The Digital Container Shipping Association (DCSA) published the first API-based standard developed under DCSA’s framework for verified gross mass exchange (VGM), designed to simplify compliance, increase transparency, and accelerate digitalization across container shipping.
“The VGM Standard is one of the key elements to supporting the ongoing transition to an API ecosystem for container shipping,” says Kristina Jumelet, product owner at DCSA. “VGM processes have long depended on a mix of manual steps and fragmented solutions.
Key takeaways:
· The VGM requirement, mandated by the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) SOLAS Convention since 2016, ensures containers are weighed before loading onto a vessel. Today, VGM data is typically shared through emails, spreadsheets, carrier portals, or EDI messages, each using different formats and validation rules. This fragmented approach creates manual work, inconsistent visibility, and increased operational risk.
· The DCSA VGM Standard introduces a unified API for real-time submission, validation, and exchange of verified container weight information across shippers, carriers, terminals and other parties involved.
· Built on DCSA’s data model, it enables carriers and their customers to make a transition to the APIs based VGM submission for the better data quality, automation, and integration.
· The standard is fully aligned with SOLAS requirements and consistent with other DCSA APIs such as booking, track and trace, and eBL.
