Our dedicated in-house team of over 850 experts are ready to help connect you and your cargo to the rest of the world.
Headquartered in Ipswich, Suffolk with regional offices in London and Glasgow, supported by our national team across the UK, we’re committed to delivering customer excellence and finding the best solution for your cargo.
Operating from 12 UK ports across the UK, complemented by an extensive European feeder network, our shipping solutions integrate seamlessly with our market-leading landside network of dedicated road and rail services. Helping to move your cargo closer to its final destination.
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We've separated out the most frequently requested contact groups from within the Export department.
| General enquiries | GBR-export.customercare@msc.com | +44 (0)1473 954477 |
| Make, cancel or amend a booking | GBR-bookings@msc.com | +44 (0)1473 954667 |
| Book a container to quay | GB014-container.movements@msc.com |
| Reefer customer service | GBR-reefer.customerservice@msc.com | +44 (0)1473 954482 |
| Customs clearance | UK-Customs@msc.com | +44 (0) 1473 954518 |
| Solas / VGM | GBR-export.cargomanagement@msc.com | +44 (0) 1473 954484 |
When you have completed loading of your Export Hazardous cargo please send us a copy of the completed DGN. Please note, it MUST be signed in boxes 15 & 17 with the container number clearly in Box 16. You can send it on email to GBR-export.hazardous@msc.com with your booking reference and planned export vessel as the subject.
Please make sure your container has had the correct placards applied to it as per IMDG and ADR to ensure acceptance into the terminal of export.
What is VGM?
Verified Gross Mass or VGM refers to the exact, verified weight of a packed container. For safety reasons, vessel operators can only load a container if its weight has been verified.
Government approval status
In the UK the regulating body, Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA), will allow for +/- 5% or 500kg whichever is greater. The MCA have the right to impose a fine or penalty for any misdeclared VGM information. If you intend on obtaining your VGM by using Method 2, you will need approval from the MCA. Further information about application can be found here.
What to include in your VGM instructions
The following items are mandatory and must be included on all VGM instructions:
How to submit your VGM instructions
Deadlines for sending your VGM instructions
To avoid additional weighing charges from the port, please submit your VGM declaration to the port authorities before their cut off, 24 hours prior to vessel arrival. If you require MSC to arrange for the terminal to weight the container(s) on your behalf, we require this 48 hours prior to the ETA of the vessel.
Contact information
For more details, please contact gbr-solas.vgm@msc.com or call our office: +44 (0)1473 954484
Please note:
Following Brexit, we are required to submit advance European Security Manifests. To comply with this requirement, we will need to be in possession of the final shipping instructions in advance of the vessel's arrival. This requirement will affect all services departing the UK, therefore we feel it is important we provide you with a guide to avoid the deadline being missed, which could result in a delay to the exportation of your shipment.
Documentation (Final Shipping Instruction) Cut-Off Guide
Shipping instructions will be required 6 hours prior to the vessel's arrival at the port of loading. Exceptions are as follows
Please note, late instructions (received after cut-offs) are at risk of short shipment and additional costs
Shipping Instruction Amendments
For USA, Canada, China, Japan and South Africa, amendments need to be received 36 hours (excluding weekend hours) prior to the vessel arrival at the port of loading to avoid correction fees. For all other destinations amendments must be received 24 hours prior to the vessel departure to avoid correction fees. For vessels departing at the weekend/Monday morning, amendments are required by 1200hrs on the Friday before.
Please note, failure to comply with the above may result in a correction fee of $60 USD
Additional Information
We aim to process instructions / amendment(s) and return a draft bill within 24 hours (excluding weekends). Destination charges will be registered as collect unless your instructions clearly state prepaid. The only exception will be for countries that do not accept collect charges.
Contact Information
If you have any further questions, please contact our local team using the information below.
