Ocean Regulatory Services

FMC Compliance Software and Compliance with the SOLAS Container Weight Verification Requirements

Descartes SOLAS Container Weight Verification Requirements

Keeping pace with changing mandates for global exporters can be challenging. With the SOLAS Container Weight Verification Requirement, a new message, called VERMAS, needs to be transmitted to ensure compliance with Verified Gross Mass standard. As a leader in the field of regulatory compliance, Descartes has engineered a hands-free method for multiple parties involved in the movement of ocean freight can better communicate and ensure a seamless, timely VGM submission.

Click here to learn more about Descartes Verified Gross Mass™ (Descartes VGM™) solution.

Descartes FMC Compliance Solutions:

Descartes assists ocean carriers and intermediaries in meeting requirements across a variety of compliance initiatives including the Federal Maritime Commission’s (FMC) Shipping Act. The FMC licenses U.S. based and international Ocean Transportation Intermediaries (OTIs), requires bonds of both U.S. and foreign based OTIs, as well as, proper tariff publication by U.S. and foreign based ocean common carriers. It regulates rates, charges, classifications, rules and regulations contained in tariffs of U.S. based carriers and those controlled by foreign governments and operating in U.S. trade lanes. The agency also reviews tariff publications under the access and accuracy standards of the Shipping Act, assures proper application of rates, charges and rules as published in tariffs and service contracts of ocean common carriers.

Vessel Operating Common Carrier (VOCC) – U.S. based

• FMC registration to obtain a unique FMC Organization number
• File on behalf of the VOCC the electronic Form 1 (FMC-1)
• Publish a Common Carrier Tariff
• Maintain the tariff to provide day to day tariff publishing and hosting

Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier (NVOCC) – U.S. based

• OTI licensing
• NVOCC bond, $75,000 limit, $10,000 additional for each U.S. branch office and optional $21,000 China rider
• File on behalf of the NVOCC the electronic Form 1, (FMC-1)
• Publish a Common Carrier Tariff unless qualified for exemption under the FMC April 2011 ruling
• Publish an Essential Terms Tariff for NVOCC Service Arrangements (NSA)
• Maintain one or multiple tariffs providing day to day tariff publishing and hosting
• Maintain 5-year record retention for Negotiated Rate Arrangement (NRA) related documents

Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier (NVOCC) – Foreign based

• FMC registration to obtain a unique FMC Organization number
• NVOCC bond, $150,000 limit
• File on behalf of the NVOCC their electronic Form 1, (FMC-1)
• Publish a Common Carrier Tariff if required unless qualified for exemption under the FMC April 2011 ruling
• Maintain one or multiple tariffs providing day to day tariff publishing and hosting
• Maintain 5-year record retention for Negotiated Rate Arrangement (NRA) related documents

Ocean Freight Forwarder (OFF) – U.S. based

• FMC licensing
• OFF bond, $50,000 limit, $10,000 additional for each US branch office