been any real comments or incidents relating to the misdeclaration of weights after the implementation of the SOLAS VGM regulation in 2016, it has been reported that shipping industry has been struggling with Method 1, as physically weighing every shipping container requires significant efforts and costly, space-consuming scales..
Well, it seems there is a solution for that..
The first Smart Container Innovation Lab – Contopia Labs announced by Loginno
A few decades ago or even a few years ago, no one would have believed that a simple rectangular steel box with 6 sides (well most of the time) would be termed “smart”.. Well, the “smart container” as it is termed now is here to stay..
Nothing displays the seriousness of this innovation better than when someone announces the setting up of the world’s first smart container innovation lab..
Are you ready for 20,000 smart containers..??
Digitalisation is the buzzword making the rounds currently, especially in the shipping and freight industry..
IT boffins are creating it, VCs are funding it, Entrepreneurs are finding new uses for it, Freight Forwarders, Shipping lines, Banks and Ports are adopting it, riding the wave of digitalisation..
There are many use cases relating to technology in the shipping and freight industry, but nothing screams “we are serious about digitalisation” more than a company running a competition for container operators, in which the winner gets to convert their entire container fleet into Smart Containers..
Yes, you heard right.. An entire container fleet..
We caught up with Shachar Tal, the Co-Founder of Loginno, the company that ran this competition..