What is VGM or Verified Gross Mass in Shipping

Today, STU Supply Chain will take you to know about Verified Gross Mass (VGM). What is VGM? Overweight containers will bring security risks to the safety of ships. What are the regulations of VGM?


What is VGM?

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) announced that it will implement the relevant requirements of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS Convention) on Verified Gross Mass (VGM), which requires that from July 1, 2016, unless the The shipper provides the ocean carrier and/or terminal representative with the container weight, otherwise the container is no longer allowed to be loaded. Its purpose is to verify the requirements of the gross weight of the container, which is a commitment to safety. Misreporting of gross container mass poses risks to domestic and foreign personnel, inland and sea cargo, and equipment and can lead to accidents, and the Verified Gross Mass (VGM) regulations are designed to reduce potential risks.




The VGM regulations clearly state:

A. The shipper is responsible for providing the container weight


B. There are two approved weighing methods to determine container weight


C. Terminal operators are obliged to ensure that containers with verified weight can be boarded


It can be seen that this regulation plays a vital role in improving maritime safety and ensuring that goods, containers and all aspects involved in container transportation throughout the supply chain are less risky.


According to the VGM, it is the shipper's responsibility to provide the ocean carrier or terminal representative with the checked gross weight of each container loaded before the vessel is loaded. But who are the shippers named in the new rules? The shipper should be a legal entity.


1. Refers to the shipper on the sea bill of lading or sea waybill and related shipping documents


2. Refers to the party or representative who signed the contract of carriage with the shipping company. Therefore, whether on behalf of a third party or otherwise, the shipper will be responsible for providing the weight check of the loaded container, so it is necessary to understand the new regulations.


3. Regardless of whether such documents have been uploaded through the company's official website or EDI system, the shipper needs to provide the container's cargo weight verification in the shipping instructions.


4. Shippers need to plan VGM into the shipment cycle


5. Shippers need to establish a process for integrating weighing services between each link of the supply chain (forwarders, truckers, terminals and shipping lines).


6. Since the shipper is legally responsible for providing VGM, the potential cost of being responsible for this provision needs to be calculated.


7. Shippers need to be aware of local regulations and related penalties that may be involved.


8. If the shipper fails to provide the VGM information to the carrier and the terminal representative on time, the carrier and the terminal representative have the right to refuse the shipment.


Due to the implementation of VGM regulations, it is the terminal's responsibility to ensure that complete VGM information for each booking is available before finalizing the shipment schedule.


The terminal will receive the VGM information sent by the shipper or ocean carrier, so it needs to have the facility to receive EDI or other system equipment to ensure that the information can enter the system in a timely manner. If the VGM information is submitted under port supervision, the terminal needs to send the information to the carrier.


In very rare instances, a terminal may weigh a container for which VGM information has been submitted. If there is any difference between the two, the value selected by the dock will be the final result.


Overweight containers will bring great hidden dangers to the safety of ships. STU Supply Chain once again used a question and answer method to sort out the relevant regulations of VGM for everyone to remember.


1. Who is responsible for submitting VGM information?

The "shipper" on the ocean bill of lading is the party responsible for supplying VGM to the carrier. Each container needs to submit VGM by the VGM deadline in order to be loaded onto the ship. The VGM cannot be submitted before the VGM deadline, and the container cannot be loaded onto the ship.


2. Will VGM be displayed on the bill of lading?

Won't


3. Does VGM have requirements for bulk cargo?

Won't


4. The origin of VGM?

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) aims to increase maritime safety and reduce the transport risks caused by overweight containers. Applicable to the scope of global maritime transportation. Shipping accident due to overweight!


5. VGM Effective Date

It came into effect on July 1, 2016.


6. What is the export cargo container weight?

"Export cargo container weight" = Gross weight + cargo outer packaging weight (including pallets, cartons, reinforcement materials, etc.) + empty container weight (tare weight marked on the box) The export cargo container weight is the weight of the cargo, the outer packaging of the cargo The sum of the weight (including pallets, cartons, reinforcement materials, etc.) and the empty weight of the container (tare weight marked on the box).


7. Who submits VGM information?

STEP1: The shipper is responsible for providing the actual weight of the goods to the booking agent;

STEP2: The booking agent is responsible for sending the ship owner or the ship owner's agent in the form of EDI;

STEP3: Send it to the port area and the ship by the ship owner or the ship's agent.

Shipper → Shipper Booking Agent (Freight Forwarder) → Ship Owner or Shipping Agency → Port Area and Ship.


8. Who will verify the authenticity of VGM data?

A. The shipper himself checks;

B. The shipowner does not verify the accuracy of the VGM data;

C. The maritime department has the right to question the data.


9. Is there a deadline for VGM?

Shipping companies have deadlines, which are set by each shipping company.


10. Risk of not submitting VGM or submitting VGM late?

NO VGM, NO LOAD!


11. What should I do if the submitted VGM data needs to be changed?

A. Before the deadline, the shipping company allows modification;

B. After the deadline, modification is allowed, but the shipping company needs to charge;

C. In principle, no changes will be accepted 6 hours before the berthing of the ship. (Specifically, it is still in accordance with the regulations of the shipping company, and the agents have to keep their eyes open!)


12. VGM data not submitted, is there a remedy?

For export cargo containers without VGM information, the consignor can choose to apply for weighing to the port area when entering the port, and the port area will issue a VGM report and charge a certain fee. (Each freight forwarder and wharf have regulations, which must be clarified in advance)


From STU Supply Chain: What is VGM or Verified Gross Mass in Shipping

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