GUIDELINES REGARDING THE VERIFIED GROSS MASS OF A CONTAINER CARRYING CARGO

Information on requirements for Verified Gross Mass (VGM) of a container

• As of 1 July 2016 Maritime carriers will not load containers without having VGM.
• The Shipper (listed as shipper in the bill of lading) is responsible for providing the VGM to the transport operators and the maritime carrier in reasonable time prior to vessel loading.
• The responsibility of the Shipper regarding the weighing of containers should clearly be specified in the transport contract.
• The data to be provided to the transport operators and the maritime carrier consists of the VGM and the shipper’s authorised signature which can be electronic. (Additional local/national laws/rules might require additional data, processes or documents.)

Technical information for verifying the gross mass of a container

• A container means standard containers, tank containers, flat racks and bulk containers.
• The scale used for weighing has to be calibrated/certified in accordance with local/national rules.
• The VGM consists of cargo weight including packaging and dunnage materials and tare weight of container.
• There are two accepted methodologies for calculating the VGM:
  1. Weigh the packed/laden container; or
  2. Weigh all packages and packaging material and add the tare weight of the container.

Source: IRU