The Container Ship Safety Forum (CSSF) has published a new position paper calling for independent third-party verification of Verified Gross Mass (VGM) as a critical step toward safer and more reliable container operations.
While SOLAS regulations have required declared VGM since 2016, the current system relies heavily on shipper self-declarations, often without independent control. Incident investigations has shown that a significant share of containers are loaded with incorrect weight information, contributing to poor stowage planning, stability issues, stack collapses, and container losses at sea.
In its position paper, the CSSF calls on stakeholders to work toward scalable, neutral verification processes, and to harmonize enforcement practices across jurisdictions.