Bangladesh’s maritime regulator, the Department of Shipping (DoS), has cancelled the VGM (Verified of Gross Mass) license of eight large shippers after finding discrepancies in packing cargo in containers for exporting.
These shippers are VGM licensees under method-2 and send their containers directly to the port yards after weighing cargoes at their own establishments.
The regulator found a violation of its guidelines and requirement of SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea) convention in packing cargoes in the containers.
“Due to complete violation of the requirements of SOLAS convention and DoS guidelines regarding VGM of packed container for shipping cargo, your permission to carry out the VGM using Method-2 is hereby cancelled,” the DoS said in a letter to the eight companies.
The companies whose VGM license is revoked are Qualitex Industries Ltd, Morden Towels Ltd, Premier 1888 Ltd, Crown Mills Ltd, Mitali Textile Industries Ltd, Zaber & Zubair Fabrics Ltd, Noman Terry Towel Mills Ltd, and Mamanu Polyester Industrials Ltd.
The shipping department in a notice to the people concerned, including the ports, main line operators and shipping agents, not to allow any container VGM certified by these cancelled organisations.
Earlier last month, the department also cancelled the VGM license of three container depots, but later restored, after they made an appeal and submitted required documents seeking license renewal.
Additionally, the department took into consideration the prolonged container congestions at the depots and the port yards for restoring the VGM licenses for the off docks.
Director General of Department of Shipping Commodore A Z M Jalal Uddin said the VGM is international compliance and if “we do not follow it, our port will be in trouble”.
“Usually in the past container loading had been planned by vessels captain but now it is done from the office. So, accuracy in weighing is a must,” he pointed out.
Uddin added unless there is stability, a vessel may face problems at any stage of its journey.
Sharar Nayel
Bangladesh Correspondent
