As per the SOLAS regulation, effective 1 July, 2016, it is the shipper’s responsibility to provide the Verified Gross Mass (VGM) to USPTI or the port terminal facility representative upon the delivery of the container to the port facility and prior to loading.
“VGM rule” prescribes two methods by which the shipper may obtain the verified gross mass of a packed container.

Method 1. Upon the conclusion of packing and sealing a container, the shipper may weigh, or have arranged that a third party weigh, the packed container using calibrated and certified equipment.

Method 2. The shipper or, by arrangement of the shipper, a third party may weigh all packages and cargo items, including the mass of pallets, dunnage and other packing and securing material to be packed in the container, and add the tare mass of the container to the sum of the single masses of the container’s contents. The using method shall be approved by the competent authority of the state in which packing of the container was completed.

In respect of both Method 1 and 2, the weighing equipment used must meet the applicable accuracy standards and requirements of SOLAS

We expect all our customers to be fully compliant with the SOLAS requirements. However, if there is non-compliance to procedures, USPTI reserves the right to collect any out-of-pocket costs which may be charged to us by Third Parties.