No VGM, No Load

As stated in the IMO (International Maritime Organization) guideline, a container without Verified Gross Mass (VGM) will NOT be loaded on the vessel.

The IMO SOLAS (Safety Of Life At Sea) amendment on Container Weight Verification will become effective on 1 July 2016. The main requirement of this amendment is for shippers to provide export full container’s verified gross mass prior to loading. No provision or agreement may override or be in conflict with the obligation to abide by SOLAS rules.

Verified Gross Mass (VGM)

Verified Gross Mass means the total gross mass of a packed container including cargo weight, packing and securing material and container tare weight. This makes VGM different from cargo weight currently printed on the B/L (Bill of Lading) which only measures cargo weight.

A. Method 1 – Weighing of a packed container
1) The shipper may weigh the container after it has been packed
2) ​Method 1 may be used on all kinds of cargoes. Especially for types of cargoes where individual weighing is not possible (e.g. scrap metal, unbagged grain and other cargo in bulk, flexitanks, etc)

B. Method 2 – Calculating VGM
1) The shipper may calculate VGM by aggregating (summing) the weight of below items
 ▶ Cargo Weight
▶ The weight of the packing and securing material to be packed in the container
▶ Container tare weight


1. If the container is verified within 1,000Kg of the declared weight and the container load limit has not been exceeded – no additional charges will apply
2. If the container weight is not within 1,000Kg of the VGM provided, then a new VGM will be generated and standard weighing charges will apply (N20,000 per container).
3. Containers that are received weighing in excess of the load limit capabilities for type and size of container (based on IMO data plate), the container will not be allowed to leave the terminal for road safety reasons and the container will be cross stuffed as per tariff.
4. The cut-off time for receipt of an accurate VGM into our system in order to avoid the container rolling a subsequent vessel is 24 hours prior to vessel ETA.
5. Effective 1st of July, 2016 ONLY container(s) with valid a Verified Gross Mass (VGM) will be loaded on a vessel in accordance with the International Maritime Organisation’s Safety Of Life at Sea (SOLAS) regulations

source from various websites including http://hanjin.com/hanjin/CUP_HOM_1764.do

The SOLAS Container Weight Verification Requirement

http://www.worldshipping.org/industry-issues/safety/WSC_Summarizes_the_Basic_Elements_of_the_SOLAS_Container_Weight_Verification_Requirement___January_2015_-3-.pdf

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