Bangladesh's maritime regulator, the Department of Shipping (DoS), has revoked the VGM (Verified of Gross Mass) licence of eight large shippers after finding discrepancies in packing cargo in containers for exporting.

These shippers are VGM licensees under method-2 and send their containers directly to the port yards after weighing cargoes at their own establishments, reports Jacksonville's Container News.

The regulator found a violation of its guidelines and requirement of SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea) convention in packing cargoes in the containers.

"Due to complete violation of the requirements of SOLAS convention and DoS guidelines regarding VGM of packed container for shipping cargo, your permission to carry out the VGM using Method-2 is hereby cancelled," the DoS said in a letter to the eight companies.

The companies whose VGM licence is revoked are Qualitex Industries Ltd, Morden Towels Ltd, Premier 1888 Ltd, Crown Mills Ltd, Mitali Textile Industries Ltd, Zaber & Zubair Fabrics Ltd, Noman Terry Towel Mills Ltd, and Mamanu Polyester Industrials Ltd.

The shipping department in a notice to the people concerned, including the ports, main line operators and shipping agents, not to allow any container VGM certified by these cancelled organisations.

Earlier last month, the department also cancelled the VGM licence of three container depots, but later restored, after they made an appeal and submitted required documents seeking license renewal.