VGM certificate is a document attesting to the weight of the cargo loaded in the container. Effective from 1st July 2016, with the SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea) amendment covering container weighing regulations, a packed container will no longer be allowed to be loaded on board vessels unless its Verified Gross Mass (VGM) has been provided by the shipper to the ocean carriers and/or port terminal representatives prior to the load list cut-off date.

The new regulation was adopted by the IMO (International Maritime Organization) to increase maritime safety and reduce the dangers to cargo, containers, and all those involved in container transport throughout the supply chain.

Your VGM document MUST be submitted 48 hours prior to the scheduled sailing date. Failure to provide the document in time may result in your shipment being rolled to the next vessel and port storage fees. If you are the importer of the shipment you do not need to submit the VGM document. We will get the document from the shipper at origin prior to sailing.

VGM document

Written by

ExFreight Team

ExFreight’s logistics experts with 15+ years of experience in freight forwarding from China to over 150 countries worldwide.

Published March 20, 2026
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