18th July 2016 SOLAS – Verified Gross Mass (VGM)

1. Belgium
Rond-Point R.Schuman 11
1040 Brussels
Phone: +32 2 588 5803
Fax: +32 2 588 5804
Canada
Suite 300, 1090 Homer St
Vancouver, BC V6B 2W9
Phone: +1 778 807 9713
Fax: +1 778 807 9657
Singapore
146 Robinson Road #07-01
Singapore 068909
Phone: +65 65009377
Fax: +65 68355173
United States of America
712 H Street NE, Suite 1110
Washington DC 20002
Phone: +1 202 869 0988
Fax: +1 202 869 1121
PRESS RELEASE
Date: 18th
July 2016
Title: SOLAS – Verified Gross Mass (VGM)
Effective July 1st, 2016 – new requirements to verify the gross mass of a packed
container will be required, as per The International Convention for the Safety of Life at
Sea (SOLAS).
In order to comply with the new regulations, shippers will be responsible for certifying
the Verified Gross Mass (VGM) of all containers, prior to their loading on board vessels.
The VGM includes the mass of all packages and cargo items, pallets, dunnage and
other packing and securing material inside the container, as well as the tare weight,
which appears on the door of the container.
The upcoming SOLAS regulations provide shippers with the choice of two methods for
calculating the VGM of a packed container:
 Method 1. Weighing the packed container using calibrated and certified equipment; or
 Method 2: Weighing all packages and cargo items, including the mass of pallets, dunnage and other
securing material to be packed in the container and adding the tare mass of the container to the sum of
the single masses, using a certified method approved by the competent authority of the State, in which
packing of the container was completed.
The required VGM certification form for verifying the gross mass of your containers will
be provided – both on our website and upon request from our Customer Service Team
or OAL Transportation Consultants.
Cut-off times and days for submission of your VGM forms will be provided upon ocean
freight bookings.
We urge all of our valued customers to prepare themselves in advance of the upcoming
deadline, to ensure all of your shipments are accompanied with the required VGM
forms – by the respective cut-off times.
SOLAS regulations require VGM certifications for any and all containers in order for
them to be loaded on our vessels.

2. It is our intention and goal to assist and guide our customers through the
implementation of these new requirements and to ensure your shipments are handled
safely, efficiently and in full compliance with the new SOLAS regulations.
Lorenzo J. Lopez
Licensed U.S. Customs broker
Lorenzo@OceanAirLogistics.com
This press release was distributed by the International Trade Council.
International Trade Council Member news does not necessarily represent the views of the
Trade Council nor the Council's employees. For more information on the International Trade
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