USCG won't conform with SOLAS on container weights?

[QUOTE=Capt. Phoenix;180764]1) your anti US posts are really getting obnoxious

  1. the people in this country with any sense realize this. Just like hydrogen fuel cells that require more energy to make than they save by replacing gasoline, electric cars aren’t all they’re cracked up to be yet. But as electric cars get more energy efficient and electricity gets greener that will reverse.[/QUOTE]

Why do you feel that pointing out something about how things are done in Singapore (or Norway) is anti-US? It could just as well be anti-anywhere, or simply an observation and not anti-anything.
Could it be your perception that make it anti-US??

[QUOTE=ombugge;180812]Why do you feel that pointing out something about how things are done in Singapore (or Norway) is anti-US? It could just as well be anti-anywhere, or simply an observation and not anti-anything.
Could it be your perception that make it anti-US??[/QUOTE]

See below:

[QUOTE=ombugge;180759]If the same standard was applied in the US, Tesla and others el-cars producers would be out of business. (Unless it is only a status symbol to own one?)[/QUOTE]

Looks like most Container Terminals are getting ready to offer VGM certification, if not before the deadline, then soon after: http://www.joc.com/port-news/terminal-operators/hutchison-port-holdings/hph-weigh-boxes-most-its-terminals_20160513.html
Left to be seen is how strict the various Container Lines will enforce the rules.

Looks like some shippers will sabotage attempt at enforcing any “UN” regulation by ports and/or Container lines: http://www.seanews.com.tr/news/160936/Getting-tough-over-weight-at-the-gate-may-divert-cargo-says-exporter.html

That this has to do with safety of seafarers doesn’t matter, only that it is going to cost them a few $$.
Ohh, and the UN, isn’t that those guys with their black helicopters coming to take away our guns??

From our cold dead hands!

Maybe the Container Lines will get tough on compliance with VGM certification: https://www.ajot.com/news/cma-cgm-communication-on-vgm-of-packed-containers-to-be-compulsory-july-1-2

Other Lines are gearing up for the implementation on 1st July: https://www.ajot.com/news/hamburg-sued-to-adopt-inttra-evgm-service-to-facilitate-compliance-with-con

Likewise Container Terminals are getting ready: https://www.ajot.com/news/ocema-and-six-east-gulf-coast-ports-to-develop-common-terminal-weighing-app

Maybe STIHL Inc. will have to send their export items by air from now on?? (Unless they comply with the “UN” requirements, that is)

PS> I believe Airlines are requiring even stricter weight control.

Not like a lot of US container shipping companies will be affected. . . . .

IMO offer up a 3 month grace period. Not surprised…

http://www.lloydsloadinglist.com/freight-directory/news/IMO-softens-Solas-enforcement-with-3-month-grace-period/66491.htm#.V0RGII-cGUk

[QUOTE=cmakin;184885]Not like a lot of US container shipping companies will be affected. . . . .[/QUOTE]

I wonder why you say that??

[QUOTE=ombugge;184897]I wonder why you say that??[/QUOTE]

Because there are not a lot of US Flag container shipping companies. I probably worded that wrong. . .

[QUOTE=cmakin;184919]Because there are not a lot of US Flag container shipping companies. I probably worded that wrong. . .[/QUOTE]

No you worded it perfectly clearly and I did understand what you meant. Just another attempt at some humor.

The news articles are starting to roll in. 07/01/2016 is just around the corner. It’s crunch time.

SOLAS: Saves Lives? Causes Ulcers?

http://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/solas-saves-lives-causes-ulcers-25518/

[QUOTE=ombugge;180759]A little OT here, but Singapore is also the only nation accounting for the CO2 emission from power stations supplying the power to electric cars: http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/un-body-on-tesla/2589878.html

FYI all power stations in Singapore are powered by natural gas, not coal. If the same standard was applied in the US, Tesla and others el-cars producers would be out of business. (Unless it is only a status symbol to own one?)

PS> Not sure if this is an accurate report, or just hog wash.[/QUOTE]

Just curious why you think they would go out of business? Are you saying there would be some regulatory action? Or that people wouldn’t buy them because they wouldn’t think Teslas are green?

[QUOTE=ombugge;180759]FYI all power stations in Singapore are powered by natural gas, not coal.[/QUOTE]

FYI, that is not true.

