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Navigating SOLAS VGM Requirements when using Incoterms: What Shippers Need to Know
November 1, 2025 in Shipping Guide3 minutes
Comprehensive guide to SOLAS VGM (Verified Gross Mass) requirements, declaration methods, and responsibility allocation under different Incoterms.
Introduction to VGM and Incoterms
The SOLAS VGM (Verified Gross Mass) is a declaration of the gross mass of a packed container in accordance with the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS). For clarification, the term refers to the weight loaded onto a shipping vessel.
The distinction between mass and weight is beyond the scope of this article.
Please note that VGM is mandatory. Shippers who do not provide the certificate will be denied loading. This concept is applicable solely to the maritime transportation of full container loads (FCL).
The 2020 Incoterms do not stipulate who is responsible for providing the certificate or who is liable for the VGM declaration fee.
Why is VGM important?
Ocean carriers require the VGM for safety reasons. In the event that the shipper is named on the ocean carrier’s bill of lading, it is the responsibility of the shipper to obtain the VGM by weighing and communicate this information to the carrier and terminal. There are two methods available, both of which require the use of a calibrated and certified weighting balance in the state where the equipment is used. For Less Than Container Load (LCL) cargo, shippers must provide the cargo gross mass, which should include the mass of the goods, packaging, and any pallets.
VGM in practice
While shippers have the option of weighing and declaring the VGM directly, the preferred method is to use a freight forwarding agent at the point of origin or to pay the fee for VGM weighing to the ocean carrier. For LCL shipments, the weight is declared individually and summarized on a container level. The most common and practical method is for the carrier to issue the HBL and require the shipper to declare the VGM. There are two methods for filing the VGM:
Methods
Method 1: Upon completion of packing and sealing a container, the shipper may weigh the container or arrange for a third party to do so.
Method 2: The shipper (or a third party acting on the shipper’s behalf) may weigh all packages and cargo items, including the mass of pallets, dunnage, and other packing and securing materials to be packed in the container. The tare mass of the container must also be included in the total. All weights must be obtained using a certified method.
VGM Fees
- VGM Weighing: The fee for weighing the container or goods on a certified scale.
- VGM Declaration: The transmission of the fee to the ocean carrier operator.
VGM and Incoterms
The Incoterms regulations pertain to the obligations of the seller and the buyer. The SOLAS scope, however, is not subject to these obligations.
It should be noted that the VGM will not be applicable to maritime rules that are not suitable for containers (i.e., FOB).
VGM is a designation that pertains exclusively to shipping containers. Incoterms, on the other hand, do not include shipping containers among the specific cargo transport units (CTU) that they enumerate.
Conclusion - Which party is responsible for VGM filing?
The party responsible for paying the ocean freight is typically also responsible for submitting the Verified Gross Mass (VGM) filing, though this may vary depending on the Incoterms in place.
The seller is always responsible for providing a packing list and facilitating the weighing process. The shipper can declare the VGM, but it is common practice for the ocean carrier or the origin freight forwarder to handle both the weighing and the declaration on behalf of the shipper.