VGM calculation: method 1 and 2 formula, tolerance, declaration
VGM (verified gross mass) is the total weight of a packed container, tare included, which the shipper must verify before the container is loaded on a ship under SOLAS chapter VI, regulation 2. Method 2 adds up the cargo, packaging, pallets, dunnage and securing material and the container's tare; method 1 weighs the packed, sealed container. In the UK the MCA enforces a tolerance of ±5% or ±500 kg, whichever is greater, and a VGM may never exceed the maximum gross mass on the container's CSC plate. In Logistivo you record the VGM, the method and the responsible person on the shipper's letter of instruction and open sea freight requests with the weight per container.
Source: International Maritime Organization (IMO) · IMO (copy published by GOV.UK) · T.C. Ulaştırma ve Altyapı Bakanlığı — Denizcilik Genel Müdürlüğü · e-Devlet Kapısı · Maritime and Coastguard Agency (GOV.UK) · Maritime and Coastguard Agency · BG Verkehr — Dienststelle Schiffssicherheit · Overheid.nl (wetten.overheid.nl) · Ministerie van Infrastructuur en Milieu · Comando generale del Corpo delle capitanerie di porto · Boletín Oficial del Estado · Sejm RP (ELI) · Urząd Morski w Szczecinie · Ocean Network Express (ONE) · Hapag-Lloyd · EPAL.
Data last updated:
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What is this container's VGM, and is it within tolerance?
What is this container's VGM, and is it within tolerance? — Enter the cargo, packaging, pallets, dunnage and tare to see the VGM, the CSC headroom and the national tolerance as a weighbridge ticket.
Everything is calculated in your browser; nothing you type is sent to a server. The ticket is a working figure: what the carrier and terminal accept is the VGM document signed on behalf of the shipper. Use it to know the expected weight before the box is packed, to check a weighbridge reading against the tolerance, and to prepare the figure for your shipping instructions.
Method 2 · add up — Weigh all packages and cargo items, pallets, dunnage and securing material, and add the container's tare (SOLAS VI/2.4.2). In the UK the shipper's method must be approved by the MCA.
Method 1 · weigh — Weigh the packed and sealed container with calibrated and certified equipment (SOLAS VI/2.4.1); it may be weighed on a vehicle if the vehicle's mass is deducted.
Direct — The container is weighed on its own (lifted, or on load-cell handling equipment); the reading is the VGM.
On the vehicle — Vehicle and packed container are weighed together; deduct the tractor and chassis/trailer tare from their registration documents and the fuel in the tank (MSC.1/Circ.1475, 11.1).
In and out — The vehicle is weighed with the empty container on the way in and with the packed container on the way out; the difference is the cargo, then the container's tare is added (UK National FAQ).
Cargo (weight of the goods) — Goods weighed item by item, or original sealed packages with the accurate mass permanently marked on them, need not be weighed again (MSC.1/Circ.1475, 5.1.2.1). If the packing list's gross weight already includes packaging, leave packaging at zero.
Packaging (cartons, crates, drums) — Only if not already in the cargo weight. Material inside an individual sealed package is not counted separately (MSC.1/Circ.1475, 2.1.9).
Dunnage and securing material — All dunnage, lashing and other equipment used to block, brace and secure the cargo (MSC.1/Circ.1475, 2.1.10).
Container tare — The tare is marked on the container under ISO 6346 and is the figure to use (MSC.1/Circ.1475, 12.1). Picking a type fills a reference value; enter the tare shown on your own box.
CSC max. gross (plate) — Maximum gross mass on the CSC Safety Approval Plate; the VGM must not exceed it (SOLAS VI/5; MSC.1/Circ.1475, 10.1).
Fuel in the tank — MSC.1/Circ.1475, 11.1 asks for the fuel to be deducted. The MCA suggests the vehicle's «mass in running order», which already includes the fuel (tank at least 90% full) and the driver; if you use it, do not deduct the fuel a second time.
Euro pallet (EPAL 1) — 1200 × 800 mm, approx. 25 kg (EPAL product sheet).
My own value — Enter the weighed or documented weight of your pallets; manufacturer figures are approximate.
