Customer Advisory

US Port Terminals — Export Shipments

SOLAS Container Weight Verification Requirements
Effective July 1, 2016

July 1, 2016

Dear Valued Customer,

Please be advised Westwood's terminals in the Port of Tacoma have recently revised their requirements for SOLAS VGM.

Local Export Cargo: (containers trucked directly into Tacoma terminals) Westwood will accept terminal scale weights as VGM provided by the shipper. Shippers can still provide VGM data to Westwood. The shippers' declared VGM will overrule the terminals VGM and be used for all subsequent processes. VGM due date will be the same as the documentation due date for shippers that want to submit VGM.

Intermodal Export Cargo: (containers received at inland rail ramps) Shippers must still provide VGM data at the time of in-gate at the inland rail ramp. The Tacoma terminals require receipt of VGM data before containers arrive on dock. Ports America may charge for rail containers offloaded and set aside on the terminal waiting for VGM.

Reminder: How to submit VGM Data to Westwood:

• Westwood will accept VGM data via the following two methods:
  • VGM data included on Shipping Instructions
  • Submitted via VGM Data Form (available at www.wsl.com)

VGM information to be provided by shippers to Westwood:

• Booking or B/L number
• Container number
• VGM weight
• Unit of measure
• VGM authorized name

Cargo with no VGM:

Westwood will not load cargo on our vessels without VGM. For containers that in-gate without VGM and miss the VGM data cut-off, per Westwood's tariff all additional costs including but not limited to: demurrage, storage, shifting, and terminal administrative fees will be strictly for the account of cargo.

As always, please feel free to contact your customer service team if you have any questions or questions.

Eastbound: 1-800-621-4371
Westbound: 1-800-220-9752