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Updated: DP World to weigh containers too

[ February 15, 2016   //   ]

Hot on the heels of Felixstowe’s announcement last week, port operator DP World says it is investing in container weighing services at its UK facilities ahead of the introduction of new SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea) regulations on 1 July

Like Felixstowe, DP World – which operates the container terminal at Southampton and the new London Gateway port – has not specified how it will weigh boxes but promises “scalable solutions to weigh containers shortly after arrival in the port and provide the VGM (verified gross mass).”

In a statement it added: “More details will be made available later in the Spring after we have concluded further discussions with our customers. The websites of both DP World London Gateway and DP World Southampton will then provide further detailed information about the weighing processes at each container terminal, with answers to Frequently Asked Questions and a customer helpline.”

Senior Vice-president and managing director for DP World Europe & Russia, Ganesh Raj, said, “From our contacts with UK exporters, freight forwarders and shipping lines it is clear that the industry in general is finding it challenging to be ready to provide the VGM of containers and without alternative solutions provided by our container terminals, this could become a significant logistics barrier for UK exports and world trade generally.”

Users of DP World container terminals in the UK will not need to provide the VGM for their export containers but will be able to use the weight provided by DP World – although it will still be possible for shippers to provide a certified VGM through electronic messaging prior to arrival at the port if preferred.

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