OREANDA-NEWS. May 18, 2016. Kewill, a leading provider of innovative software for supply chain execution, is pleased to announce it has teamed with INTTRA, the world's ocean shipping electronic marketplace, to deliver the first freight forwarding software capable of helping shippers and forwarders comply with the new SOLAS Container Weight Verification requirement set to take effect on July 1.

By combining Kewill Global Forwarding and INTTRA's eVGM Solution, shippers and forwarders will now be able to easily validate the verified gross mass [VGM] of their containers and transmit that data electronically to their carriers.

"Thanks to our partnership with INTTRA, customers who use Kewill Global Forwarding can easily comply with the new SOLAS regulations," said Jim Hoefflin, Kewill president and chief operating officer. "The tight integration between our products will allow companies to simplify and streamline their ocean shipments, which will lower operational costs and guarantee that their cargo gets to where it needs to go on time."

"The requirements for full-service freight forwarding software in the ocean shipping industry are expanding to include submitting VGMs, and Kewill is leading the way," said Inna Kuznetsova, INTTRA's president and chief operating officer. "Our integrated INTTRA eVGM solution will provide Kewill customers with the industry's most flexible, efficient and comprehensive VGM compliance service, which will create minimum disruption to existing business processes."

The International Maritime Organization's new container weight regulations are meant to help vessel operators and terminals ensure ships are properly balanced in weight. The regulations require all containers to be weighed and verified before being loaded onto a vessel. The Ocean Carrier Equipment Management Association [OCEMA], an association of 18 major carriers, has reaffirmed the IMO rule.

"If you don't have a VGM action plan, start now. The clock is ticking," advises American Shipper in a new survey on VGM preparedness that was co-sponsored by Kewill and INTTRA. "Lean on technology, whether via the booking portals or systems offered by logistics providers, to help the submission process."

Coupled with INTTRA's eVGM solution, Kewill Global Forwarding can help companies:

·     Submit and access SOLAS-compliant VGM measurements required by carriers under the new regulations.

·     Lower costs by automating processes and reporting/documentation capabilities. Shipments can be managed across any mode on a local, national or global scale.

·     Obtain end-to-end visibility across all shipments for customers and connect with global carriers and customs authorities for full collaboration.

·     Stay up-to-date on changing customs and compliance regulations around the world.

For more information on Kewill's freight forwarding solutions, contact a Kewill representative or visit: http://www.kewill.com/who-we-help/freight-forwarders/.

About INTTRA

INTTRA is the world's ocean shipping electronic marketplace, information and service provider. INTTRA's innovative transaction and information products, combined with the scale of our network, empower our customers to trade with multiple parties and leverage ocean industry information to improve their business. We work with over 50 leading carriers and NVOCCs, over 110,000 freight forwarders and shippers, and more than 100 software alliance partners to streamline and standardize the shipping processes. Over 650,000 container orders are initiated on the INTTRA platform each week, representing 24 percent of global ocean container trade.

About Kewill

A worldwide leader in logistics software, Kewill empowers organizations to efficiently MOVE goods and information across the global supply chain.

Kewill delivers quantifiable value to our customers by forging long-term partnerships that enable them to minimize risk, grow their business and respond to changing market dynamics. The Kewill MOVE® platform helps companies collaborate, reduce costs, manage volatility and automate processes across the entire supply chain - from transportation and warehousing to compliance and visibility.

Kewill, a Francisco Partners portfolio company, supports supply chain execution activities for 7,500 companies in more than 100 countries. To learn more about the company, visit kewill.com, follow us on Twitter @Kewill_Ltd or check our LinkedIn page for company updates.