Verified Gross Mass

Meet the obligatory requirements to verify the gross mass of your cargo containers before loading on a vessel.

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.

How VGM can impact you

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.

Maersk Verified Gross Mass

Benefits for you

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

Clock pictogram
Save time
Reduce the need for multiple stopovers with third party vendor
Reduce errors
Reduce errors
No manual transmission of weight data
Fast process
Faster processing
Shipment weight information is instantly uploaded
Secure money
Save money
Reduce penalties and delays due to inaccurate weighing

Frequently asked questions

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.

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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