Ipswich: GB014-export.documentation@msc.com | 01473 277777
Ipswich: GBR-export.customercare@msc.com | 01473 277777
Glasgow: GBR-docs-glasgow@msc.com
How to Find Cut-Offs on myMSC
Cut-offs can also be found on our e-business platform mymsc.com or at msc.com
1. Navigate in the menu on the left to Schedules & Cut-offs
2. Click on 'By Booking' if you want to retrieve the information for a specific booking or click on 'By Port' if you want to retrieve the information for a particular port pair
We've separated out the most frequently requested contact groups from within the Import department.
| General enquiries | GBR-import.customercare@msc.com | +44 (0)1473 277777 |
| Delivery bookings | GBR-import.deepsea@msc.com / GBR-import.shortsea@msc.com | +44 (0)1473 277777 |
| Merchant haulage release | GBR-import.merchanthaulage@msc.com | +44 (0)1473 954498 |
| Empty restitution (Felixstowe) | UK-felixstowe.emptyreturns@msc.com | +44 (0)1473 673903 |
| Empty restitution (all other ports) | UK-felixstowe.emptyreturns@msc.com | +44 (0)1473 277772 |
| Reefer customer service | GBR-reefer.customerservice@msc.com | +44 (0)1473 954482 |
| Customs clearance | UK-Importcustoms@msc.com | +44 (0) 1473 954549 |
To help our team action your request as efficiently as possible for you, please see our full MOH release instructions regarding time frames and important information to include.
Merchant Owned Haulage (MOH) release requests
Please use the dedicated Merchant Haulage Release email address: GBR-import.merchanthaulage@msc.com or call +44 (0)1473 954498, and a member of staff will be more than happy to assist you.
Merchant Owned Haulage (MOH) restitution note
Please take the following action to arrange restitution of empty containers
Please remember
Condition and location of returned containers
We would like to remind customers that containers should be returned to MSC in a clean condition, free of all packing, dunnage or traces of cargo (as per terms and conditions of the Bill of Lading / Contract of Carriage). Customers are liable for any costs incurred for the cleaning of containers along with any associated penalties or fines (such as Customs fines or, in some cases, shipping costs back to the UK).
At MSC, people are the heart of our business. We are not only dedicated to
recruiting the right people into the right roles, but also to providing the
training and support our teams need to progress their careers, in line with
their own goals and aspirations.
Diversity is the key to our success: our workforce is made up of a range of
nationalities and several generations. We nurture an open-minded and culturally
diverse environment for our employees and we strongly believe in equal
opportunities.
When you work for MSC, you are part of a team that is focused on making a
positive impact in the world – from keeping global trade flowing, to delivering
sustainable solutions and protecting
our seas.
Connecting MSC UK with the rest of the world comes with a responsibility that goes beyond simply transporting cargo.
At MSC, we are equally as passionate about our heritage as we are our future. This commitment drives our promotion of a sustainable business model to ensure we continue to deliver our market leading services for our customers, whilst building resilient supply chains, drawing on our solid foundations and creating value for our people, customers, communities and the planet.
As part of our journey to Net Zero, we are making substantial investments in the energy efficiency of our assets, exploration of low and zero-carbon fuels, and spearheading supply chain decarbonisation through MSC's Biofuel solution.
At MSC, we believe in the power of community and strive to make a positive impact locally. Through donations and sponsorship, we actively contribute to enhancing the local area we call home.
Our commitment extends to establishing long-term relationships with communities and charities nationwide, through collaborative activities, equipment provision, and donating essential funds. Our employees voted for St Elizabeth's Hospice, Alzheimer's Society, and the Stroke Association as our 2024 Gold, Silver and Bronze Charity's of the Year.
MSC UK recognises the importance of supporting individuals and clubs integral to our local community. We are particularly proud to partner with Ipswich Town Football Club, supporting all age groups in in the girls’ academy as well as training and bench wear for the men’s first team.
Here you will find a selection of handy quick reference guides to some of our services:
Shipping Solutions
Digital & Enhanced Solutions
View our latest brochure for more information on what it's like to work with MSC UK!
What is the Gender Pay Gap?
The gender pay gap is the difference between the average earnings of men and women, expressed relative to men's earnings. For example, 'women earn 15% less than men per hour.' From 2017 any organisation that has 250 or more employees must publish and report specific figures about their gender pay gap in the UK.
For more information, we invite you to read MSC UK's Gender Pay Gap documents:
Gender Pay Gap Report 2023-2024
Gender Pay Gap Report 2022-2023
Gender Pay Gap Report 2021-2022
Gender Pay Gap Report 2020-2021
Our UK tax strategy supports the way we do business, our culture, and how we conduct our own affairs. It underpins our purpose and influences the decisions we make. Read more here: MSC UK Tax Strategy
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