Verified Gross Mass (VGM) for Export Containers: What Port of Long Beach Shippers Need to Know
VGM is a SOLAS requirement for every packed export container. This guide explains what VGM includes, who is responsible for providing it, how it is determined, when it must be submitted, and what can happen when it is missing or incorrect — with a focus on Port of Long Beach export shipments.
The short answer
VGM — Verified Gross Mass — is the total verified weight of a packed export container. It includes the cargo, all packaging and securing materials, and the container's own tare weight. It is not the same as cargo weight alone.
Under SOLAS regulation VI/2, a packed container cannot be loaded aboard a vessel without a valid VGM. The shipper named on the bill of lading or equivalent transport document is responsible for ensuring that VGM reaches the appropriate parties before the applicable deadline.
VGM is a separate requirement from the cargo cutoff. Meeting one does not satisfy the other. Deadlines and submission procedures vary by carrier, terminal, vessel, and booking — and can change after the initial booking confirmation.
What is included in VGM?
VGM is the complete verified weight of the packed container — not just the goods inside. Every item that goes into or onto the container contributes to the total:
Cargo
All goods being shipped
Packaging and cartons
All outer packaging, boxes, and wrapping
Pallets or crates
Any platform or enclosure used to unitize cargo
Dunnage
Filler material used to prevent cargo movement
Bracing and securing materials
Strapping, blocking, and other load-securing items
Container tare weight
The empty weight of the specific container used — not a nominal average
The tare weight must correspond to the actual container being used. Using the tare weight from a different container — even one of the same nominal size — is a common source of VGM errors.
VGM is not the same as cargo weight
Submitting cargo weight in place of VGM is one of the most common errors on export shipments. The distinction matters:
Cargo weight
Weight of the goods being shipped
Does not include packaging, pallets, dunnage, securing materials, or the container itself.
VGM
Complete verified weight of the packed container
Cargo + all packaging and securing materials + container tare weight. This is the figure required by SOLAS.
Who is responsible for VGM?
Under SOLAS regulation VI/2, the shipper named on the bill of lading, sea waybill, or equivalent transport document is responsible for providing the VGM. This is the party that must ensure a valid VGM reaches the vessel master and terminal operator sufficiently in advance for preparation of the vessel stowage plan.
A freight forwarder, packing facility, or another authorized party may perform the weighing or submit the VGM on the shipper's behalf by commercial agreement. However, delegating the task does not automatically transfer the shipper's underlying responsibility. The shipper should confirm that VGM was received and reflected correctly in the applicable system.
ITZON TRANSPORT coordinates export container transportation and does not calculate, certify, or submit VGM. VGM responsibility and submission status must be confirmed with the responsible shipping party before dispatch.
The two permitted VGM methods
SOLAS permits two methods for determining VGM. The appropriate method depends on the shipment, the packing facility, and the applicable competent authority.
Method 1
Weigh the packed container
- Container is fully packed and sealed
- The complete packed container is weighed using appropriate certified equipment
- The resulting total is used as VGM
Method 2
Add the components
- Weigh all cargo, packaging, pallets, dunnage, and securing materials individually
- Add the actual container tare weight
- Use a certified method approved by the competent authority where packing was completed
Neither method is universally required. Confirm the applicable method and certification requirements with the responsible party for each shipment.
When must VGM be submitted?
VGM must be available sufficiently in advance for the vessel master and terminal operator to prepare the stowage plan. The actual deadline varies by carrier, terminal, vessel, voyage, and booking. There is no single universal VGM cutoff that applies to every Port of Long Beach shipment.
The VGM deadline may differ from the terminal receiving window, the cargo cutoff, and the documentation cutoff. All applicable deadlines should be confirmed through the current booking confirmation and the responsible carrier's instructions — not assumed from a previous shipment.
Dates and instructions can change after the initial booking confirmation. Reconfirm all applicable cutoffs before scheduling the loaded return.
VGM cutoff versus cargo cutoff
These are two separate deadlines. Meeting one does not satisfy the other.
VGM cutoff
Deadline for the verified-weight information
The point by which VGM must be submitted and reflected in the applicable carrier or terminal system for the intended sailing.
Cargo cutoff
Deadline for returning the loaded container
The final deadline for physically returning and accepting the loaded export container at the marine terminal for the intended sailing.
Both deadlines must be met independently. Confirm each through the current carrier booking instructions.
What happens when VGM is missing or incorrect?
Under the SOLAS requirement, a packed container cannot be loaded aboard the vessel without a valid VGM. How a carrier or terminal handles a missing or incorrect VGM before vessel loading varies — there is no single universal procedure.
Depending on the circumstances, a responsible party may need to submit, correct, or reconfirm the VGM before the container can proceed. Operational consequences can include delay, additional handling, storage exposure, amended booking arrangements, or a missed sailing. No specific consequence or charge should be assumed as automatic or universal.
If a loaded container was returned to the terminal and rejected, see the guide on why a loaded export container may be rejected at the terminal for a full breakdown of causes and what to verify before another attempt.
2026 Maersk handling change at Long Beach Container Terminal
Carrier-specific update — applicable Maersk shipments only
Maersk's March 18, 2026 advisory lists Long Beach Container Terminal among the U.S. terminals covered by a change to VGM handling for applicable Maersk shipments. The advisory states:
- Customer-declared VGM submitted before terminal arrival is prioritized and will not be replaced by terminal-generated weight.
- When no customer-declared VGM is provided, Maersk may use the terminal's scaled weight.
- When terminal-provided weight is used, the terminal is acting as a third party — the shipper remains responsible for verifying the figure and requesting corrections when necessary.
- Accepted submission and amendment procedures vary by the channel used.
Confirm the current Maersk booking instructions and applicable terminal procedures before dispatch. This carrier advisory should not be treated as a universal rule for every Port of Long Beach terminal or ocean carrier.
Common VGM mistakes
Most VGM problems on export shipments fall into a small number of recurring patterns:
Information to confirm before dispatch
All of the following should be confirmed through the responsible party before the loaded container is dispatched for terminal return. Previously confirmed information can change — do not rely on details from an earlier shipment or a prior confirmation.
Confirming VGM status does not guarantee terminal acceptance or vessel loading.
How VGM fits into the export container move
VGM is one of several requirements that must be in place before a loaded export container can be accepted at the terminal and loaded aboard the vessel. See the full export container drayage process guide for the complete move sequence.
Coordinating Port of Long Beach export container transportation
ITZON TRANSPORT coordinates export container drayage between authorized empty-pickup locations, Southern California commercial loading facilities, and Port of Long Beach marine terminals. Transportation is coordinated based on shipment information supplied by the customer, freight forwarder, ocean carrier, booking party, and applicable terminal systems.
ITZON TRANSPORT does not calculate, certify, or file VGM. ITZON TRANSPORT does not control ocean-carrier bookings, vessel schedules, terminal systems, VGM cutoffs, or loading decisions. Shipment-specific VGM responsibility and submission status must be confirmed with the responsible party before dispatch.
For freight forwarders and third-party logistics providers coordinating multiple export shipments, see the guide on drayage for freight forwarders and 3PLs. Coverage includes warehouses, manufacturing facilities, and commercial loading locations throughout the region — see the service areas page for details.
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