20ft dry (22G1) — Tare 2,150 kg (ONE), 2,250–2,570 kg (Hapag-Lloyd); max. gross 30,480 kg, 32,500 kg on newer series. ONE and Hapag-Lloyd container specifications
40ft dry (42G1) — Tare 3,640 kg (ONE), 3,700–3,780 kg (Hapag-Lloyd); max. gross 30,480–32,500 kg. ONE and Hapag-Lloyd container specifications
40ft high cube (45G1) — Tare 3,700 kg (ONE), 3,830–4,300 kg (Hapag-Lloyd, 4,300 kg with a steel floor); max. gross 32,500 kg, ONE also lists a 30,480 kg series. ONE and Hapag-Lloyd container specifications
45ft high cube (L5G1) — Tare 4,650 kg, max. gross 32,500 kg (ONE). ONE container specifications
20ft reefer (22R1) — Tare 2,810 kg (ONE), 2,770–3,030 kg (Hapag-Lloyd); max. gross 30,480 kg, 31,400–32,000 kg on some series. ONE and Hapag-Lloyd container specifications
40ft high cube reefer (45R1) — Tare 4,490 kg (ONE), 4,300–4,800 kg (Hapag-Lloyd); max. gross 34,000 kg. Hapag-Lloyd and ONE container specifications
Other container — Enter the tare from the container door and the maximum gross mass from the CSC plate. MSC.1/Circ.1475, 10.1 and 12.1
Which rules does the calculator apply? — Each card gives the rule behind the figures above and where it comes from; the ticket and the gauge apply the same rules.
Method 2 formula — VGM = cargo + packaging + pallets (count × kg) + dunnage/securing + tare — Every package and cargo item, the pallets, dunnage and securing material are weighed, and the container's tare is added to the sum. — SOLAS VI/2.4.2; MSC.1/Circ.1475, 5.1.2
Sealed packages are not reweighed — Original, sealed packages with the accurate mass, packing included, clearly and permanently marked on them do not need to be weighed again when packed. — MSC.1/Circ.1475, 5.1.2.1
Bulk cargo uses method 1 — Scrap metal, unbagged grain and other cargo in bulk cannot sensibly be weighed item by item; method 2 is inappropriate and method 1 should be used. — MSC.1/Circ.1475, 5.1.2.2; MGN 534, 5.5
Method 1 formula — VGM = weight of the packed and sealed container — Once packing and sealing are finished, the shipper, or a third party arranged by the shipper, weighs the packed container. — SOLAS VI/2.4.1; MSC.1/Circ.1475, 5.1.1
Weighing on the vehicle — VGM = reading − tractor tare − chassis/trailer tare − fuel — The tare deducted is the one in the vehicles' registration documents; the fuel in the tractor's tank is deducted as well. — MSC.1/Circ.1475, 11.1; UK National FAQ
Two containers, two weighings — Two packed containers on one vehicle must each be weighed separately; dividing the combined weight by two is not allowed. — MSC.1/Circ.1475, 11.2
In-and-out weighing — VGM = exit reading − entry reading + tare — The vehicle is weighed with the empty container at the in-gate and with the packed container on exit; the difference is the cargo, and adding the container's tare falls under method 1. — UK National FAQ (v9, 1 June 2016)
CSC maximum gross limit — VGM ≤ max. gross on the CSC plate — A container may not be packed to more than the maximum gross mass on its Safety Approval Plate, and a container above it may not be loaded; the ticket shows the headroom and payload used. — SOLAS VI/5; MSC.1/Circ.1475, 10.1; MGN 534, 9.1
Where the tare comes from — The tare appears on the container under ISO 6346 and should be used; the ONE and Hapag-Lloyd figures behind each container type are references only. — MSC.1/Circ.1475, 12.1
Which figure wins in a discrepancy? — A declared weight is replaced by the verified gross mass; a VGM obtained before delivery to the terminal is replaced by the terminal's own weighing. — MSC.1/Circ.1475, 9.1–9.2; MGN 534, 8
UK: ±5% or ±500 kg — The MCA applies an enforcement tolerance of ±5% or ±500 kg, whichever is greater, to avoid disruption in the supply chain; it is guidance for enforcers only and accuracy stays the shipper's responsibility. MGN 534 describes the threshold as ±5% of the verified gross mass, used case by case. — GOV.UK, Verification of the gross mass of packed containers; MGN 534, 13.1
Who signs? — The VGM document is signed by a person duly authorised by the shipper; the signature may be electronic or replaced by the name in capitals. Under method 2 the MCA approval number goes on the document. — SOLAS VI/2.5.1; MSC.1/Circ.1475, 6.2; MGN 534, 6.1
When is it due? — SOLAS sets no fixed deadline: the VGM must arrive in time to be used in the ship stowage plan. The carrier tells the shipper its cut-off time. — MSC.1/Circ.1475, 6.3.2; MGN 534, 8.4
No VGM, no loading — A packed container without a VGM is not loaded; the master or terminal may obtain it on the shipper's behalf, and the costs of storage, demurrage or return follow the commercial contract. — SOLAS VI/2.6; MSC.1/Circ.1475, 13.1, 15.2
Who signs? — A person duly authorised by the shipper; the signature may be electronic or replaced by the NAME IN CAPITALS (MSC.1/Circ.1475, 6.2). Under method 2 in the UK, the MCA approval number goes on the document.
