GUIDELINES FOR THE SOLAS (SAFETY OF LIFE AT SEA) & VGM (VERIFIED GROSS MASS) REGULATION

Effective July 1, 2016, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) will require shippers to provide a signed document called the Verified Statement of the Gross Mass (VGM) to the shipping line and terminal.  The VGM must state the weight of the container’s cargo/contents and the container.  After this date, there will be a strict NO VGM / NO LOAD policy, and any container without a signed VGM statement will no longer be loaded.

The purpose of this new regulation is to:

• Increase the safety of vessel and crew.
• Reduce the likelihood of damage to cargo.