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There has been excellent take-up of Fremantle Ports' first public mobile app which was introduced in 2015 to help transport operators comply with new Chain of Responsibility legislation.
Since the launch in 2015, over 300 downloads within the transport industry have been registered.
The app provides valuable indicative actions for transport operators and their drivers as part of the 'reasonable steps' required in relation to the CoR measures.
It also provides detail on what drivers can do if they are transporting a heavy load.
It includes handy information on the location of key facilities at the port and how to use them, for example, the truck marshalling area, public weighbridge and Control Areas.
Control Areas are locations that a driver transporting a suspected overweight container can access after leaving a terminal, without fear of infringement. Within a Control Area, they can have the container checked and, if necessary, steps can be taken to allow the container to be transported beyond the port precinct.
The original version of the app dealt purely with import containers.
Last year, it was updated to take in the export side of the supply chain and renamed the CoR/SOLAS app.
One of the key reasons for the enhancement was to assist operators and drivers in their efforts to meet the new Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Verified Gross Mass (VGM) weighing requirements for export containers.
The International Maritime Organisation amended the SOLAS Convention so that from 1 July 2016 packed containers loaded onto a container ship must have a verified weight.
Users of the app now have ready access to the changes that have occurred in relation to the requirement for container weight verification and are provided with some guidance on actions required in particular situations.
Transport operators can now also obtain the latest port maps as well as North Quay Control Area contact and operational details and the opportunity to re-familiarise with the CoR and SOLAS VGM requirements.
Representatives of Fremantle Ports' Logistics team are available to come to worksites to take employees through the app, and assist with loading it onto drivers' smart devices.
They are also able to explain options available in relation to CoR and SOLAS VGM requirements.
Industry feedback indicates that previous such sessions conducted by Fremantle Ports personnel have been helpful.