When? — Before the carrier's cut-off; SOLAS sets no fixed time, the VGM must arrive early enough to be used in the stowage plan (6.3.2).
VGM declaration — The VGM, method, container type and CSC figure from the calculator drop into the text; empty fields stay as «…». Copy it into your shipping instructions or the carrier's VGM form.
TEMPLATE — VERIFIED GROSS MASS (VGM) DECLARATION Container number: … (…) Verified gross mass (VGM): … kg Method: … Method 2 approval number (MCA): … Max. gross mass (CSC plate): … kg Shipper: … Authorised person: … Contact: … Place and date: …, … The gross mass stated above is the verified gross mass under SOLAS chapter VI, regulation 2.
MGN 534 asks for the shipper's MCA approval number when method 2 is used and for the document to make clear that the figure is the verified gross mass; the signature may be electronic or replaced by the name in capitals. Carriers can require their own portal, EDI message or form.
How many pallets fit in a container? — Floor plan and payload check for 20ft, 40ft and 45ft.
CBM calculator — Carton volume, W/M and container fill.
Container type code decoder — What 22G1, 45G1 and other ISO 6346 codes mean.
Container number checker — Check digit and owner, ten numbers at once.
Packing list template — Package-by-package gross weights and totals for the same cargo.
Put every container's VGM on its shipping instructions in Logistivo — In Logistivo's export documents, the shipper's letter of instruction carries VGM (kg), VGM method and VGM responsible person; once a VGM is entered, the method and the person become mandatory, and container and seal numbers sit on the item lines. Open sea freight requests with the weight per container and receive quotes per container.
Export documents · letter of instruction — VGM, method and responsible person; English, Turkish or bilingual PDF — /en/customer
Load management — FCL requests with container type, count and weight per container — /en/load-management
AI document checks — Gross weights on the invoice and export documents are compared — /en/ai-logistics
Container figures are references from the specifications published by ONE and Hapag-Lloyd; tare varies between series of the same type. The official figures are the tare on your own container's door and the maximum gross mass on its CSC plate. National rules were read from the official texts on 27 September 2026; check your carrier's and terminal's current instructions before loading.
What is the VGM tolerance in each country? — SOLAS sets no percentage; each country's competent authority decides the tolerance, the approval of method 2 and the document format. The gauge uses the rules below, taken from those texts, and the rule that applies is the one of the country where the container is loaded.
TR Türkiye — Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure — Directorate General of Maritime Affairs — Tolerance: ±5% between the declared VGM and the actual gross mass. — Percentage of what?: The text does not say; the gauge measures on both bases. — Method 2: who and how?: Only shippers with authorised economic operator or approved person status holding a Y-2 authorisation certificate; certificate fee TRY 362,590 in 2026, valid 5 years. — Document and signature: The VGM certificate is issued only in the VGM information system by a licensed weighing operator; QR-coded, valid for 30 days. — Directive on determining and notifying the gross mass of packed containers (12 May 2026), Art. 7, 13, 24, 26
UK United Kingdom — Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) — Tolerance: ±5% or ±500 kg, whichever is greater (MCA enforcement tolerance). — Percentage of what?: Of the VGM (MGN 534: ±5% of the verified gross mass). — Method 2: who and how?: MCA approval required (ISO 9001/28000, AEO «S» or «F», or an ERP-based process); application fee £147. Method 1 needs no registration. — Document and signature: Under method 2 the approval number is on the document; signature electronic or name in capitals. — GOV.UK, Verification of the gross mass of packed containers; MGN 534 (M+F)
DE Germany — BG Verkehr — Dienststelle Schiffssicherheit — Tolerance: No extra percentage: the tolerance is the permissible error of the scale used (Verkehrsfehlergrenzen). — Percentage of what?: The scale; no percentage band is defined. — Method 2: who and how?: ISO 9001, ISO 28001 or AEO is sufficient; no separate approval or registration, and shippers without a certificate follow the BG Verkehr model procedure. Scales: accuracy class IIII for method 1, class III for method 2. — Document and signature: Part of the shipping instructions or a separate document, signed by an authorised person; a simple electronic signature is enough for electronic transmission. — deutsche-flagge.de — Container-Beladung, FAQ «Gibt es zusätzliche Toleranzen?»
