MSC Germany:
Connecting Germany to the World
As MSC Germany, with 800 dedicated experts across 10 locations in Germany, you can trust us to move your business forward. We offer reliable and efficient transport and logistics solutions to and from Germany - one of the largest European economic markets. From the ports of Hamburg, Grimhafen and Lubeck, we connect German businesses to the world with over 100 vessel calls every month.
Discover Our Location Solutions
Contact our team to request a quote, book or find out more about our local services
Terminals in Germany
Terminals
MSC calls at the three major seaports in Germany Hamburg, Bremerhaven and Wilhelmshaven with its container ships.
At in total five terminals all types of containers and goods, from toys from China in 20-foot containers to grape imports from South America in reefer containers, are handled efficiently.
In Bremerhaven, MSC operates its own MSC Gate together with EUROGATE to offer you optimal and flexible handling of your cargo.
Hamburg
EUROGATE Container Terminal Hamburg GmbH
Kurt-Eckelmann-Straße 1
21129 Hamburg
Germany
+49 40 7405 0
For more information click here
HHLA Container Terminal Altenwerder GmbH
Am Ballinkai 1
21129 Hamburg
Germany
+49 40 53 309 0
For more information click here
Bremerhaven
MSC Gate Bremerhaven GmbH & Co. KG
Senator-Borttscheller-Straße 1
27568 Bremerhaven
Germany
+49 471 1425-02
For more information click here
North Sea Terminal Bremerhaven
Senator-Borttscheller-Straße 14
27568 Bremerhaven
Germany
+49 471 944 64 00
For more information click here
Wilhelmshaven
EUROGATE Container Terminal Wilhelmshaven GmbH & Co. KG
Ozean-Pier 1
26388 Wilhelmshaven
Germany
+49 4421 7744-0
For more information click here
SOLAS VGM information Germany
Regulatory approval status
As of 1 July 2016, the SOLAS VGM Directive requires the timely reporting of the Verified Gross Container Weight (VGM) to the carrier worldwide.
In Germany the regulating body, BG Verkehr, follows a strict procedure and allows a zero percent tolerance. The tolerance is defined by the weighing method, a scale weighing class III or weighing class IV is necessary, and therefore amounts to a variance of -/+ 2 percent.
The BG Verkehr performs random spot checks.
Fines may be placed in case of wrong VGM (verified gross mass) declaration.
If you wish to obtain the VGM by using Method 2, your company must be ISO or AEO certified. If your company does not have one of these certificates please refer to the documents on www.deutsche-flagge.de.
At this point, German ports will allow containers to gate-in without VGM.
What to include in your VGM instructions
• Booking or Bill of Lading number
• Container number
• VGM
• Authorized person’s name
• Responsible party name
• Weighing date
How to submit your VGM
• myMSC
• EDI-Booking or Booking Update (IFTMBF)
• EDI-Shipping Instructions (IFTMIN)
• INTTRA
• Other providers
• VERMAS message
• Customized xml, csv, idoc, txt files.
Deadlines for sending your VGM instructions
• The respective VGM submission EDI deadlines will be displayed on your individual booking confirmations with immediate effect.
• As an additional service and to inform you proactively of missing VGMs, MSC Germany will send a notification the day prior to the VGM cut-off, which gives enough time to provide MSC Germany with the VGM before cut-off.
Status change Fee due to difference in payload
A status change is triggered whenever information relevant for storage at terminal or stowage on vessel is changed after the container has been received at terminal, thus requiring manual change of planning and/or change of storage and stowage.
Since the implementation of the VGM regulation changes between declared payload at time of booking and declared VGM is creating a status change at the terminals, as it might require a change of storage at the terminal and a change in the stowage plan. The exact criteria that trigger a status change due to weight difference are:
balance between original weight and VGM is larger than1.000 kg and change into another weight class:
|
class |
lower weight limit (kg) | upper weight limit (kg) |
| 1 | 1 | 10.000 |
| 2 | 10.001 | 15.000 |
| 3 | 15.001 | 20.000 |
| 4 | 20.001 | 25.000 |
| 5 | 25.001 | 30.000 |
| 6 | 30.001 | 99.999 |
Since 1st of June 2017 this status change fee is also charged for status changes triggered by changes in weight as listed above.
Recommendations
• VGM records should be stored three months after ships vessel arrival in POD.
• MSC Local agency should be informed in advance about the appointment of 3rd parties to provide the VGM.
• Weighing at terminals in Germany is not likely.
Questions about VGM?
Contact one of our local offices in Germany.
Booking Process in Germany
Booking processes in Germany
We would like to improve the speed and quality of our booking confirmations.
For this purpose, it is necessary that the following data is always entered during the transmission of your booking.
By submitting this data, you avoid queries in advance and the associated delays of booking confirmations.
| Data | Details |
| Routing | Port of loading and discharge ETS or ETA (preferably the desired vessel) |
| Carrier Haulage |
Pre- and on-carriage information Free Time offered |
| Merchant Haulage | Desired depot Mode of transport (train, barge, truck) Date of pick-up |
| Oncarriage |
Final destination incl. postal code Sublocation (door, ramp, barge terminal, inland container depot) Mode of transport (train, barge, truck) |
| Container | Container type Number of containers Special equipment requirements including OOG measurements |
| Commodity | Cargo description Weight In the case of dangerous goods, a copy of the DGD |
| HS Code | This must be specified when booking in order to ensure correct verification of the import regulations in the country of destination |
| Customs |
Information if MSC is to take over the customs declaration For intra-EU shipments, Customs Status of cargo (European Community Cargo, Non-European Community Cargo) |
| Payment Conditions | Valid Contract number Place of payment Named Account |
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact your local office of MSC Germany.
Prohibited cargo in Germany
Waste
Cultural assets
Meat and milk and any items thereof from non-EU countries, with the exception of limited amounts from Andorra, Croatia, the Faroe Islands, Greenland, Iceland and small amounts of specific products from other countries.
Protected species and products as listed by the CITES. For more information, please visit the CITES website here.
Exports
The same items as imports when shipping to another EU country. No prohibited goods when shipping to a non-EU country.
For full details of prohibited and restricted cargo click here.
Container Weighing (VGM)
Fumigation
Our Solutions
As well as being a global leader in container shipping, our worldwide teams of industry specific experts mean we can offer our customers round-the-clock personalised service. This ensures we deliver fast and reliable transit times, and that we provide the best solutions for your needs.
As well as being a global leader in container shipping, our worldwide teams of industry specific experts mean we can offer our customers round-the-clock personalised service. This ensures we deliver fast and reliable transit times, and that we provide the best solutions for your needs.
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Last update: 2025-06-14T20:36:00