What is Demurrage & Detention?
Demurrage & Detention is the charge applicable, after the free time expires, for the use of the carrier’s full container.

At Export
The period of freetime starts as of the day of empty container release and ends the day of the commercial proforma date – ETA (Estimated Time of Arrival) communicated during your booking – of selected vessel. If the loading vessel changes upon customer’s request, the application the application period begins when the empty equipment is picked-up and stops the day of loading on board vessel.

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
The French government has published, since May 28, 2016, a decree outlining the verified gross mass (VGM) requirements for containers, which can be determined using two calculation methods.

What to include in your VGM instructions
The following items are mandatory and must be in all VGM instructions :

• Booking number or B/L number
• The container number
• The VGM in kg
• The name of the responsible person in capital letters, as electronic equivalent of the signature

How to submit your VGM instructions

• myMSC.com
• EDI (via INTTRA, GT NEXUS, Cargo Smart, and any other portal)
• Email (subject to a service charge)

Deadlines for sending your VGM instructions

• The VGM must be known by the shipping agent before the vessel’s cut-off time or before entry to the terminal, depending on the port.
• The VGM cut-off date will be mentioned on the booking confirmation. If the VGM is received later, the container will not be planned / loaded on the vessel.

Admin Fees and costs

• If the VGM has to be handled manually by the local agent, a local fee of 100€ per container will be applied. This also applies for VGM info added in the electronic booking.
• If the VGM is not received before the VGM cut-off time, the container will not be loaded onto the requested vessel and will be put on hold. All related charges, such as demurrage, storage, terminal moves, potential power supply, etc., will be at the shipper’s expense.
• If the VGM declaration is wrong after loading on board, a penalty will occured of 1000€ per container, extracost and collateral expenses will be invoiced.

Contact information
Email: FR147-vgm.france@msc.com
Tel: + (33) 2.32.74.68.00

What is Demurrage & Detention? 
Demurrage & Detention is the charge applicable, after the free time expires, for the use of the carrier’s full container. 

At Import 
The period of freetime starts as of the day of discharge from the vessel at terminal and ends the day of the empty container drop off.