DP WORLD SOUTHAMPTON CONTAINER WEIGHING
The ideal first or last port of call for container ships serving Northern Europe, our strategic location on the UK’s south coast means minimal deviation from the main shipping lanes.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
We provide shippers with a seamless service when exporting goods through our UK container terminals.
The container weighing process
- You can either Instruct DP World to weigh your container for you at the terminal.
-
OR Provide DP World with a Verified Gross Mass (VGM) according to the issued certificate.
CNS Compass is the port community system for DP World London Gateway. Once you are registered with CNS Compass, you will find helpful documents, guides and video tutorials to explain how you can either instruct DP World to weigh your container or provide DP World with a VGM.
1. Before your container arrives
Through the Port Community System CNS Compass, the shipping line will provide our terminals with an electronic pre-notification of each laden export container, indicating amongst others the container number, port of discharge and export voyage.
Your shipping line or your nominated agent must declare via CNS Compass whether we will receive a VGM from the shipper or that the terminal is requested to determine the VGM of the container on arrival (Terminal determined VGM or TVGM).
If you are a CNS Compass user, and or the nominated agent,
click-here for more detailed information on logging your VGM requirements.
2. When your container arrives
We provide a seamless service and container weighing solutions are fully integrated. All hauliers should proceed to the terminal as normal. Your truck and box will be processed as per standard operational procedures.
3. Weighing the container
We will determine the VGM by using load cells on our straddle carriers, in accordance with the requirements of the Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA).
4. VGM Process
- If the terminal is instructed to determine the verified gross mass (VGM) of the containers, this weight and our signature are communicated electronically to the shipping lines through CNS Compass, shortly after arrival of the container at the terminals.
- If it is indicated that the shipper will provide the VGM and this information is not available on arrival of the container at the terminals, we will await for this information to be provided up to maximum 24 hours before berthing of the export vessel.
- If the shipper has not provided the VGM 24 hours before the expected arrival of the vessel the terminal determined VGM will be used to plan the vessel.
- To comply with the SOLAS regulations and the enforcement tolerance threshold of the MCA, the terminal determined VGM will also be used if there is a discrepancy of more than 900 kg or 5% (whichever is larger) with the VGM provided by the shipper.
Container Weighing FAQs
What do I do about un-containerised or oversized cargo or direct deliveries?
Uncontainerised cargo
DP World Southampton will not be providing the VGM for un-containerised cargo which should be provided with an accurate gross weight in order for a lifting plan to be produced.
Out-of-gauge/oversized cargo
DP World Southampton can provide VGM for out-of-gauge cargo loaded on ISO flat-racks using our portable weighing beams, but it is mandatory to check in advance with our Cargo department if this facility is required, advising out of gauge dimensions and gross weight, and to ensure current availability of the weigh beams.
Direct deliveries
DP World Southampton will not be providing the VGM for direct deliveries to vessel as they will be lifted from truck direct to vessel by quay crane, such cargo should be weighed elsewhere. Only Option 1 should be selected and will apply to all direct deliveries.
I already have a VGM
If the VGM of a container has to be obtained from the shipping line or shipper, it helps the efficiency of the terminal if this information is available at or before the time of in-gate. We will however allow provision of the VGM after arrival at the terminal, up to 24 hours before expected arrival of the vessel. Later receipt of the VGM will mean additional administration for the terminal and the shipping line will lack an accurate weight overview of its booking situation.
Refer to our current tariff for the additional charge applicable if no VGM has been received 24 hours before the expected arrival of the vessel.
The charge covers:
- Registration with CNS Compass and access to the new VGM functionality of CNS Compass. You can register with CNS Compass here https://www.cnsonline.co.uk/home/#/
- Option to ‘claim’ your export containers and provide your VGM for each container direct to the terminal, if not done through the shipping line.
- Processing of all VGM data to the relevant parties including the shipping line
- Changes to our IT systems to prevent containers without VGM to be loaded on board.
- Regular checks and VGM reporting as requested by the MCA
- Even if the terminal did not provide a direct weighing service for shippers, we have to invest to ensure compliance with the new SOLAS regulations and this charge is intended to recover this investment and the recurring costs
You have not informed us that you require a VGM 24 hours before the vessel arrival
If containers are still without VGM 24 hours before the vessel arrival, the TVGM will be assigned to those containers. This means that latest 24 hours before arrival, the shipping lines will have an accurate overview of all individual weights of the containers which have arrived at the terminal to safely plan the stability of the vessels.
You require a VGM for containers arriving after the 24 hour vessel arrival cut-off
Please refer to our tariff VGM after gate to see the additional costs that will be charged.
How will you weigh the containers? Will this be certificated?
DP World Southampton has equipped its straddle carrier fleet with specialist weighing equipment, this is certified to meet the required standards with a suitable maintenance programme to ensure we are fully compliant.
When will this take place and how long will it take?
The weighing process is integrated within our normal operations and will not impact on our road/rail operations at either DP World London Gateway or DP World Southampton.
What documentation will be required to receive containers at the port? Do you know how you want the weights communicated to you if containers are weighed externally?
A shipper, freight-forwarder, agent or shipping line will be given access to our Community System (shared by DP World London Gateway and DP World Southampton), which provides the user with a solution to enter the information electronically. We will not be able to accept paper certificates at our gates. Please liaise with your shipping line or forwarder to determine what situation will apply to you. (See What next?)
Will you be changing any of your operational procedures or cut off times to allow for the additional weighing and to accommodate SOLAS?
No. The container weighing solution is fully integrated with normal operational procedures. All containers are weighed on arrival at the terminals so additional weighing should not be deemed necessary. Unless the cargo is oversized, see question 1 above.
TALK TO AN EXPERT
Get tailored solutions that fit your business needs.
Talk to a logistics expert today.