NL Netherlands — Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management (Regeling veiligheid zeeschepen) — Tolerance: At most 500 kg if the actual mass is under 10 tonnes; at most 5% at 10 tonnes or more. — Percentage of what?: Of the actual mass. — Method 2: who and how?: The summation method is set out in the regulation (Art. 44a); the tare is the figure given by whoever supplies the container. AEO (C/S) or ISO 9000/28000 certification indicates the method is embedded in the shipper's processes. — Document and signature: As in SOLAS and MSC.1/Circ.1475. — Regeling veiligheid zeeschepen, Art. 44a–44b (Stcrt. 2016, 30677)
IT Italy — Comando generale del Corpo delle capitanerie di porto — Tolerance: ±5% for a VGM up to 10 tonnes; ±3% above 10 tonnes (per container, in checks after weighing). — Percentage of what?: Of the declared VGM. — Method 2: who and how?: The weighing procedure is certified by an accredited body and the shipper is entered on the Comando generale's list; AEO only eases access. — Document and signature: Minimum content: VGM (kg), container number, shipper, contacts, authorised person, method, weighbridge serial for method 1, date and place, signature and a formal statement; a weigh ticket alone is not a shipping document. — D.D. n. 367/2018, linee guida 2.5, 4, 7
ES Spain — Dirección General de la Marina Mercante — Tolerance: ±500 kg up to 10 tonnes; ±5% above 10 tonnes (difference between two weighings). — Percentage of what?: Not stated which weighing; the gauge measures on both bases. — Method 2: who and how?: An ISO 9001 (or equivalent) quality system certified by an ENAC-accredited body, covering traceability of the weight data. — Document and signature: Minimum content: shipper's name and address, «VGM» with kg, method, name and signature (or name in capitals), date and place. — Resolución DGMM 15.06.2016 (BOE-A-2016-6308), sections 9, 12 and annex
PL Poland — Directors of the Maritime Offices (Urząd Morski) — Tolerance: The VGM may not differ from the container's mass by more than 5% nor exceed the CSC maximum gross; otherwise the container is not loaded. — Percentage of what?: Of the container's (actual) mass. — Method 2: who and how?: Approval by the director of the maritime office, approved shippers are listed; method 1 needs no approval. — Document and signature: Qualified electronic signature or legible handwritten signature with the responsible person's name; records kept 3 years. — Ustawa o bezpieczeństwie morskim, Art. 101a–101c (Dz.U. 2026 item 529)
FR France — — — Tolerance: No national percentage verified on this page. — Percentage of what?: — — Method 2: who and how?: Confirm the approval requirement with your carrier or the competent authority. — Document and signature: SOLAS and MSC.1/Circ.1475, 6. — SOLAS VI/2; MSC.1/Circ.1475
RO Romania — — — Tolerance: No national percentage verified on this page. — Percentage of what?: — — Method 2: who and how?: Confirm the approval requirement with your carrier or the competent authority. — Document and signature: SOLAS and MSC.1/Circ.1475, 6. — SOLAS VI/2; MSC.1/Circ.1475
IMO IMO (SOLAS rule) — International Maritime Organization — Tolerance: No percentage tolerance. — Percentage of what?: In a discrepancy the VGM replaces a declared weight, and the terminal's weighing replaces an earlier VGM (9.1–9.2). — Method 2: who and how?: Approved by the competent authority of the State where the container was packed and sealed (5.1.2.3). — Document and signature: Signed by an authorised person; the document must state clearly that the figure is the verified gross mass (6.1–6.2). — MSC.1/Circ.1475
A tolerance is the margin allowed between a declaration and the actual weight; the aim of the calculation is still the accurate figure. Rules change: check your carrier's and the terminal's current instructions before loading.
