What is VGM? 

- Verified Gross Mass or VGM refers to the exact, verified weight of a packed container. For safety reasons, vessel operators can only load a container if its weight has been verified. VGM can be submitted on www.mymsc.com 

 
Government approval status 

- The government will check the procedures and will certify the methods used - Additional info    
- The General Service for Shipping (DGS) will be responsible for enforcement and implementation of the VGM regulation within Belgium. 
- More info 


What do I need to include in my VGM instructions? 
- The following items are mandatory and must be on all VGM instructions 
- Booking or Bill of Lading number 
- Container number 
- VGM + unit 
- Authorized person’s signatory (submitter of the VGM who may be authorized to act on behalf of shippers 
- Responsible party Name  

Deadlines for sending your vgm instruction 
- VGM must be known to the ship-agent, at least 24hours before physical closing of the vessel. The VGM cut-off date will be mentioned on the booking confirmation. 
- If the VGM is received later, the container will not be planned/loaded on the vessel. 

Entrance at the terminal 
- Containers arriving at the gate without VGM will be allowed at the terminal, however not loaded when VGM not provided in time. Please be aware that the terminal has no weighing facilities. 

Admin fees and costs 
- If the VGM has to be handled manually by the local agent, a local fee of 25€ per container will be applied.  This also applies for VGM info added in the electronic booking. 
- If the VGM is not received before VGM closing time, container will be put on hold and all related costs (like demurrage, storage, moves, plugging), will be for the account of the shipper. 

 

Contact information 
Customer service desk 
Your local MSC contact  
info@mscbelgium.com 
+32 3 543 22 00 

Hazardous cargo must be declared to Port Authorities, latest, 24 hours before arrival of container on quay in Antwerp. 
For Vessels' arrivals during Weekend, latest, at 12:00 (noontime) on Friday: always fulfilling 24 hrs before container's arrival on quay. 

For this purpose DC (Dangerous Cargoes) Data must be available as per above-mentioned deadlines combined with guidelines of MSC Dangerous Cargo Dept. 

Port restrictions  
- Port restrictions related to specific DG classes or UN numbers can be found in the port restrictions of DMAXS. 

Placarding 
Shipper is responsible for removing old labels on containers or attach proper ones according to hazardous contents, costs to correct those deficiencies in Antwerp include: 
- 2 extra moves 
- Labels/labour 
- Photo 
For a Lump sum of Euro 225,00/handling 
Imo Declaration HKD (harbour master)by MSC BE : Eur 55,00 per container. 


Harbour Declaration 
- All hazardous containers with port of loading Antwerp must be in DMAXS with container number in status ACCEPTED or FINALISED prior to arrival at terminal (by truck, train or barge). 

Example:

Agent	Booking/Sub ref	Container	Type	POL	Brossbk	Status
MSC Agency X	213B6543210	MSC1234567	DV/20	Antwerp	False	Finalised
MSC Agency X	213B0123456	MEDU1234567	DV/20	Antwerp	True	Accepted

As per Municipal Council decision of 19 December 2016 under article 4.2.4 (1-5) of the MUNICIPAL PORT POLICE REGULATIONS all dangerous and/or contaminating goods (meaning hazardous cargo) have to be declared to the port authorities. The declaration must reach the Harbourmaster's Office no later than 24 hours before the scheduled handling time. Declaration has to be done electronically. 

After a period of grace all violations will now be penalized by Harbormaster's office with a fine per container. 
Since all violations will be penalized by Harbormaster's office, we will have to charge 250 EUR for every non-conformity with these instructions. 

In Antwerp we retrieve all information from DMAXS. In order to submit the declaration we need the units with container number in status ACCEPTED or FINALISED in DMAXS. 
Only when ACCEPTED or FINALISED with container number we have all crucial information available to successfully submit our declaration. 

This all is only applicable when MSC Belgium has to perform declaration - instead of the forwarder/client. 

In short: All hazardous containers must have container number in status ACCEPTED or FINALISED status in DMAXS 

Charge 250 EUR for non-conformity 

Only applicable if MSC Belgium performs declaration 

Please note cut-offs can be found on our e-business platform www.mymsc.com or at www.msc.com.

How to find cut-offs on MyMSC?

• Navigate in the menu on the left to Schedules & Cut-offs.
• Click on By Booking if you want to retrieve the information for a specific booking or click on By Port if you want to retrieve the information for a particular port pair.   

Our online e-business platform offers the possibility to retrieve the Rate of Exchange, for import & export shipments. 

• Antwerp (BEANR) – MSC PSA European Terminal, Europa Terminal, Noordzee Terminal, Antwerp Gateway
• Zeebrugge (BEZEE) – CSP Zeebrugge Terminal

 

ANTWERP TERMINALS

MSC PSA EUROPEAN TERMINAL NV

• Quay 1718-1742
• Sint-Antoniusweg
• 9130 Doel, Belgium
• Main Tel:           +32 3 260 61 11
• E-mail:              info@mpet.be
• NCTS Code:      BE101000
• Open:                 Every day – 24 hours a day (only waterlocked activities)
• Gates truck in/out – Mon 0600h till Sat 0600h

CSP ZEEBRUGGE TERMINAL

• Leopold II Laan, Kaai 120
• 8380 Brugge, Belgium
• Main Tel:           +32 50 50 25 00
• Gate open:       Monday - Friday 06.00hrs - 21.30hrs

MEDREPAIR S11

• Sint Antoniusweg z/n, Quay 1624
• 9130 Doel (Beveren), Belgium
• Tel:         +32 3 217 93 00
  
  

MEDREPAIR 4 BELGIUM

• Muisbroeklaan 61, Kaai 524
• 2030 Antwerp
• Tel:                +32 470 192 902
• Mail:              gmarket@medlog.be
• Open:             Monday – Friday from 06h00 to 20h00 
  
  

You can find the 2023 Tariff Guidelines here: Tariff Guidelines

Ready to get started? Contact our Belgium team to request a quote, book or find out more about our local services.

Call: +32 35432200
Email: BEL-info@msc.com

Mediterranean Shipping Company Belgium N.V.
Noorderlaan 127a
BE - 2030 ANTWERP
ANTWERPEN (VLG)
Belgium