As the July 1, 2016, effective date for the SOLAS Regulation VI/2 amendments quickly approaches, unanswered questions and difficulties complying with varied international and domestic implementations loom large. In an effort to provide guidance to the industry, the U.S. Coast Guard recently issued a Marine Safety Information Bulletin, dated April 28, 2016 (MSIB Number 009/16), declaring that existing U.S. laws and regulations for providing verified container weights are “equivalent” to the requirements under SOLAS Regulation VI/2.

Although the MSIB provided much needed guidance, the industry is still struggling to establish procedures that adequately address the Regulation VI/2 amendments, taking into account the unique characteristics of various operations and ports. The key to a successful outcome is for stakeholders to continue to work together to establish practical procedures consistent with the Regulation VI/2 amendments and U.S. Coast Guard guidance.