VGM INFORMATION
Effective July 1st 2016 weight of containers needs to be verified
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) adopted amendments to the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Convention (PDF file on worldshipping.org) that requires packed containers’ gross mass to be verified prior to stowage aboard ship.
As from July 1st 2016 this regulation, effective as global law, prohibits loading of a packed container in absence of the verified gross mass (VGM).
This applies to all packed containers which are to be loaded on to a vessel under the SOLAS regime in international maritime traffic.
For access to additional information please see our quick links on the right-hand side of this page.
VGM – Shipper
Which VGM-related information is vital for shippers? Find out more.
VGM – Shipper
VGM – Terminal
What is the role of terminal operators and which EDI messages are recommended for VGM? Find out more.
VGM – Terminal
Verified Gross Mass (VGM) of all containers to be supplied by the shippers
To assist all shippers in fulfilling the mandatory Verified Gross Mass (VGM) requirements from July 1, 2016, Freight And Metro Logistics will soon offer system enhancements and services. These will ensure an easy, seamless and successful interaction once a shipper has set up internal procedures to provide the required information. For your preparation you can find the rules and recommendations on VGM here:
Quick overview
- In our VGM Infographic (PDF) you may find the process overview at a glance.
Obtain the VGM
Methods by which the shipper may obtain the Verified Gross Mass of a packed container:
- Method 1: Upon completion of packing and sealing a container and using calibrated and certified equipment, the shipper may weigh the packed container. Method 1 is appropriate to use for any packed container and any kind of goods.
- Method 2: The shipper may weigh all packages and cargo items, including the mass of pallets, dunnage and other packing and securing material to be packed in the container, and add the tare mass of the container to the sum of the single masses of the container’s contents. Method 2 is inappropriate and impractical for certain types of cargo items – e.g. scrap metal, unbagged grain and other cargo in bulk – for such cargoes, Method 1 must be used.
Visit 4.1.1 / 4.1.2 in the PDF file from worldshipping.org for more information.
How to get the container tare weight?
- Note the tare weight written on the containers’s door.
- Visit “Container Tracking” in our Online Business and enter the container number (available as of May, 4)
- Query the unit’s tare weight from Freight And Metro Logistics by using our “GetInfo tool” mailing service.
Country-specific information
- Here you get country-specific regulations that may be applicable to your business (i.e. certifications, archiving etc).
VGM submission
- Supply the VGM via the Hapag-Lloyd webpage (as of mid June), or set up an EDI connection for the VERMAS message, or make use of a portal.
Send the VGM in a timely manner
- Send the data as soon as your container is packed and sealed. Comply with the local VGM cut-off date. The VGM cut-off date will be visible on Freight And Metro Logistics’s web schedule and on the booking confirmation you receive from Prime Metro Delivery.
Define and document your procedure:
Taking into account the following:
- Nature of the cargo and the stowage and dunnage materials in the choice of the method, and how the VGM will be determined.
- Focus on a procedure where you can “verify the gross mass” of the container as soon as it is packed and sealed. Steps and time as well as where and by whom data is inserted in your process to be realistic.
- Agreement with your team members on how the steps will be carried out.
- Choosing the channel for submission of your VGM.
Forgot to send the VGM?
- In case we do not find a VGM, we will remind you to send the VGM in time and alert you right before the VGM cut-off.