The manual documentation process on CMA CGM
A CMA CGM shipment requires four documentation sub-workflows beyond the SI and BL. Each has its own submission channel, deadline, and failure mode.
- 01
VGM: Calculate verified gross mass
Determine the verified gross mass using Method 1 (weigh the packed, sealed container on calibrated equipment) or Method 2 (sum cargo items, packaging, dunnage, and securing equipment, then add the container's tare weight). The VGM declaration must include the numerical weight, unit of measurement, and signature of the declaring party. The shipper named on the CMA CGM BL is responsible for declaring the VGM under the SOLAS amendment effective 1 July 2016.
Pain pointWhere a forwarder acts as consolidator (master loader), VGM responsibility sits with the forwarder as the BL shipper. Mis-assigned responsibility causes last-minute scrambles at cut-off.
- 02
VGM: Submit through eVGM portal or EDI
Submit VGM through the My CMA CGM eVGM service (dashboard view with active verification process) or EDI (VERMAS format via direct EDI, INTTRA, Infor Nexus, or CargoSmart). Manual submission via email or fax is accepted but triggers a fee: $25/container in Canada, EUR 50/container in Germany. CMA CGM strongly recommends electronic submission. VGM cut-offs are per-booking and vary by port — Port Kelang 10 hours before ETA, Penang 6 hours, Pasir Gudang/Tanjung Pelepas 8 hours, France/Mayotte/Reunion 24 hours before physical closing.
Pain pointVGM cut-offs vary by port with no single global deadline. Ops staff must check each booking confirmation for the specific cut-off time. A VGM correction after cut-off costs $100/container in Canada or EUR 110/container in Germany.
- 03
VGM: Reconcile against SI gross weight
Before submission, compare the VGM figure against the SI gross weight. Material discrepancies between declared VGM and terminal-weighed values trigger enforcement actions. A container without a verified VGM will not be loaded — no exceptions at the IMO level.
- 04
DG: Flag dangerous cargo at booking
Tick the DG checkbox on the CMA CGM booking form. Enter IMO class, UN number, and per-container DG details. CMA CGM's Dangerous Cargo Offices review the booking against IMDG Code, national and local regulations, CMA CGM internal policy, and vessel configuration restrictions. No dangerous goods under a CMA CGM BL may be loaded without prior DCO acceptance and an issued acceptance number.
Pain pointCMA CGM does not publish a DG approval SLA. Unlike Maersk's published 4-working-hour Case Management SLA, there is no committed turnaround time. Forwarders cannot reliably plan booking confirmation timelines around DG approval on CMA CGM.
- 05
DG: Submit documentation after DCO approval
After DCO acceptance and before the cargo documentation deadline, submit the full Dangerous Goods Declaration (DGD) and Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS). CMA CGM provides a standard multimodal dangerous goods form template. Five DCO locations handle approvals globally: Marseille, Le Havre, Norfolk, Hong Kong, and Melbourne.
Pain pointIf the booking routes on an Ocean Alliance partner vessel (COSCO, OOCL, Evergreen), the partner carrier may impose additional DG restrictions beyond CMA CGM's own policy. A DCO acceptance from CMA CGM does not guarantee the partner vessel will accept the cargo.
- 06
Manifest: Prepare advance manifest data
For US-bound cargo, CMA CGM files carrier-side manifest data 24 hours before loading at the origin port (US CBP 24-hour rule). For EU-bound cargo, CMA CGM submits as the vessel operator under ICS2 Release 3 — dedicated ICS2 fields are available on the eBusiness portal from November 2024, with a BL Remarks prefix workaround for pending data elements. For Canada-bound cargo, similar CBSA advance manifest requirements apply. NVOCCs must file their own house BL data separately and directly to customs authorities.
Pain pointNVOCCs have a separate house BL filing obligation. CMA CGM's carrier-side filing covers only master BL data. Forwarders who assume the carrier filing covers house-level data discover the gap at customs hold.
- 07
Monitor arrival notice publication
CMA CGM publishes arrival notices to the My CMA CGM document dashboard. Configurable email notifications alert the forwarder when documents become available. The Import Management module provides a centralized view of inbound shipments. Parse vessel/voyage, ETA, container numbers, seal numbers, cargo description, and any outstanding freight or local charges.
