Government approval status
Further to the MPA industry consultation on the amendment to the SOLAS Convention Chapter VI Regulation 2, various parties in the maritime community comprising of MPA, SSA, PSA, SNSC, SLA, CDAS and main shipping lines have agreed to the following:
- VGM to be submitted to Portnet via Electronic Shipping Note (ESN) by Haulier who will obtain information from Shipper.
- VGM to be submitted prior to gate-in, per PSA Terminal’s cut-off time
- Container would be denied entry at the gate if there was a 5 tons variance between declared VGM and the weight derived by the terminal operator.
For containers that are allowed entry, further verification will be made.
Tolerance of +/- 5% against declared VGM will be accepted for stowage planning.
If exceeding 5%, Haulier/Shipper needs to reconfirm weight to be used as VGM. This will be alerted in real-time to Shipper/Haulier by Terminal Operator.
- Based on above VGM verification, Terminal Operator will use the VGM for stowage planning.
How to submit your VGM instructions
All VGM is required to be submitted through the PSA Portnet.
What to include in your VGM ESN instructions to Portnet
The following items are mandatory and must be on all VGM instructions to Terminal
- Booking Number / UCR Number
- Container number
- VGM – Verified Gross Mass
- Weighing Method
- Authorized person’s signatory (submitter of the VGM who may be authorized to act on behalf of shippers
- VGM acquired time (Optional)
- VGM reference (Optional)
- Deadlines for sending your VGM instructions
- VGM cut off = PSA Portnet cut-off time.
VGM Fees and Costs
For VGM discrepancy of +/- 5% between VGM declared and manifest, there will be VGM discrepancy fees imposed by MSC Singapore.