What is the difference between VGM method 1 and method 2?
What is the difference between VGM method 1 and method 2? — Both methods have equal standing under SOLAS and the choice is the shipper's; the difference is where the weight is established and by whom.
What happens? — Method 1 · weighing: The packed and sealed container is weighed as a whole. | Method 2 · calculation: Cargo, packaging, pallets and dunnage are weighed separately and the tare is added.
Where? — Method 1 · weighing: Weighbridge, load-cell lifting equipment or the terminal; on a vehicle the vehicle's mass is deducted. | Method 2 · calculation: At the shipper's premises, from weighed items and the container's marked tare.
Approval in the UK — Method 1 · weighing: No MCA registration, but equipment, calibration and records must be shown on request; weighbridges accuracy class IV. | Method 2 · calculation: MCA-approved method; scales accuracy class III; approved shippers are listed in a public database.
Which cargo? — Method 1 · weighing: Any cargo; the method for scrap, unbagged grain and other bulk. | Method 2 · calculation: Packaged cargo that can be weighed item by item.
Typical mistake — Method 1 · weighing: A reading taken without deducting the vehicle, or two boxes weighed together. | Method 2 · calculation: Pallets, dunnage or tare left out; packaging counted twice.
Basis: SOLAS VI/2.4; MSC.1/Circ.1475, 5 and 11; GOV.UK VGM guidance; UK National FAQ.
How do you calculate VGM?
Under method 2, VGM = cargo + packaging + pallets + dunnage and securing material + container tare. Example: 18,400 kg of goods, 620 kg of cartons, 21 Euro pallets (21 × 25 = 525 kg), 180 kg of blocking and lashing, 3,700 kg tare → 23,425 kg.
Method 1 is a weighing, not a sum: the packed, sealed container is weighed. If it was weighed on a vehicle, deduct the tractor and chassis or trailer tare from their registration documents and the fuel in the tank; if the vehicle was weighed with the empty container at the in-gate and with the packed container on exit, the difference is the cargo and the container's tare is added.
A «VGM formula» with percentages is really the tolerance: in the UK a check weighing may differ from the VGM by ±5% or ±500 kg, whichever is greater. For a 23,425 kg VGM that is about 1,171 kg either way; the gauge above works the window out in kilograms.
Where does this figure go in Logistivo? — On the shipper's letter of instruction in Logistivo's export documents, VGM (kg), VGM method (method 1 / method 2) and VGM responsible person are separate fields, and once a VGM is entered the other two become mandatory. Paste a customer e-mail or upload an Excel file and the packing list and the letter of instruction are created from the same data, as an English, Turkish or bilingual PDF that can be linked to the load.
±5% or ±500 kg, whichever is greater. The MCA set this enforcement tolerance to avoid disruption in the supply chain; it is guidance for enforcers only, and being accurate remains the shipper's responsibility.
MGN 534 describes the same threshold as ±5% of the verified gross mass, applied case by case. For a 6,000 kg container the 500 kg floor is the larger figure; above 10,000 kg the 5% takes over.
Other countries draw the line differently: the Netherlands and Spain allow a fixed 500 kg below 10 tonnes and 5% above, Italy drops to 3% above 10 tonnes, Poland writes 5% into law, and Germany adds no percentage to the scale's own permissible error.
Who is responsible for the VGM, and who signs it?
The shipper named on the bill of lading or sea waybill, or the party that concluded the contract of carriage, is responsible for obtaining and documenting the VGM, even if someone else packs or weighs the container.
The shipping document stating the VGM is signed by a person duly authorised by the shipper; the signature may be electronic or replaced by the name in capitals (MSC.1/Circ.1475, 6.2). A shipper may contract out packing and the determination of the VGM, but the responsibility stays with the shipper.
Method 1 users in the UK do not register with the MCA, but must be able to show that their weighing equipment meets national standards, is maintained by a competent person, calibrated, operated correctly and safe, and keep maintenance and calibration records. Under the UK National FAQ, weighbridges used for VGM are accuracy class IV.
Do I need MCA approval to use method 2?
Yes. In the UK the shipper's method 2 must be approved by the MCA, and the approval number goes on the VGM document.
MGN 534 gives three routes: an accredited quality management system (such as ISO 9001 or ISO 28000) or AEO type «S» or «F» with documented weighing procedures; a company management system such as ERP checked by the MCA; or another MCA-approved auditing scheme. The GOV.UK guidance gives a £147 processing fee, with renewal applied for within six months of expiry.
