VERIFIED GROSS MASS

The SOLAS Container Weight Verification Requirement

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has amended the Safety of Lift at Sea Convention (SOLAS) to require, as a condition for loading a packed container onto a ship for export, that the container has a verified weight. Shipper is responsible for the declared Verified Cargo Mass (VGM) of the packed container. This requirement become legally effective on July 1,2016. Without a verified gross mass, the packed container shall not be loaded aboard ship.

Under the SOLAS amendments, there are two permissible methods for weighing:

Method 1
Weighing of the container after it has been packed;

Method 2
Weighing of all the cargo, including the mass of pallets, dunnage and other packing and securing material to be packed in the container and adding the tare weight of the container (Estimating weight is not permitted);

The weighing equipment used for either method 1 and 2 must meet the applicable standards and requirements of the State in which the equipment is being used.

For more details, please refer to the following document:
https://www.worldshipping.org/s/SOLAS_VGM__Industry_FAQs_Dec_2015_US_letter_WEB.PDF