The Digital Container Shipping Association (DCSA) has unveiled a new API-based standard specifically crafted to enhance the exchange of verified gross mass (VGM) data. This initiative aims to streamline compliance, improve transparency, and promote further digitalisation within the container shipping industry.
Since the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) SOLAS Convention implemented the VGM requirement in 2016, the standard has played a crucial role in ensuring the proper weighing of containers prior to their loading onto ships.
Currently, the exchange of VGM data typically involves various methods such as emails, spreadsheets, carrier portals, or EDI messages, each subject to distinct formats and validation protocols. This diversity in approaches has resulted in manual processing, visibility challenges, and heightened operational risks.
DCSA's unified VGM Standard
The standard facilitates carriers and their customers in shifting towards API-based VGM submissions
The DCSA VGM Standard introduces a cohesive API platform allowing the real-time submission, validation, and distribution of verified container weight data among shippers, carriers, terminals, and other participating entities.
By leveraging DCSA's data model, the standard facilitates carriers and their customers in shifting towards API-based VGM submissions. This transition enhances data quality, automation, and integration, while maintaining compliance with SOLAS requirements and aligning with other DCSA APIs like Booking, Track & Trace, and eBL.
Industry pioneers, including pioneering shippers and ocean carriers, have been instrumental in developing the standard, underscoring the strong demand for more efficient VGM processes and enhanced data interoperability.
Advantages of a unified framework
"Sharing VGM data through a mix of EDI, emails, and different system formats can create inconsistencies across the industry," noted Angel L. Muñoz, Senior Director Global Logistics at Al Dahra Holding, adding "The DCSA VGM Standard offers a unified framework that enhances data accuracy, streamlines communication, and supports smoother, more reliable operations for all stakeholders."
John Kim, Senior Manager on HMM’s Digitalisation Team, highlighted the significance of the new standard by stating, "As part of our long-standing focus on digitalisation, we recognise that customers need VGM to be included to enable true end-to-end API integration and seamless information flow."
Shifting to an API ecosystem
Kristina Jumelet, Product Owner at DCSA, described the VGM Standard as integral to the transition towards an API ecosystem in container shipping.
Kristina Jumelet said, "VGM processes have long depended on a mix of manual steps and fragmented solutions. By introducing a common, API-based standard, we’re addressing a gap that has limited automation and user experience consistency. This is an important addition to the DCSA standards catalogue in our efforts to digitalise shipping processes to enable our industry to move toward faster, more accurate, and fully traceable information exchange."
All DCSA standards are made publicly available to facilitate interoperability and to promote digitalisation within container shipping.