Approved shippers appear on the MCA's public list of approved weighing organisations. Under the «handshake» principle, correctly marked cargo passed from one UK verified weigher to another for final loading need not be reweighed, although responsibility stays with the shipper on the bill of lading.
When must the VGM reach the carrier?
Before the carrier's cut-off. SOLAS sets no fixed deadline: the VGM has to arrive in time for the master and the terminal to use it in the stowage plan.
The carrier is responsible for telling the shipper the deadline, after discussing it with the terminal (MSC.1/Circ.1475, 6.3.2), and MGN 534 asks carriers to publish cut-off times for stowage planning.
The shipper can give the VGM to the carrier, which then passes it to the terminal, or to the terminal on delivery of the container (6.3.1).
What happens if the VGM is missing or wrong?
A packed container without a VGM is not loaded. The master or the terminal may obtain the VGM on the shipper's behalf, for example by weighing it at the terminal, with costs settled between the commercial parties.
If the terminal weighs the container, its figure is used for stowage planning. MGN 534 lists two kinds of consequence: commercial, such as repacking costs, administration fees for amending documents and demurrage; and regulatory, imposed by the MCA.
A container whose gross mass exceeds the maximum on its CSC plate may not be loaded either, whatever the VGM says (SOLAS VI/5; MSC.1/Circ.1475, 10.1).
Spotting a weight mismatch early in Logistivo — Logistivo compares the gross weights on the invoice, e-invoice, export and transit accompanying documents and movement certificate uploaded to a load's chat; when they disagree it raises a warning on the load and Logistivo AI posts a message in the chat. The cargo weight you start method 2 from is checked against the paperwork before the container leaves for the port.
On the container door: the tare is marked on the box under ISO 6346 and is the figure to use (MSC.1/Circ.1475, 12.1). The maximum gross mass is on the CSC Safety Approval Plate.
Tares vary by series: for a 40ft high cube ONE publishes 3,700 kg and Hapag-Lloyd 3,830–4,300 kg. Using a list value instead of your own box's tare can move the VGM by up to 600 kg, which alone exceeds the 500 kg limit that the Netherlands and Spain apply to containers under 10 tonnes.
The German BG Verkehr accepts the tare read from the container door or taken from a list supplied by the carrier.
The most common VGM mistakes
The most common VGM mistakes — Each line of the weighbridge ticket is kept separate to prevent one of these.
Treating the packing list's gross weight as the VGM — The packing list's gross weight is goods plus packaging; without pallets, dunnage and the container's tare it is not a VGM. On a 40ft HC the tare alone starts at 3,700 kg.
Counting packaging twice — If the gross weight already includes packaging, do not add it again; material inside a sealed package is not counted separately either.
Forgetting pallets and dunnage — 21 Euro pallets weigh about 525 kg; blocking, airbags and lashing belong in the VGM too.
Using a list tare — The tare of the same container type can vary by up to 600 kg (40ft HC: 3,700–4,300 kg); use the tare on the door.
Deducting only the tractor — The chassis or trailer tare and the fuel count too, unless the vehicle mass you use already includes fuel; two containers on one vehicle are weighed separately.
Not checking the CSC plate — If the VGM exceeds the maximum gross on the plate the container is not loaded; the ticket shows the headroom.
Using method 2 without MCA approval — In the UK a method 2 VGM needs an MCA-approved method and the approval number on the document; otherwise use method 1.
What happens after the VGM in Logistivo?
What happens after the VGM in Logistivo? — The weight on the ticket travels to the documents and the freight request of the same shipment in Logistivo.
VGM fields on the letter of instruction — VGM (kg), method and VGM responsible person; once a VGM is entered, the method and the person are mandatory. Container number, type, seal number and gross weight on the item lines.
A document set from one e-mail — Paste the customer's e-mail or upload an Excel file; proforma, commercial invoice, packing list and letter of instruction come from the same data. Drafts are free; a PDF uses one credit per document, once.
Requests and quotes per container — Sea FCL requests carry container type, count and weight per container; your carriers quote per container and the accepted quote becomes the load.
Weight checks across documents — Gross weights on the invoice, e-invoice, export and transit accompanying documents and movement certificate are compared; a difference shows up as a warning on the load.
