SOLAS Verified Gross Mass ( VGM )

Misdeclaration of cargo weight is a major hazard which often results in cargo claims, structural damages to vessels and also poses a significant risk to the lives of staff.

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has amended the SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea) convention under regulation 2 of chapter VI which mandates the declaration of the Verified Gross Mass (VGM) of a packed container before loading on board vessels within a prescribed cut-off date / time to the shipping line and / or port terminal authorities.

Effective 1st July 2016, the regulation stipulates the use of two approved methods to declare the VGM for each container by the shipper or his representative.

SOLAS regulation for weighing containers allows two ways for weighing packed containers in order to obtain the Verified Gross Mass (VGM) for each container by the shipper or his representative.

As per the regulation, either of the two approved methods must be used to declare the verified gross mass:

Method 1	Method 2
Real weight of the container including tare when cargo is packed	Addition of the whole cargo including packing and the tare weight of the container