Options to report VGM data for incoming export containers

One of the funniest things connected to the SOLAS regulation, is that terminals can report the VGM of incoming export containers in several ways. 

    1. The recommended option: VERMAS

VERMAS incorporates information on the Verified Gross Mass (VGM) of a packed container, the time, place and method of determination of the VGM, the responsible parties, and references required by the receiver to assign the VGM to his transactions. If terminals want to go for standard option then that's definitely the right choice.

    2. The alternative option: including VGM data to the Full-In CODECO

In order to comply SOLAS requirements, CODECO SMDG 16 maintained by SMDG, includes amendments for transmission of data specifying a container’s verified gross mass (VGM) according to SOLAS regulation 2,chapter VI, paragraphs 4-6. If terminals cannot handle VERMAS, that's a good option.

    3. The last option: sending VGM with a separate Equipment Status Change CODECO

If, for any reason, terminal needs to keep separate the VGM process and the Gate process and cannot handle VERMAS then sending a CODECO with BGM0101=999 (Equipment Status Change Report) is definitely a good option.

Each option has both pros and cons but now, the real question is: which option do you use?

SOLAS and COPRAR

One the funniest consequences of the SOLAS is that some customers started to report decimal values into segment MEA as MEA03:

EQD+CN+ABCD1234567+22G1:102:5++2+5'
RFF+BN:123456789'
LOC+11+ITGOA:139:6'
LOC+7+PFPPT:139:6'
MEA+AAE+VGM+KGM:20010.000'
SEL+002337'
SEL+057155'
FTX+AAA+++VIRGIN OLIVE OIL AND ITS FRACT'

Assuming that some hectograms may be relevant while stowing a container onto vessel, it's important to remember that, in all the MIG, MEA03 has the below characteristics:


The code n..18 means that this piece of data is a numerical data type with a a maximum length of 18 numbers and 0 number of decimals.

In a nutshell: reporting decimal numbers into MEA03, it should not be considered a good practice.

Edit - 28/11/2016
I have done some extra checks about this topic and it seems that decimal dots are allowed in case of data element with the following characteristics: n..18.

The below information comes from UNECE web page:

10.1 Decimal Mark

The ISO representation for decimal mark is the comma ( , ) but point on the line ( . ) is allowed. See ISO 31/0-1981. Both these characters are part of the Level A and B sets in

clause 5 and both alternatives are allowed. When the Service string advice, UNA, is used, its third character specifies the one character used in the interchange to represent decimal mark and thus overrides the above alternative use. The decimal mark shall not be counted as a character of the value when computing the maximum field length of a data element. However, allowance has to be made for the character in transmission and reception. When a decimal mark is transmitted, there shall be at least one digit before and after the decimal mark. For values represented by integers only, neither decimal mark nor decimal zeroes are used unless there is a need to indicate the degree of precision. 

Preferred  0,5 and 2 and 2,0

Allowed    0.5 and 2 and 2.0
Not allowed:  ,5 or .5 or 2, or 2.

10.2 Triad Separator
Triad separators shall not be used in interchange. 

Allowed: 2500000
Not allowed: 2,500,000 or 2.500.000 or 2 500 000

The impact of SOLAS on BAPLIE

VGM can be sent from Terminal operator via BAPLIE file.

That's a sample built on BAPLIE version 3.1 which is the very last stable version. This message version may be used to transmit data about VGM of containers. Usage of the according data elements is optional and needs to be agreed between communication partners. This message version provides for transmission of:

• Indication whether a specified gross mass has been verified or not
• Additional information providing evidence of verification.

(...)

LOC+147+0010082:9711:5'

EQD+CN+SUDU1234569:6346:5+42G1:6346:5+++5'

NAD+CF+OOL:LINES:306'

MEA+AAE+VGM+KGM:23780'

RFF+BN:SGSIN00002'

FTX+AAY++SM1:VGM:306+201606211600UTC:CWC LTD; PO BOX 987; CITY;?+1526888999:JOHN SMITH;WEIGHT MASTER EAST GATE:JOHN SMITH:US'

(...)

Note here below related codes: 

c107.4441 

SM1= SOLAS verification method used

c107.1131 

Verified Gross Weight

c108.4440 

201606211600UTC= Data/Time weight verification

c108.4440 

CWC LTD; PO BOX 987; CITY;?+1526888999= Data/Time when issued weighing party

c108.4440 

JOHN SMITH;WEIGHT MASTER EAST GATE= Contact Address Responsible Person

c108.4440

JOHN SMITH= EDI Signature

c108.4440

US= State where verified

It's also possible to state the verification document reference with the code DRF as c107.1131:

(...)

LOC+147+0010082:9711:5'

EQD+CN+SUDU1234569:6346:5+42G1:6346:5+++5'

NAD+CF+OOL:LINES:306'

MEA+AAE+VGM+KGM:23780'

RFF+BN:SGSIN00002'

FTX+AAY++DRF:VGM:306+201606211600UTC:JOHN SMITH:WEIGHT MASTER EAST GATE:DOCUMENT-ID'

(...)

Samples come from SMDG MIG: I have uploaded it here for your findings.

The impact of SOLAS on COPARN

VGM can be sent from Line to the Terminal operator, via COPARN, before container arrives full via truck.