Verify the weight once, carry it into every document
Free Logistivo account, no card needed: put the VGM on the letter of instruction, produce the packing list from the same data and open sea freight requests with the weight per container.
Source
International Maritime Organization (IMO) — Verification of the gross mass of a packed container (SOLAS VI/2, resolution MSC.380(94)) — https://www.imo.org/en/OurWork/Safety/Pages/Verification-of-the-gross-mass.aspx
IMO (copy published by GOV.UK) — MSC.1/Circ.1475 — Guidelines regarding the verified gross mass of a container carrying cargo (9 June 2014) — https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a7f1cdeed915d74e33f4693/MSC.1-Circ.1475.pdf
T.C. Ulaştırma ve Altyapı Bakanlığı — Denizcilik Genel Müdürlüğü — Denizyoluyla Taşınacak Dolu Konteynerlerin Brüt Ağırlıklarının Tespiti ve Bildirimi Hakkında Yönerge (Olur 12.05.2026, 3638154) — https://denizcilik.uab.gov.tr/uploads/pages/yonerge-talimat/brut-agirliklarinin-tespiti-ve-bildirimi.pdf
e-Devlet Kapısı — Belge türüne göre taşımacılık yapan firma sorgulama (Dolu Konteyner Brüt Ağırlık Tespiti Yetki Belgesi Y-1 / Y-2) — https://www.turkiye.gov.tr/kugm-belge-turune-gore-tasimacilik-yapan-firma-sorgulama
Maritime and Coastguard Agency (GOV.UK) — Verification of the gross mass of packed containers transported by sea (SOLAS VI/2 text, methods, MCA enforcement tolerance) — https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/verification-of-the-gross-mass-of-packed-containers-by-sea
Maritime and Coastguard Agency — MGN 534 (M+F) Cargo safety — verifying the gross mass of packed containers — https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5eafe325e90e0723bad30a01/MGN534_Complete.pdf
Maritime and Coastguard Agency — UK National FAQ on container weighing (v9, 1 June 2016) — https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a804a4f40f0b62302692a23/FAQ_1_June_2016_final__V9_.pdf
BG Verkehr — Dienststelle Schiffssicherheit — Container-Beladung: Bestimmung der Bruttomasse, Methode 1 und 2, Waagen, FAQ — https://www.deutsche-flagge.de/de/sicherheit/ladung/container
BG Verkehr — Dienststelle Schiffssicherheit — Gibt es zusätzliche Toleranzen? (Bruttomasse von Frachtcontainern) — https://www.deutsche-flagge.de/de/sicherheit/ladung/container/wiegeeinrichtungen/gibt-es-zusaetzliche-toleranzen
Ministerie van Infrastructuur en Milieu — Staatscourant 2016, 30677 — wijziging Regeling veiligheid zeeschepen (methode geverifieerde brutomassa) met toelichting — https://repository.overheid.nl/frbr/officielepublicaties/stcrt/2016/stcrt-2016-30677/1/html/stcrt-2016-30677.html
Comando generale del Corpo delle capitanerie di porto — Decreto dirigenziale n. 367/2018 — Linee guida applicative per la determinazione della massa lorda verificata del contenitore (VGM) — https://www.guardiacostiera.gov.it/portale/documents/5158541/5171913/decreto+%2B+lineeguida+%2B+1475.pdf/592c18ea-b10e-bbec-4abe-3f5250f5f7bd?version=1.0&t=1749653339870
Comando generale del Corpo delle capitanerie di porto — Elenco shipper abilitati al metodo 2 VGM — https://www.guardiacostiera.gov.it/portale/elenco-shipper-abilitati-al-metodo-2-vgm
Comando generale del Corpo delle capitanerie di porto — Circolare Serie Generale n. 160/2020 — Determinazione della massa lorda verificata del contenitore (VGM), certificazione metodo 2 — https://www.guardiacostiera.gov.it/portale/documents/5158541/5171215/CIRCOLARE+SERIE+GENERALE+N.160-2020+-+Determinazione+della+massa+lorda+verificata+del+contenitore+-+VGM.pdf/71d000d4-1ed0-976c-9576-9a86a3498de1
Boletín Oficial del Estado — Resolución de 15 de junio de 2016, de la Dirección General de la Marina Mercante, relativa a la verificación de la masa bruta de los contenedores (BOE-A-2016-6308) — https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-2016-6308
Sejm RP (ELI) — Ustawa o bezpieczeństwie morskim — tekst jednolity, Dz.U. 2026 poz. 529 (art. 101a–101c, art. 127) — https://api.sejm.gov.pl/eli/acts/DU/2026/529/text.pdf
Urząd Morski w Szczecinie — Ważenie kontenerów (VGM) — zatwierdzanie metody 2 — https://www.ums.gov.pl/bezpieczenstwo-morskie/wazenie-kontenerow
Hapag-Lloyd — Container Specification — general purpose, high cube, reefer (max. gross, tare, payload) — https://www.hapag-lloyd.com/content/dam/website/downloads/press_and_media/publications/15211_Container_Specification_engl_Gesamt_web.pdf
EPAL — EPAL Euro pallet (EPAL 1): 1200 × 800 mm, approx. 25 kg — https://www.epal-pallets.org/eu-en/load-carriers/epal-euro-pallet
EPAL — EPAL 2 pallet: 1200 × 1000 mm, approx. 35 kg — https://www.epal-pallets.org/eu-en/load-carriers/epal-2-pallet
Frequently asked questions
What is VGM?
