For applicable packed containers, verified gross mass is a condition for loading under SOLAS. Confirm the permitted weighing method and submission process with your carrier.
Clarify the responsibility
The IMO describes the shipper’s responsibility for providing verified gross mass information. Establish which legal entity is named as shipper and who will arrange measurement and submission. Do not leave the task to an informal assumption between the supplier, haulier and forwarder. Make the responsible contact part of the booking record.
Plan the practical steps
Ask which permitted weighing method is being used and where it will happen. Include the time needed to obtain the record before the carrier cut-off. Confirm container number, applicable units and the submission channel. Treat cargo repacking or changes in the container contents as triggers to check whether the recorded information remains correct.
Keep the evidence with the shipment
Retain the approved weight record and confirmation that the submission was received. Make sure the final information is available to the parties who need it. Providing VGM does not itself guarantee loading; carrier and master acceptance still apply. Resolve questions before terminal handover wherever practical, because a weight issue near loading time leaves fewer options.
Your shipment checklist
- Confirm the named shipper.
- Arrange an accepted verification method.
- Check container reference and units.
- Retain submission and acceptance records.
Does VGM guarantee that a container will be loaded?
No. It is a loading condition for applicable containers, but other acceptance requirements and the master’s discretion still apply.
Official sources
Reviewed for this guide on 3 October 2026. Confirm current, shipment-specific requirements before booking.
IMO: verification of gross massThis guide supports shipment planning. The accepted quote, carrier requirements and applicable authority rules determine your shipment’s final arrangements.
