The FESCO Transportation Group informs customers that the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) has made amendments to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) requiring the declaration of the verified gross mass (VGM) of a packed container prior to vessel loading. These amendments will apply to international maritime transportation.
FESCO has taken steps to streamline its information systems and operating processes in order to ensure compliance with the new requirements. In particular, the Commercial Port of Vladivostok (part of the FESCO Transportation Group) has been VGM certified by the Russian Maritime Register of Shipping to provide the gross mass verification services. This enables our customers shipping cargoes through the Commercial Port of Vladivostok to verify their containers directly at the terminal.
For customers shipping with FESCO, a number of convenient options are available to submit their VGM data:
- via a personal account at my.fesco.com,
- via INTTRA,
- by e-mail,
- by providing an original hard copy.
VGM declaration is not required for:
- empty containers,
- containers shipped domestically,
- containers shipped on truck/trailer on Ro-Ro vessels (short international voyages)
The new requirements will serve to improve maritime safety and ensure the vessel stability and hull strength.
In the absence of VGM documents, the carrier and the terminal will refuse to load the container on board.