HOUSTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The Port of Houston Authority supports a new requirement to verify the gross weight of a loaded container before it is accepted by an ocean carrier for transport.

The requirement, which goes into effect July 1, 2016, is an amendment approved by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) convention. The change mandates the declaration of a verified gross mass (VGM) before a container is allowed to be loaded onto a vessel.

Safety is of utmost importance at the Port of Houston Authority and we fully support the SOLAS convention. After the requirement goes into effect, The Port Authority will gather the VGM via Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) from the ocean carrier. Containers will be required to have a VGM on file prior to in-gate. The Port Authority will continue to work with various stakeholders and partners to ensure compliance and an uninterrupted flow of cargo.

The Port Authority will continue to monitor developments on the SOLAS requirements and will update stakeholders if any changes occur.

About the Port of Houston Authority

For more than 100 years, the Port of Houston Authority has owned or operated the public cargo-handling facilities of the Port of Houston – the nation’s largest port for foreign waterborne tonnage. The port is an economic engine for the Houston region, the state of Texas and the nation. It supports the creation of more than 1.175 million statewide jobs and more than 2.1 million jobs nationwide, and the generation of economic activity totaling more than $265 billion in Texas –16 percent of Texas’ total gross domestic product — and more than $617 billion in economic impact across the nation. For more information, visit the Port Authority website at: www.portofhouston.com.