SOLAS CONVENTION

The Verified Gross Mass (VGM) Requirement

From July 1st, 2016 the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has amended the International Convention SOLAS - Safety of Life at Sea - for safety and security of merchant ships. With this amendment, the container Verified Gross Mass weight (VGM) becomes a compulsory requirement before the vessel loading.

The new regulation adopted by the International Maritime Organization aims at reducing the dangers to cargo, containers and everybody involved in container transport through the supply chain. In addition, reducing the number of accidents caused by wrong declared container weights.

The purpose of the VGM is to require the shippers of all containers to provide sufficiently in advance an accurate gross weight of the packed containers to the ocean carrier, so that terminal operators can prepare the vessel's stowage plans prior to loading cargo on ships.

 

 

All these regulations aims at improving the workforce and maritime safety through the supply chain.

 

VGM

 

Shipper declaration form