Beginning July 1, 2016, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) implemented the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) regulation, requiring shippers to declare the Verified Gross Mass (VGM) of all loaded containers before export, either as part of the shipping instruction or in a separate communication, before vessel loading.
The regulation was adopted to improve maritime safety and reduce risks associated with ocean freight transport.
Verified Gross Mass (VGM) is the combined weight of the cargo including dunnage and bracing plus the tare weight of its container.
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. All weighing equipment and devices used must meet the applicable accuracy standards and requirements of the state in which the equipment is being used, per IMO Guidelines.
Weighing the container after the cargo has been packed. The shipper may weigh the packed container by using calibrated and certified equipment.
Weighing all the cargo and contents of the container and summing that weight with the container’s tare weight, indicated on the door end of the container.
Date: 27th January, 2021
Subject: VGM vs BL Container Gross Weight Mandatory Match
Thank you for your support to our company. For complying with SOLAS VGM regulation by IMO and also customs requirement of various countries such as China and Kenya, we would like to draw the attention of your esteemed company again the necessary matching between VGM vs BL Container Gross Weight. We are looking forward to your continuous cooperation and please contact our local Customer Service team if any assistance is needed.
For all locations
Customer Service Management
Emirates Shipping Line
Further to our advisory on 25th Feb, we would like to update you per below for your preparation before the effective of 1st July 2016.
(A) LATEST IMO NOTICE ON 23rd MAY – (attached) below is extracted for your easy reference.
Quote:
The Committee agreed that Administrations and port State control authorities should adopt a practical and pragmatic approach when verifying compliance with the requirements of SOLAS regulations VI/2.4 to VI/2.6, for a period of three months after 1 July 2016, with a view to:
1. Permitting packed containers that are loaded on a ship before 1 July 2016 and are transshipped on or after 1 July 2016 to be shipped to their final port of discharge without the VGM specified in SOLAS regulations VI/2.4 to VI/2.6; and
2.Providing flexibility to all the stakeholders in containerized transport to refine, if necessary, procedures for documenting, communicating and sharing VGM information.
Unquote:
(B) PRINCIPLES OF VGM
“NO VGM, NO LOADING” with effective 1st July 2016 at first loading port
(C) SHIPPERS’ RESPONSIBILITY
The shipper on Ocean Bill of Lading is responsible to provide valid VGM to ocean carrier and/or port terminal, for complying SOLAS regulations and local requirement of ocean carrier and port terminal.
VGM should be signed by either the shipper or a person duly authorized by the shipper.
(D) METHOD OF WEIGHING
Method No. 1:
Shipper may weigh the packed container by using calibrated and certified equipment. The scale, weighbridge, lifting equipment or other devices used to verify the gross mass of the container must meet the applicable accuracy standards and requirements of the State in which the equipment is being used, per IMO Guidelines.
Method No. 2:
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 content. Weighing equipment must meet the applicable accuracy standards and requirements of the State in which the equipment is being used, per IMO Guidelines.
(E) LOCAL REQUIREMENT
Various local authorities, ports and terminals are putting full effort to evaluate the appropriate procedures and time frame for VGM compliance. Our local offices are also closely liaising with these parties for the latest update to your good companies. Please coordinate with our local offices for any necessary support on VGM submission.
In order to address safety problems at sea and on shore from container shipments that have incorrect weight declaration, International Maritime Organization (IMO) adopted amendments to the Safety of Life at SEA (SOLAS) Convention as global law, Chapter VI Regulation 2 – Cargo information regarding mandatory Verified Gross Mass of container, together with associated guideline published as MSC.1/Circ. 1475 (IMO Guidelines).
With effective from 1st July 2016, IMO will enter into force of SOLAS requirement on the shipper of a packed container to verify and provide the container gross verified weight to the ocean carrier and port terminal representative prior to it being loaded onto a ship. “A packed container will not be allowed to be loaded on board vessels to which the SOLAS Convention applies unless the Verified Gross Mass (VGM) of the container has been provided to the ship’s master or his representative and to the terminal or its representative sufficiently in advance to allow for the edition of the loading plan.”
Responsibility for obtaining and documenting the Verified Gross Mass (VGM) of a packed container lies with the shipper. There are 2 major methods prescribed by SOLAS regulations.
Method No. 1:
Shipper may weigh the packed container by using calibrated and certified equipment. The scale, weighbridge, lifting equipment or other devices used to verify the gross mass of the container must meet the applicable accuracy standards and requirements of the State in which the equipment is being used, per IMO Guidelines.
Method No. 2:
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 content. Weighing equipment must meet the applicable accuracy standards and requirements of the State in which the equipment is being used, per IMO Guidelines.
We will keep you informed when more update is available.
For more detailed information, please visit below source material:
SOLAS regulations and IMO Guidelines regarding VGM of container carrying cargo
Guidelines for Improving Safety and Implementing the SOLAS Container Weight Verification Requirements
Many countries have published specific procedures for weighing containers and submitting VGM Those local procedures should be complied for the country of port of origin. In general, BL shippers may submit VGM to our local offices via email before the VGM eut off time
Many countries have published specific procedures for weighing containers and submitting VGM Those local procedures should be complied for the country of port of origin. In general, BL shippers may submit VGM to our local offices via email before the VGM cut off time Other EDI and E-commerce solutions are being developed now and will be ready soon.
