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Calculator

VGM calculator.

The verified gross mass (VGM) is the total mass of the packed container: tare + cargo + packing + stowage material. SOLAS requires it before the container is loaded on board. Work it out in seconds.

Units:
Typical tare:Better still, the one on the CSC plate or the door of your container.
The weight of the goods.
Boxes, pallets, film and other packing.
Dunnage timber, airbags, straps and chocks.
Estimated VGM— kg

How it is calculated

It is the sum of SOLAS method 2:

VGM = container tare + cargo + packing and pallets + stowage and lashing material

For example, a 40' with a tare of 3,750 kg, 18,000 kg of cargo, 600 kg of pallets and packing and 150 kg of timber and straps has a VGM of 3,750 + 18,000 + 600 + 150 = 22,500 kg (about 49,604 lb).

In imperial units, enter the weights in pounds: the calculator converts them to kilograms (1 lb = 0.45359237 kg), adds them up and shows the result in pounds, with the kilograms below. The typical tares are shown in pounds too.

What this calculator does not check

Whether the weight is well distributed, whether it exceeds the limits of the equipment or the road, or the stowage. And it is an estimate: the VGM you declare is obtained by one of the SOLAS methods, with calibrated equipment. More in the VGM guide.

Where the VGM fits into the shipment, in how to send a container, step by step; and if you are still unsure about the equipment, in which container do I need.

Validate your load before it ships.

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Questions about the VGM

What is the VGM?

The verified gross mass of the packed container: its tare plus everything inside it, including pallets, packing and stowage and securing material. Without a VGM, the container is not loaded on board.

Which methods does SOLAS allow?

Two. Method 1 weighs the container once it is packed and sealed. Method 2 weighs all the packages and cargo items and adds the container’s tare, using a certified method.

Who signs the VGM?

The shipper, or a person authorised by the shipper. The weighing can be done by a third party, but the responsibility remains the shipper’s.

What if it doesn’t match?

The VGM prevails over the mass declared earlier and, between two VGMs, the one obtained at the terminal prevails. In Spain, this is set by the resolution of the DGMM (Spanish Directorate General of the Merchant Navy) of 15 June 2016, BOE-A-2016-6308, twelfth section. In Spain, a difference of 500 kg in containers of up to 10 t, or of 5% above 10 t, counts as a discrepancy. VGM guide

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