As of July 1st, 2016, the enforcement of the Safety of Life at Sea Convention (SOLAS) requirements regarding the verification of the gross mass of packed containers will be applicable.
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 preparation of the ship stowage plan.
The responsibility for obtaining and documenting the Verified Gross Mass of a packed container lies with the shipper.
The Verified Gross Mass means the total gross mass of a packed container as obtained by one of the two methods described below.
Two methods are available for the shipper to obtain the VGM:
Method #1 – Using calibrated and certified equipment, the shipper (or a third party duly appointed by him) weighs the packed container at the end of the stuffing operation once the seal is affixed, using calibrated and certified equipment.
Method #2 - The shipper (or a third party, by arrangement of the shipper) weighs all packages, cargo items, pallets, dunnage and other packing and securing material and adds the tare mass of the container. The total sum finally obtained is the weight to be provided. This method is subject to certification and approval by the competent authority of the State in which the packing and sealing of the container was completed.
As part of our commitment to ensure safe transportation of your cargo, CMA CGM will comply with VGM requirements as follows:
Gather and submit VGM information to terminals
Provide our customers tailored options for VGM data transfer:
- Together with Shipping Instructions
- Separate submission
- Submission through e-Commerce portals
If the Verified Gross Mass is not provided by the Shipper or by a person duly authorized by the shipper, the container will not be loaded onto the ship.