In general, the VGM submission cut-off time should always be obse ved and late submissions will not be accepted. Boxes will not be loaded, and the shipper is to bear all related costs ESL does try to negotiate and liaise with our termin partners for flexibility on the VCM cut-off time, late submissions, and amendments, but we make no promises
IMO – Verification of the gross mass of a packed container
https://www.imo.org/en/OurWork/Safety/Cargoes/Containers/Pages/Verification-of-the-gross-mass.aspxIMO – Advice regarding verification of gross mass of packed containers
https://www.imo.org/en/MediaCentre/PressBriefings/Pages/14-VGM.aspxIMO – Advice to Administrations, Port State Control Authorities, Companies, Port Terminals and Masters regarding the SOLAS requirements for Verified Gross Mass of packed containers. (MSC.1/Circ.1548)
https://www7.emiratesline.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/msc-1-circ-1548-advice-regarding-the-solas-requirements-for-verified-gross-mass-of-packed-containers.pdfIMO – SOLAS container mass verification requirements
https://www.emiratesline.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Industry-Guidance-for-Shippers-and-Container-Stuffers.pdfIMO – GUIDELINES REGARDING THE VERIFIED GROSS MASS OF A CONTAINER CARRYING CARGO MSC.1/Circ.1475
https://www.emiratesline.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/GUIDELINES-REGARDING-THE-VERIFIED-GROSS-MASS.pdfWSC – The SOLAS Container Weight Verification Requirement
https://www.emiratesline.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/wsc_summarizes_the_basic_elements_of_the_solas_container_weight_verification_requirement.pdfWSC – Safe Transport of Containers by Sea Industry Guidance for Shippers and Container Stuffers
https://www.emiratesline.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Industry-Guidance-for-Shippers-and-Container-Stuffers.pdfWSC – Guidelines for Improving Safety and Implementing the SOLAS Container Weight Verification Requirements
https://www.emiratesline.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Guidelines-for-Improving-Safety-and-Implementing-the-SOLAS-Container-Weight-Verification-Requirements.pdfThe shipper named on the ocean bill of lading is responsible for providing the Carrier and the Terminal Operator with the VGM of a packed container. The VGM must be provided by the shipper for the vessel and terminal operators to arrange for safe vessel/terminal stowage plans. The carrier and the terminal operator must not load a packed container aboard vessel unless they have the Verified Gross Mass for that container.
Under the SOLAS Amendment, the carrier or terminal operator are not responsible for verifying the shipper’s weight verification.
In general, the VGM submission cut-off time should always be obse ved and late submissions will not be accepted. Boxes will not be loaded, and the shipper is to bear all related costs ESL does try to negotiate and liaise with our termin partners for flexibility on the VCM cut-off time, late submissions, and amendments, but we make no promises
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has amended the Safety of Life at Sea Convention (SOLAS) requiring all shippers to provide a Verified Gross Mass (VGM) for every packed shipping container as a condition for vessel loading.
This requirement will become legally effective on July 1, 2016.
There are 2 major methods prescribed by SOLAS regulations.
Method No. 1: Shipper may weigh the packed container by using calibrated and certified equipment.The scale, weighbridge, lifting equipment or other devices used to verify the gross mass of the container must meet the applicable accuracy standards and requirements of the State in which the equipment is being used, per IMO Guidelines.
Method No. 2: 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 content. Weighing equipment must meet the applicable accuracy standards and requirements of the State in which the equipment is being used, per IMO Guidelines.
Container Tare Weight can be found on the Weight Panel at Container Door-side.
Container Profile Checking is now available in our home page > SOLAS VGM for single and multiple search of Container Tare Weight.
All packed containers that are planned for loading to vessels have to be VGM certified using one of the two regulated methods for weighing per IMO SOLAS Amendment. Some countries have regulated local policies and procedures for VGM submission and control. Many countries have published specific procedures for weighing containers / submitting VGM and those local procedures should be complied for the country of port of origin.
It depends on the local procedures as agreed with terminals. Please refer to the Local Notice distributed by our Local office for VGM Amendment procedure and Amendment fee.Besides, the shipper is responsible for any associated risks and consequences on the VGM amendment.
Shippers may declare themselves or authorized a third-party and a proper written Authorization is required.
NO VGM, NO LOADING” – If no VGM has been provided, the container shall not be loaded on the vessel. All cost, risk, and liability thus incurred due to no VGM shall be borne by shipper.
Regulatory penalties will be defined by individual national legislations. Per ground rule of “No VGM, no Loading”, shipper is fully responsible for all regulated penalties, operational / administrative costs and any related liabilities due to incompliance of VGM regulation.
Tolerance of VGM is not mentioned in IMO regulation. Different tolerance level has been set up at individual countries or terminals. Please refer to local regulations for the actual control. In general, some countries have set the tolerance level at not exceeding ±5% or 1 ton (whichever is the smaller).
VGM submission should be taken at the First Port of Loading. VGM of transshipment units are also mandatory per IMO regulation and in general carriers will relay the VGM record to transshipment ports. Further weighing at the transshipment port facility is not required if VGM is confirmed at First Port of Loading.
Currently, SI weight is to be applied for BL and manifest unless any specific regulation by local customs. ESL as carrier is not responsible for reconciliation of VGM weight Vs SI weight. It is absolutely shipper’s obligation to provide accurate information to carriers.
No. IMO MSC notice is allowing 3-month time for flexibility on practical and pragmatic approach to verify VGM Compliance. Shipper’s VGM declaration is still a must and ESL will allow flexibility on the verification and procedures.
VGM is for the safety of operations and voyage at seas. Therefore, accurate VGM should be provided at Port of Loading before cut off. But if there are concrete reasons for amendment, ESL will consider exception but subject to approval by concerned parties, penalty and any administration costs.