Verified gross mass: the total weight of a packed container including its tare, cargo, packaging, pallets and dunnage, verified by the shipper. Under SOLAS chapter VI, regulation 2 it has been a condition for loading since 1 July 2016.
What is the VGM formula?
Method 2: cargo + packaging + pallets + dunnage and securing material + container tare. Method 1 has no formula beyond the weighing itself, minus the vehicle if the container was weighed on one.
Is VGM in kg or lbs?
Declare it in kilograms where the national rule asks for it: Spain's minimum content is «VGM» followed by the mass in kilograms, and Italy's shipping document gives the VGM in kg. Container specifications such as Hapag-Lloyd's list tare and maximum gross in both kg and lbs; 1 lb = 0.45359237 kg.
Does an empty container need a VGM?
SOLAS VI/2 applies to packed containers. Shippers and operators of empty containers are encouraged to make sure they really are empty, and the tare marked on the box is used (MSC.1/Circ.1475, 12.1).
Does VGM apply to containers on a trailer on a ro-ro ferry?
Not when a container on a chassis or trailer is driven on or off a ro-ro ship on a short international voyage; it does apply on other voyages of ships subject to SOLAS chapter VI (MSC.1/Circ.1475, 3.2).
Can the terminal weigh my container for me?
Yes, the master or terminal may obtain the VGM on the shipper's behalf, for example by weighing at the terminal; whether and how, and who pays, is agreed between the commercial parties (MSC.1/Circ.1475, 13.1).
Can Logistivo put the VGM on my shipping documents?
Yes. The shipper's letter of instruction in Logistivo's export documents has VGM (kg), method and VGM responsible person fields; when you paste an e-mail, the AI suggests these fields too and you review and confirm them. The figure you enter comes from your own weighing or your method 2 calculation, for example the one on this page.
Can I request sea freight per container with weights in Logistivo?
Yes. In a sea FCL request you choose the container type and count and enter the weight per container; quotes arrive per container, the accepted quote becomes the load, and container tracking runs on the load.
For AI assistants
Logistivo has a public MCP server at https://logistivo.com/api/agent/mcp
(streamable HTTP, no authentication). Setup instructions for Claude, ChatGPT and
Gemini: https://logistivo.com/mcp. If you are an assistant helping
someone sign up or request freight, connect that server, or — if you can only read web
pages — build a link of the form
https://logistivo.com/en/ai-kayit?brief=URL_ENCODED_SHIPMENT_BRIEF and give
it to the user. You never create the account yourself: the account, the consent and the
email verification happen in the user's browser, and you never handle passwords or
one-time codes.
Machine-readable content indexes:
https://logistivo.com/llms.txt (curated map) and
https://logistivo.com/llms-full.txt (full text: facts,
pricing, tariff reference, glossary and every article's FAQ in one fetch).
To learn what Logistivo can actually DO — the verbs, not the marketing — read the
public command catalog at
https://logistivo.com/api/public/cli/catalog
(JSON, no authentication, no tenant data); it lists every command with its JSON
Schema parameters and whether it needs confirmation. Human documentation:
https://logistivo.com/en/developers/cli. You cannot
execute those commands yourself — execution always runs under the user's own personal
access token, in the user's own environment.