VGM weighing is a critical procedure in the sea transport of goods.
The acronym VGM stands for Verified Gross Mass and refers to a container’s verified gross mass. In fact, the information is derived from the sum of the net weight of the goods and the tara of the container.
This is a required piece of information to communicate in international sea freight transport. As a result, VGM weighing must be precise and cannot be approximate.
The requirement to weigh dates back to July 1, 2016, when an amendment to Chapter VI of SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea), an international convention of the IMO (International Maritime Organization), was enacted following the Titanic disaster.
The amendment, in particular, concerns cargo transport and aims to improve sea safety, particularly the protection of human lives. This system, in fact, is nearing completion and will provide reliable data on ship cargo calculations.
How is VMG weighing determined?
The weighing system, according to VGM, can be operated in two modes.
The first previews that the container is weighed after it has been loaded, closed, and sealed, on a private or public certified weigh. After that, the weight of the vehicle, trailer, and fuel in the tank is subtracted.
The second method, on the other hand, allows you to calculate the VGM value by adding the weight of the goods loaded, the materials used for setting and packaging, and the tare of the container.
Whatever method is used, the measurement system must meet the standards of the country in which the operation is performed.
Why is it such an important operation?
The container cannot be loaded onto the ship without VGM. As a result, the operation is critical for the safe and correct international shipping of goods by sea.
To avoid potential delays caused by the performance of some of the procedures required by SOLAS, such as the weighing of goods, Marfreight assists its customers at every stage of the transport service by transmitting all information about the load to the shipping carrier on time. This will reduce transport times while avoiding accidents and difficulties.