VGM in Türkiye: verified gross mass and the 2026 rules A container not weighed does not board the ship.
Under SOLAS, since 1 July 2016 the verified gross mass (VGM; DBA in Turkish legislation) of every packed container has had to be reported to the carrier before loading; a packed container without it is not loaded. The shipper is responsible. Under the new ministry directive applied in Türkiye since 12 May 2026, the VGM certificate is issued only by a licensed weighing operator through the Ministry's VGM Information System. The certificate is valid for 30 days, and the difference between the declared and the actual mass may not exceed ±5%. The line operator may not charge the shipper for passing the VGM on to the carrier.
The SOLAS rule
The IMO's amendment to SOLAS regulation VI/2 (MSC.380(94)) made verification of the gross mass of packed containers mandatory before stowage and entered into force on 1 July 2016. According to the IMO guidelines, the shipper is responsible for verifying the mass and for reporting it in the shipping documents early enough for the master to use it in the stowage plan (MSC.1/Circ.1475).
In the Turkish directive, "gross mass" is the total of the cargo, packing and packaging material and cargo securing material inside the container, including the container's tare (art. 4). A packed container without VGM information may not be loaded onto a ship (art. 12/2).
Method 1 and Method 2
| Method | How | Who may use it |
|---|---|---|
| Method 1 | The container is weighed once fully closed and ready for carriage. It may be weighed on the trailer, deducting the vehicle's tare and taking fuel into account. Several containers on one vehicle are weighed separately (art. 23). | Any shipper, through a licensed weighing operator |
| Method 2 | Every cargo item, package, packing and securing material going into the container is weighed and the container's tare is added (art. 24/1). | Only shippers with authorised economic operator or approved person status who are licensed by the Administration as weighing operators (art. 24/2) |
For cargo unsuited to Method 2, such as scrap metal, unbagged (bulk) grain, bulk cargo and unprocessed marble blocks, Method 1 is mandatory (art. 24/3). The container's tare is shown visibly on the container (art. 9/2).
The VGM certificate
- Who issues it: only a licensed weighing operator, only through the VGM Information System; terminals and carriers may not accept a certificate produced outside the system (art. 13/3, 13/6, 15/5).
- Content: container number, maximum payload, VGM, weighing date and time, weighing device number, method, likely terminal, weighing operator, shipper and the person issuing the certificate; plus two photographs taken from the front and rear during weighing, showing the container number and the vehicle's plate (art. 5/4).
- Validity: 30 days; a container not shipped in time needs a new certificate. A new certificate for the same container requires 5 days to have passed since the previous one (art. 13/4–5).
- Correction: incorrectly entered information is corrected before the container reaches the terminal and within 72 hours of the certificate being generated (art. 11/1).
- Tolerance: the difference between the declared VGM and the actual gross mass may not exceed ±5%; this margin does not relieve the shipper of the duty to determine the mass correctly. If weighing at the terminal shows a difference of more than ±5%, the terminal issues the final certificate and notifies the harbour master (art. 7).
- Maximum payload: no certificate is issued for a container loaded beyond the maximum payload on its safety approval plate, and such a container is not loaded onto the ship (art. 8, 20/1-ç).
Who is responsible for what
- Shipper: has the VGM determined by Method 1 or Method 2, reports it to the carrier and the terminal, and keeps records for at least three years (art. 16). It may contract the work out to a weighing operator or a terminal, but the responsibility stays with the shipper (art. 15/4).
- Consolidated (LCL) container: where the container holds cargo of more than one party, the VGM is determined by Method 1 by the shipper in the contract of carriage or by the freight forwarder acting as shipper (art. 21).
- Line operator and agent: pass the VGM on to the carrier and may not ask the shipper for payment for doing so (art. 5/7, 19/1-a).
- Terminal: if it accepts a packed container without a certificate, it weighs it by Method 1 before loading and notifies the shipper (art. 12/1).
- Weighing fee: the Administration sets a maximum fee for VGM determination and raises it each year by the revaluation rate (art. 14/1). No amount is given on this page.
If the container is rejected
For a container rejected because no VGM certificate was issued, costs such as temporary storage, return to the shipper and demurrage are governed by private law between the parties (art. 5/6). Commercial losses from VGM information not being reported, or reported incorrectly, are settled under the contract between the parties (art. 11/3). For demurrage and storage details, see demurrage, detention and storage.
When it goes wrong
A weighbridge ticket is taken for a VGM certificate
A ticket from an unlicensed weighbridge is not a VGM certificate. The certificate is issued only by a licensed weighing operator, through the VGM Information System.
The certificate was issued 30 days ago
A container cannot be shipped on an expired certificate; a new one is needed. Allow for this period if the vessel is delayed.
A marble block is declared under Method 2
Method 2 cannot be used for unprocessed marble blocks, scrap metal or bulk cargo; the container must be weighed.
In a consolidated container everyone reports their own cargo
In an LCL container the VGM is determined for the whole container by Method 1, arranged by the shipper or the freight forwarder acting as shipper.
Frequently asked
Are VGM and DBA the same thing?
Yes. VGM (verified gross mass) is the English term in SOLAS; Turkish legislation calls it doğrulanmış brüt ağırlık (DBA).
Is a VGM needed for an empty container?
No. No VGM is required for empty containers, but whoever presents an empty container must make sure it really is empty (art. 9/1).
The line operator charges a VGM fee. Do I have to pay it?
Under the directive, no fee may be passed on to the shipper for transmitting the VGM to the carrier (art. 5/7, 19/1-a). The weighing itself is charged for and is invoiced by the weighing operator or the terminal (art. 17/1-ç, 20/1-c).
Can I use Method 2 with my own scales?
Only if you hold authorised economic operator or approved person status and the Administration has licensed you as a weighing operator (art. 24/2).
Sources
- IMO — Resolution MSC.380(94), amendment to SOLAS VI/2 Mandatory verification of the gross mass of packed containers; in force on 1 July 2016 · imo.org (PDF) · imo.org · accessed 29 Sep 2026
- IMO — MSC.1/Circ.1475, VGM guidelines The shipper's responsibility; Method 1 and Method 2 · imo.org (PDF) · accessed 29 Sep 2026
- Turkish Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure — Directive on Determining and Reporting the Gross Mass of Packed Containers Carried by Sea (12.05.2026, Ministerial Approval No. 3638154) art. 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 19, 21, 23, 24; art. 30 (repealed the directive of 15.01.2021), art. 31 (in force on approval) · denizcilik.uab.gov.tr (PDF) · accessed 29 Sep 2026
This page is for information only. The IMO texts and the ministry directive were read directly and article numbers are given. No weighing fee is given because it is set by the Administration and updated every year. Cut-off times vary by carrier and terminal; go by the time in your booking confirmation.
Change log
- Page published. The SOLAS rule and IMO guidelines were written from texts published by the IMO, and Turkish practice from the signed text of the 12.05.2026 directive published by the Directorate General of Maritime Affairs, all read directly.