To increase the security of sea transports and eliminate the risk of accidents caused by incorrectly declared container weights, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has amended the Safety of Life at Sea Convention (SOLAS).

As of July 1st, 2016, it requires each packed container which is to be loaded onto a ship for transport to have a verified weight (VGM – Verified Gross Mass). The Shipper or Beneficial Cargo Owner (BCO) is responsible for the verification of the packed container’s weight.

Country-specific rules about tolerated weight deviations (e.g. +/- 5% or max. 300 kg) will be published by the national authorities. Should you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact our Sea Cargo team. For further information, please refer to the WSC Guidelines.