What is detention?

Detention is the charge applicable, after the free time expires, for the use of the carrier’s full container inside the marine terminal until the empty is handed over to the designated MSC depot. This charge can also apply while the container is undergoing customs inspections, or while the cargo inside the container is being reworked for safety reasons.   

What are storage charges?

Terminal storage charge is applicable, after the free time expires, for containers left inside the terminal. These charges need to be settled directly to the terminal based on their published tariff. If the containers are abandoned, the line will be responsible for the storage charges.

What is VGM?

Verified Gross Mass or VGM refers to the exact, verified weight of a packed container. For safety reasons, vessel operators can only load a container if its weight has been verified.

In line with SOLAS (Safety of Lives at Sea) regulations, all marine terminals in SL are now allowed to use their certified scales to record Verified Gross Mass (VGM) of shipments. 

Government approval status

The Director General Merchant Shipping of Sri Lanka (DGMS) under Ministry of Ports & Shipping is the sole regulating authority of VGM in Sri Lanka.

Accepted Tolerance

The threshold for gross container weight tolerance will be 5% (+/-) or 01 Ton (+/-) per declared weight as mentioned in the VGM certificate. Container exceeding the threshold is not allowed to load on the vessel.

Terminal Gates will be checking VGM certificate when Container entering to Terminal stack.

No container will be accepted to vessel stack without having valid VGM after 01st of July 2016.

How to submit your VGM instructions

myMSC – customer can upload VGM data and PDF file of the VGM certificate.

Deadlines for sending VGM the instructions

Based on the standard CY cut off 12 hours prior vessel Berthing would be the VGM cut-off for none-EU cargo.

Containers arriving or VGM submitting after 12 hours cut-off would not be loaded on vessel. EU cargo , VGM cut-off is BL Draft. Submission weight declared at the time of cut-off should capture when transmitting manifest for EU cargo.

MSC admin fees and costs 

Recommendations

Questions about VGM?

Contact our Order handling and Capacity team