Here below a sample:

UNH+00000000006944+COPARN:D:95B:UN:SMDG16'
BGM+11+800255846++AB'
RFF+BN:800255846'
TDT+20+048R+1++TEST:172:20+++CALL_SIGN:103::TEST_VESSEL:PA'
RFF+VON+048'
LOC+9+AUMEL:139:6:MELBOURNE+CONWS: TER:ZZZ:P&O PORTS'
DTM+132:200212290600:203'
NAD+MS+LINE:172:20'
CTA+IC+:STAN MATTHEWS'
EQD+CN++4532:102:5+2+2+5'
RFF+SQ:1'
EQN+1'
TMD+3++1'
DTM+798:200211211700:203'
LOC+11+ZACPT:139:6'
LOC+8+ZAJNB:139:6'
MEA+AAE+VGM+KGM:10474'
TMP+2+011:CEL'
FTX+AAA+++CHOCOLATES'
FTX+ABS++SM1:ZZZ:SMD’
TDT+1++3'
DTM+132:200212270600:203'
LOC+165+AUMEL:139:6'
NAD+AM+++JOHN DILLINGER’
CNT+16:1'
UNT+26+00000000006944'

Note the below codes:

    1) EQD.DTM; DTM01=798 (Data/Time weight verification)
    2) EQD.MEA: MEA02=VGM (Verified Gross Weight);
    3) EQD.FTX: SM1 (SOLAS verification method used);
    4) In NAD: NAD01=AM (EDI SIGNATURE).

The above sample (vers. D95B) comes from SMDG MIG: I have uploaded it here for your guide.

The impact of SOLAS on CODECO

I think that everybody is aware about SOLAS and the new container weight verification requirements that are going to be mandatory from the 1st of July (here for further information). 

The goal of this post is to show the impact of the SOLAS on CODECO D.00B.

All the below samples come from SMDG MIG that you can download here. 

Scenario #1: CODECO reporting Gate In message with (unverified) booking weight:

BGM+109+800255846+9+AB

(...)

EQD+CN+PONU4863849+4532:102:5+2+2+5'

RFF+SQ:1'

EQN+1'

TMD+3++1'

DTM+7:201512271639:203'

LOC+11+ZACPT:139:6'

LOC+8+ZAJNB:139:6'

MEA+AAE+AET+KGM:10474'

(...)

Scenario #2: Container arrived at the gate with Transport equipment verified gross mass (weight) already announced to the terminal via e.g. COPARN (update) message:

BGM+109+800255846+9+AB'

(...)

EQD+CN+PONU4863849+4532:102:5+2+2+5'

RFF+SQ:1'

EQN+1'

TMD+3++1'

DTM+7:201512271639:203'

LOC+11+ZACPT:139:6'

LOC+8+ZAJNB:139:6'

MEA+AAE+VGM+KGM:12373'

(...)

Scenario #3: Container was weighed at Gate In to ascertain Transport equipment verified gross mass (weight):

BGM+109+800255846+9+AB'

(...)

NAD+CF+PON:172:20'

CTA+IC+:GATE OPERATIONS'

COM+019858934:TE'

NAD+WPA+CONWS:72:SMD’

CTA+BN+: JOHN SMITH'

COM+019858934:TE'

EQD+CN+PONU4863849+4532:102:5+2+2+5'

RFF+SQ:1'

RFF+VGR:V123456667’

EQN+1'

TMD+3++1'

DTM+7:201505271639:203'

DTM+WAT:201505271651:203'

LOC+11+ZACPT:139:6'

LOC+8+ZAJNB:139:6'

MEA+AAE+VGM+KGM:12373'

(...)

Scenario #4: Container arrived at the gate without a Transport equipment verified gross weight and was stacked in the yard as such. Container was weighed at the terminal to obtain the Transport equipment verified gross weight:

BGM+266+800255846+9+AB'

(...)

DTM+137:201511211523:203'

RFF+BN:800255846'

RFF+VOR:V00012345’

NAD+CF+PON:172:20'

NAD+WPA+CONWS:72:SMD’

CTA+BN+ :JOHN SMITH'

COM+019858934:TE'

EQD+CN+PONU4863849+4532:102:5+2+2+5'

DTM+WAT:201505271651:203'

LOC+175+AUMEL:139:6:MELBOURNE+CONWS:72:SMD’

MEA+AAE+VGM+KGM:12373'

(...)

Finally, here are the codes assigned by UN/CEFACT as proposed/prototyped by SMDG: 

RFF 1153 - Reference code qualifier

• VGR: Reference number identifying the documentation of a transport equipment gross mass (weight) verification;
• VOR: Reference number identifying the order for obtaining a Verified Gross Mass (weight) of a packed transport equipment as per SOLAS Chapter VI, Regulation 2, paragraphs 4-6.

MEA 6313 - Measured attribute code

• VGM: The gross mass (weight) of the transport equipment verified according to SOLAS Chapter VI, Regulation 2, paragraphs 4-6.  

NAD 3035 - Party function code qualifier

• WPA: Weighing party.

DTM 2005 - Date or time or period function code qualifier

• WAT: Date/Time when a gross mass (weight) of a packed container was obtained according to SOLAS chapter VI, regulation 2, paragraphs 4-6.