Verified Gross Mass

What is Verified Gross Mass (VGM)?

Effective from 1st July 2016, with the SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea) amendment covering container weighing regulations, a packed container will no longer be allowed to be loaded on board vessels unless its Verified Gross Mass (VGM) has been provided by the shipper to the ocean carriers and/or port terminal representatives prior to the load list cut-off date.

The new regulation was adopted by the IMO (International Maritime Organization) to increase maritime safety and reduce the dangers to cargo, containers, and all those involved in container transport throughout the supply chain.

Calculating Verified Gross Mass

The Verified Gross Mass (VGM) is the weight of the cargo including dunnage and bracing plus the tare weight of the container carrying this cargo. SOLAS requires the shipper to provide VGM in a “shipping document,” either as part of the shipping instruction or in a separate communication, before vessel loading.

Methods of verifying gross mass

The shipper is obliged to verify the gross mass of the containers carrying their cargo by either of two permissible weighing methods before these containers can be loaded on a vessel.

Method 1

Requires weighing the container after it has been packed.

Method 2

Requires weighing all the cargo and contents of the container and adding those weights to the container’s tare weight as indicated on the door end of the container.

This method will not be practical for shippers of bulk commodities like scrap, grain, etc., and it will be up to local authorities to grant permission to use this method.

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How VGM can impact you

With the new regulation, the shipper will be the responsible party for providing the verified gross mass of every container to the ocean carrier and the terminal representative before vessel loading. But who is the shipper in the context of this new regulation? The shipper is the legal entity;

Named on the ocean bill of lading or sea way bill or equivalent multimodal transport document as shipper.
With whom (or in whose name or on whose behalf) a contract of carriage has been concluded with a shipping company.

Thus, irrespective if delegated to a 3rd party or similar, the shipper will always be the responsible party for providing VGM information so they should be aware of the impact of this new procedure;

Shipper will need to provide VGM information of their containers on shipping instructions no matter whether they send this documentation manually via maersk.com, API or via EDI.
Shipper will need to plan for VGM in the shipment cycle.
They need to establish a process between supply chain members (forwarders, truckers, terminals and shipping line) integrating weighing service.
Shippers need to calculate the potential cost impact for arranging this service as they are legally responsible to obtain and provide VGM.
They need to be aware of possible local legislation regarding government imposed penalties/fines.
If a shipper does not comply and provide the VGM information in time the carrier and the terminal representative will not load the containers on the vessel.
Maersk will assess impact of VGM regulations issued by governments. Our aim is to ensure an easy submission of VGM for our customers and easy information
exchange with terminals.

Shippers will need to share VGM information of their containers on shipping instructions, no matter whether they send this document manually, via maersk.com, API or via EDI.

The IMO regulation is clear that no container shall be loaded on a vessel unless a VGM is provided- with no exceptions. It is, therefore, the terminal operator’s obligation that a VGM exists before including containers in the final stowage plan. Maersk will ensure that the final load list only includes containers with a VGM.

Local and national legislation will dictate the consequences of loading a container without a VGM, and terminal operators naturally need to be aware of this.

Terminal operators will be receiving the VGM information either from the shipper or from the ocean carrier, and will need to have EDI or other processes in place to receive and process this information. If the VGM is obtained by weighing at the terminal operator’s premises, the terminal operator needs a process to send this VGM information back to the carrier. Maersk will be liaising with all terminal operators to ensure that a process is in place.

In rare cases, terminals may weigh a packed container for which a VGM has already been communicated. Where different, the VGM arrived at by the terminal will be used.

Other vendors that are not part of the SOLAS Amendment - providing services such as barge, rail, depot, trucking, etc. at origin – may be included in the delivery of information relevant for the SOLAS Amendment where this is practical.

Weighing and VGM Transmission Services by Maersk

Meet your one stop shop for accurate and worry-free VGM processing. Maersk now offers end to end VGM processing on your behalf with its Weighing and VGM Transmission Services. Rely on accuracy as we physically weigh your container and its cargo at designated locations. Post which, we instantly transmit your shipments weight information to port terminals. Get peace of mind in one, simple and easy service, currently available in the UK, Poland and Germany (only Bremerhaven Port), but soon to expand to more destinations across the globe.

You now have the option to book Weighing and VGM Transmission Services on the export shipment binder after logging into Maersk.com.

Go to Maersk portal How to book

Benefits for you

Allow us to take a load off your shoulders by trusting in our attention to detail and logistics process expertise.

Save time

Reduce the need for multiple stopovers with third party vendor

Reduce errors

No manual transmission of weight data

Faster processing

Shipment weight information is instantly uploaded

Save money

Reduce penalties and delays due to inaccurate weighing

Browse through some of our most raised questions on Verified Gross Mass. We hope they give you more clarity on how to book and submit VGM.

Leave the hassle of accurately weighing your cargo and sharing this data with port authorities to Maersk. Save time, reduce errors and keep your goods moving without delays with our Weighing and VGM Transmission Services. Here’s how to add this service to your booking.

The VGM (Verified Gross Mass) is the total weight of the container (cargo and tare weight). This information is usually submitted in the Shipping Instruction. However, if you need to submit the VGM separately, you can do so via the Shipment Binder.

Contact us if you have any questions

If the VGM information is not shared in time by the shipper, then the containers will not be loaded on board the vessel – with no exception.

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