The International Maritime Organization (IMO) will implement its global enforcement of the International Convention for Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) requirements on July 1, 2016.
Containers will not be placed on board the vessel unless the verified gross mass (VGM) of the containers has been communicated and documented in advance. VGM is defined by IMO as “the combined mass of a container’s tare mass and the masses of all packages and cargo items, including pallets, dunnage and other packing material and securing materials packed into the container.”
According to SOLAS regulations, the shipper will be responsible for the weight accuracy and the VGM as defined in the IMO Guidelines. If the shipper provides any untimely and/or inaccurate information, the shipper will be liable and responsible to UWL and/or carrier for any fines, penalties, delays, additional costs of any kind (e.g., demurrage, detention, storage, etc.), damages or losses resulting therefrom.
In order to ensure compliance with this requirement, UWL has created a VGM Form that shippers must complete. Please request the VGM form below to receive it in your inbox.
Our information is compiled from a number of reputable sources that to the best of our knowledge are accurate. It is always the intent of UWL to present substantiated information. The company accepts no liability or responsibility for the information published herein.