Merchant Haulage Release Charge - Import (MHI)
Effective 1st October 2020 Sealand – A Maersk Company will be introducing a merchant haulage release charge for all imports into the United Kingdom. This charge is applicable to containers where merchant haulage is requested and is to help cover the cost of the administration involved around the release process.
The charge will be 50 GBP per container
As widely reported in the media recently; the UK logistics industry continues to face crippling pressures on haulage resource and a shortage of HGV drivers. Due to battling with the impacts of BREXIT - the lack of European drivers, Covid-19 and increased import traffic as the UK re-opens.
As a result we are seeing reduced capacity throughout the industry and the haulage availability we are able to offer to our customers. We expect the situation to continue into the coming months, we are continuously evaluating our resources and taking steps to minimise disruption to our customers where we can.
- Our colleagues are proactively contacting customers wherever possible to arrange import deliveries up to 10 days before vessel arrivals.
- If your requested collection or delivery date/time is not available we will automatically book our next available slot to avoid any further delays.
You can check our latest availability online via this link - UK & Ireland Haulage availability
We will continue to monitor the situation closely and would like to thank you for your patience and understanding. Our customer service and sales team are always there to help and offer reassurance. Please be aware, they will not be able to secure earlier haulage dates than already provided.
What is Verified Gross Mass (VGM)?
Effective from 1st July 2016, with the SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea) amendment covering container weighing regulations, a packed container will no longer be allowed to be loaded on board vessels unless its VGM has been provided by the shipper to the ocean carriers and/or port terminal representatives prior to the load list cut-off date. For the UK the deadline is 24hours prior to vessel arrival.
The new regulation was adopted by the IMO (International Maritime Organization) to increase maritime safety and reduce the dangers to cargo, containers, and all those involved in container transport throughout the supply chain.
The Verified Gross Mass (VGM) is the contents of the container added to the tare weight of the container carrying the cargo, to give a total weight. SOLAS requires the shipper to provide VGM in a “shipping document,” either as part of the shipping instruction or in a separate communication, before vessel loading.
The shipper is obliged to verify the gross mass of the containers carrying their cargo by either of two permissible weighing methods before these containers can be loaded on a vessel.
- Method 1 Requires weighing the container after it has been packed.
- Method 2 Requires weighing the contents of the container and adding that weight to the container’s tare weight as indicated on the door end of the container. Method 2 will not be practical for shippers of bulk commodities like scrap, grain, etc., and it will be up to local authorities to grant permission to use this method.
How can Verified Gross Mass information be submitted for shipments originating in the UK?
Shippers or their agents can submit VGM information online using our online platform when submitting shipping instructions or using the VGM functionality under the Documentation Tab. VGM information can also be submitted on shipping instructions, preferably via an e-channel. This is free of charge.
Alternatively VGMs can be submitted using Destin8 (www.destin8.co.uk) – the local port system covering Felixstowe, Grangemouth, Liverpool, South Shields, Teesport and Immingham. This portal can be used to submit VGM information, request a terminal weigh or to advise the port that the VGM will be submitted after the deadline. If you more need information on how to register to do this and the associated costs please refer to www.mcpplc.com.
If no VGM information is received by the VGM deadline (24 hours prior to vessel arrival) our terminal partners (except Belfast) will provide a terminal weigh for the unit. Sealand will in turn pass on £65.00 per container for the service.
If you have any questions regarding VGM please do not hesitate to contact our Export team.
