General & Marine, Surveyors and Assessors

10/06/2026

⚠️ 21 DAYS UNTIL NON-COMPLIANT METHOD 1 SHIPMENTS HIT PROBLEMS.

Three weeks sounds like time. In shipping, it isn’t. From 1 July 2026, Method 1 VGM declarations must be supported by a SAMSA-authorised weighing facility.

That means:
✔️ Approved processes
✔️ Verified equipment
✔️ Compliant documentation

Because once enforcement begins, containers don’t move based on “almost compliant”. They move on proof. ⚖️

Contact us now to get your Method 1 process aligned.
📞 WhatsApp line: +27 (0)83 625 8480
📩 [email protected]

05/06/2026

📢 New Marine Information Notice Released: MIN 04-26

SAMSA has published MIN 04-26: Accredited Training Institutions and Programmes in terms of the Merchant Shipping (Training, Certification and Safe Manning) Regulations.

The notice outlines accredited maritime training institutions and approved programmes relevant to the industry ⚓️ If you’re involved in maritime training, certification, crewing, vessel operations, or seafarer development, this is worth your attention.

🔗 Read the full notice here:
https://www.marinesurveyors.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/MIN-04-26.pdf

02/06/2026

⚠️ 28 DAYS UNTIL “WE DIDN’T KNOW” STOPS WORKING.

From 1 July 2026, Method 1 VGM declarations must come from a SAMSA-authorised weighing facility.

At that point, confusion won’t help. Old processes won’t help. And assumptions definitely won’t help. The industry is shifting from “business as usual” to verified compliance.

If your current weighing process can’t produce the required authorisation and documentation, you’re exposed to delays, rejected containers, and operational disruption.

The countdown has started. Get compliant before the deadline arrives:
📞 WhatsApp line: +27 (0)83 625 8480
📩 [email protected]

26/05/2026

From 1 July 2026, Method 1 VGM declarations must be done through a SAMSA-authorised weighing facility.

That might feel far off, but operationally, it isn’t.

Before then, you need to ensure:
• You’re working with an approved facility
• Your internal processes are aligned
• Your documentation can hold up under inspection

Leave it too late, and you won't be adjusting, you’ll be scrambling. And in this industry, scrambling leads to delays. Get ahead of it now, while there’s still room to move.

📩 We’re SAMSA-approved for Method 1. Let’s get you aligned.
📞 WhatsApp line: +27 (0)83 625 8480
📩 [email protected]

21/05/2026

A Lashing Certificate is the quietest document on board.

No one celebrates a Lashing Certificate. There’s no ribbon-cutting. No applause.

But it’s the reason cargo arrives exactly where it should, not somewhere unexpected.

As seasons turn and sea conditions shift, certified lashing ensures your shipment stays exactly where it belongs.

🚢📄 Secure it properly. Move it confidently.

Get certified with experts: https://lashingcertificate.co.za/

19/05/2026

🔍 What actually gets checked before a Method 1 facility is approved?

Under the new requirements, Method 1 VGM can only be carried out by a SAMSA Authorised Weighing Facility and that approval isn’t given lightly.

It comes down to three critical areas:
⚙️ Processes: How the full container is weighed, controlled, and verified
⚖️ Equipment: Whether weighing systems are accurate, calibrated, and reliable
📄 Documentation: Proof that every weighing can be traced and validated

Because with Method 1, you’re declaring the verified gross mass of a packed container and that declaration must stand up to scrutiny.

📩 We’re SAMSA-approved for Method 1. Get in touch via email or WhatsApp.
📞 WhatsApp line: +27 (0)83 625 8480
📩 [email protected]

13/05/2026

📢 MARINE INFORMATION NOTICE MIN 03-26

SAMSA has released the updated list of approved medical practitioners in terms of the Merchant Shipping (Training, Certification and Safe Manning) Regulations, 2021.

This means all seafarers must ensure their medical examinations are conducted by a SAMSA-approved practitioner as part of certification and compliance requirements. ⚓️

📄 The notice includes the full, official list of accredited medical practitioners valid from 10 April 2026 – 09 April 2027.

🔗 Read the full notice here:https://www.marinesurveyors.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/MIN-03-26.pdf

08/05/2026

⚖️ Not sure if you’re Method 1 or Method 2? You’re not alone.

Here’s the simplest way to understand it:
👉 Method 1: You weigh the entire packed container using equipment like a weighbridge or lifting gear.
👉 Method 2: You calculate the mass by adding up cargo + packaging + container tare weight.

So which one are you? If you’re physically weighing loaded containers before export, you’re Method 1. And from 1 July 2026, that means you must use a SAMSA-authorised weighing facility.

No grey areas. No assumptions. Just compliance.

📩 Not sure where you fall? Get in touch, we’ll help you figure it out.
📞 WhatsApp line: +27 (0)83 625 8480
📩 [email protected]

06/05/2026

⚠️ The July deadline is closer than you think.

New container weighing rules are putting pressure on shippers to get their VGM processes fully compliant, fast. And according to industry insights, many are still not ready.

Without a verified gross mass, containers won’t be loaded onto vessels, leading to delays, disruption, and unnecessary cost.

This isn’t just a regulation update, it’s an operational shift that requires strict Method 1 compliance.

📖 Read the full article here:
https://www.freightnews.co.za/article/new-container-weighing-rules-july-deadline-looms

Need support navigating the changes?
📩 Email: [email protected]
📞 Call: 061 152 8251

Exporters and logistics operators have limited time to prepare for new container weighing requirements, with the compliance deadline now just weeks…

05/05/2026

Charcoal’s purpose is to burn. Just not inside a shipping container 🔥

Charcoal Vanning is a controlled, compliance-driven process designed to prevent spontaneous combustion during maritime transport. Proper supervision of packing, stowage and securing isn’t optional, it’s critical.

May brings changing temperatures across global trade routes. That shift increases risk if charcoal isn’t managed correctly. We ensure your cargo is prepared to travel safely, not unpredictably.

👉 Secure compliant charcoal vanning here:
https://www.marinesurveyors.co.za/contact-us/

Remember that a Self-Heating Certificate is also required which can be issued by an approved laboratory.