Guide · Sea

VGM: the verified gross mass of a container.

The VGM (verified gross mass) is the total mass of a packed container, obtained by one of the two methods set by the SOLAS Convention. It has been mandatory since 1 July 2016: without a VGM, the container is not loaded on the ship. The shipper declares it before the stowage plan is prepared.

What the VGM is

The VGM is the total gross mass of a packed container. It includes the container's tare and the mass of all packages and cargo items, together with pallets, dunnage and any other packing and securing material.

It is required by paragraphs 4 to 6 of SOLAS regulation VI/2. They were added by Resolution MSC.380(94), in force since 1 July 2016. Alongside them, the IMO published implementation guidelines: circular MSC.1/Circ.1475.

Who it applies to

The VGM is verified by the shipper: the party named as shipper on the bill of lading, the sea waybill or the multimodal transport document, or the party that contracted the carriage.

If several companies take part in packing the container, the shipper remains responsible. The shipper can have a third party do the weighing, but the VGM is still the shipper's.

What it requires

That the VGM is obtained by one of two methods and reaches the ship and the terminal in time.

Method	How it is obtained	Points to note
Method 1	Weighing the packed container, once closed and sealed, with calibrated and certified equipment.	Valid for any cargo. It is the only option for scrap metal, grain and other bulk cargo.
Method 2	Weighing all packages and cargo items (pallets, dunnage, securing material) and adding the container's tare.	The method must be certified and approved by the competent authority of the State where the container was packed.

Document: the VGM is stated in a shipping document signed by a person authorised by the shipper (the signature can be electronic). It goes to the master or the master's representative and to the terminal.
Deadline: SOLAS sets no specific deadline, only that the VGM arrives early enough to be used in the stowage plan. The exact cut-off is set by the shipping line.
No VGM: the container is not loaded on the ship. The terminal may accept it, but it is not loaded until there is a VGM, which the master or the terminal can obtain on the shipper's behalf.
CSC plate: a container whose mass exceeds the maximum gross mass on its CSC plate cannot be loaded.
Packages sealed at origin with their exact mass marked clearly and permanently on them do not need to be weighed again under method 2.

National rules: the example of Spain

SOLAS leaves some details to each country's competent authority, such as the approval of method 2. In Spain, for example, the rule is applied by the resolution of 15 June 2016 of the DGMM (Spanish Directorate General of the Merchant Navy), which sets the following:

Responsible party	The shipper obtains, documents and transmits the VGM.
Method 2	Part of a quality management system certified to ISO 9001 or equivalent, by a body accredited or recognised by ENAC (Spain's national accreditation body).
Scales	Calibrated by a laboratory accredited or recognised by ENAC, or verified by the legal metrology bodies.
Document	The shipper's name and address, the VGM in kg preceded by "VGM", the method, name and signature, date and place.
Discrepancies	There is a discrepancy when two weighings differ by 500 kg for containers of up to 10 t, or by 5% above 10 t, either way.
Outside the scope	Voyages between Spanish ports, and containers on a chassis or trailer on ro-ro ships engaged on short international voyages.

Under the Spanish resolution, if there is a discrepancy the VGM prevails over any mass declared earlier, and the terminal weighing prevails over the earlier one. Other countries set their own rules; check them with your shipping line or freight forwarder.

Common mistakes

The ones flagged by the IMO guidelines themselves and by the Spanish resolution:

Weighing two containers together on one vehicle and dividing the total by two.
Weighing on a vehicle without subtracting the tare of the vehicle and the tractor unit, and the fuel.
Using method 2 for bulk cargo or scrap metal.
Not stating clearly that the figure is the verified gross mass.

Also, a VGM gives no right to be loaded: the master keeps the final decision. See also VGM in the glossary.

The VGM is step 6 of how to send a container, step by step; if a container is rejected in Spain, see container rejected over VGM in Spain: what to do.

Sources

Validate your load before it ships.

Last reviewed: 28 October 2026