Coal consumption for electrical power production has been increasing steadily over the past 5 or 6 years.

Give them credit for converting the great majority of plants to NG but it is not hard to do since most facilities are very small by American standards and are mostly new GT units. Let’s not forget the country is ideally situated for NG imports and short range domestic distribution so be careful you don’t hurt your elbow by patting them on the back so much.

[QUOTE=Steamer;185728]FYI, that is not true.

Coal consumption for electrical power production has been increasing steadily over the past 5 or 6 years.

https://www.ema.gov.sg/cmsmedia/Publications_and_Statistics/Publications/SES2015_Final_website_2mb.pdf

Give them credit for converting the great majority of plants to NG but it is not hard to do since most facilities are very small by American standards and are mostly new GT units. Let’s not forget the country is ideally situated for NG imports and short range domestic distribution so be careful you don’t hurt your elbow by patting them on the back so much.[/QUOTE]

Electricity generation increased by 2.8% to 49 TWh in 2014. Natural gas accounted
for 95% of electricity generated, up from 92% in 2013. The six main power
producers in Singapore accounted for 91% of total electricity generated, with
the remaining 9% attributed to autoproducers and waste-to-energy companies.

I don’t see any coal being used. There are some wood chips or peat being mixed in for efficient burning of waste, but no coal that I can find. The increase in “Other” as fuel source is from more of the waste being used for power generation, rather than just burnt to reduce the land fill dumping.

[QUOTE=ombugge;185751]I don’t see any coal being used. There are some wood chips or peat being mixed in for efficient burning of waste, but no coal that I can find. [/QUOTE]

Page 25, Table 2.1 Coal and Peat. KTOE (thousand tons of oil energy equivalent) produced by burning coal* in 2013 1[B]34.5[/B] , in 2014 [B]229.3[/B]

  • Peat may be Singapore’s euphemism for a briquetted form of brown coal or lignite mixed with wood wastes.

[QUOTE=Steamer;185752]Page 25, Table 2.1 Coal and Peat. KTOE (thousand tons of oil energy equivalent) produced by burning coal* in 2013 134.5 , in 2014 229.3

  • Peat may be Singapore’s euphemism for a briquetted form of brown coal or lignite mixed with wood wastes.[/QUOTE]

PEAT: a brown material consisting of partly decomposed vegetable matter forming a deposit on acidic, boggy, ground, which is dried for use in gardening and as fuel.
“mulch plants with leaf mould or peat”
a cut piece of peat.
plural noun: peats
“he reached forward to add a couple of peats to the fire”

Minuscule amounts of peat used in power generation

PS> I prefer it in Single Malt Whiskey though

Less than 2 weeks to go and there are no universal understanding or agreement on how the VGM rules are to be implemented: http://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/shipping-regulator-warns-ocean-lines-on-container-weights/
Threatening to ban Shipping Lines if they don’t accept containers without VGM is not going to cut it (I hope).
Shippers may find that they are the ones to be banned if they don’t comply.

It is not just Shippers and smaller Terminals that has problems. Even giant Maersk Line see problems with implementation for at least six months: http://www.joc.com/regulation-policy/transportation-regulations/international-transportation-regulations/maersk-sees-‘bumpy’-six-months-solas_20160616.html

There is even a weekly Newsletter dealing with nothing else: http://www.joc.com/regulation-policy/transportation-regulations/international-transportation-regulations/maersk-sees-‘bumpy’-six-months-solas_20160616.html

And a SOLAS Update site dedicated to VGM: http://solasupdates.com/news-feed/

It is hotting up. WATCH THIS SPACE

Latest instruction to US Shippers from Maersk Line: https://www.ajot.com/news/maersk-line-information-on-vgm-submission-in-the-united-states
Will be interesting to see how this is going to pan out around the world. One thing is containers being delivered by rail or road directly at the larger terminals, but what about containers being transshipped by feeders/barges from smaller ports?

Will VGM be required to be declared before loading at the small ports, where they may be loaded by mobile cranes, or ship’s own gear outside any actual Terminal?

Will the cranes or straddlers used to handle the containers on arrival at the large terminals be equipped with equipped with calibrated weight recording facilities? If so, will this be accepted by the Shipping Lines?

Still a lot of questions, one day before the new SOLAS Rules come into force.

Rise and shine shipmates. The SOLAS VGM day has come.