Pain pointCMA CGM does not publish a specific arrival notice pre-arrival window (unlike Maersk's 24–96 hours). The timing depends on the destination port and local CMA CGM office. Forwarders cannot assume a consistent lead time.
- 08
Generate pre-alert to consignee
Use the arrival notice data to generate the forwarder's branded pre-alert to the end consignee. The pre-alert initiates customs clearance preparation, delivery order requests, charge settlement, and last-mile delivery or CFS handling coordination.
Where CMA CGM documentation errors happen
The most common CMA CGM documentation failures across the four sub-workflows. Each is preventable with the right submission channel, timing, and data validation.
Manual VGM fee triggered
CommonVGM submitted via email or fax instead of the eVGM portal or EDI. CMA CGM charges $25/container in Canada and EUR 50/container in Germany for manual submissions. Electronic submission through the eVGM service or VERMAS EDI avoids the fee entirely.
VGM amendment after cut-off
OccasionalVGM correction required after the port-specific deadline has passed. Amendment fees are $100/container in Canada or EUR 110/container in Germany, plus any related terminal costs. Cut-offs vary by port — 6 hours at Penang, 10 hours at Port Kelang, 24 hours in France. A correction that would have been free before cut-off becomes a significant per-container charge.
VGM and SI weight mismatch
CommonDeclared VGM does not match the SI gross weight. Material discrepancies trigger enforcement actions at the terminal or carrier level. The mismatch often stems from VGM being calculated independently from the SI preparation — two different team members using different source data.
DG approval delay blocking booking confirmation
OccasionalCMA CGM publishes no DG approval SLA. Forwarders who initiate DG approval late in the booking process face unpredictable wait times from one of five global DCOs. The booking cannot proceed to equipment release until DCO acceptance is issued. On multi-carrier operations, the CMA CGM leg becomes the unpredictable bottleneck when Maersk's 4-hour SLA provides a reliable planning baseline on the other leg.
Partner vessel DG restriction
OccasionalA CMA CGM-booked DG shipment routes on a COSCO, OOCL, or Evergreen vessel under the Ocean Alliance. The partner carrier imposes additional DG restrictions beyond CMA CGM's own policy. Cargo is rejected at loading despite having CMA CGM DCO acceptance. The restriction is not visible at booking time unless the operating carrier is checked against its DG policy.
ICS2 data gap on EU-bound cargo
CommonRequired buyer, seller, or other ICS2-mandated fields missing for EU, Norway, Northern Ireland, or Switzerland-bound cargo. Dedicated ICS2 fields on My CMA CGM have been available since November 2024, but forwarders on EDI channels may need updated specifications. Missing data triggers a customs hold at the destination.
NVOCC house BL filing gap
OccasionalForwarder assumes CMA CGM's carrier-side advance manifest filing covers house BL data. It does not — NVOCCs must file house-level data directly to CBP, CBSA, or ICS2 before the applicable deadline. The carrier-side and house-side filings are independent obligations, and a gap on either side causes the same cargo hold outcome.
Arrival notice charges surprise
OccasionalOutstanding freight charges or local fees appear on the CMA CGM arrival notice that the forwarder did not anticipate. Charges must be settled before cargo release, delaying delivery and pushing the shipment into the detention and demurrage clock. The per-country fee fragmentation on CMA CGM makes charge prediction harder than on carriers with centralized fee schedules.
How Expedion agents handle CMA CGM documentation
Expedion agents automate all four CMA CGM documentation sub-workflows: VGM, DG, advance manifest, and arrival notices.
Agents calculate and submit VGM through the My CMA CGM eVGM portal or EDI (VERMAS format), avoiding the $25–50/container manual submission fee. Declared VGM is reconciled against SI gross weight and any terminal-weighed values before submission. Cut-off monitoring per booking ensures VGM is submitted before the port-specific deadline.
Agents extract per-booking, per-port VGM deadlines from the booking confirmation and surface warnings before the deadline. Port-specific cut-off times (Port Kelang 10h, Penang 6h, France 24h) are tracked individually for each active shipment.
Agents split the DG workflow: booking-stage flagging (IMO class, UN number, DG checkbox) and post-approval DGD/MSDS submission (full IMDG-compliant form, MSDS attachment). DCO acceptance numbers are tracked. For bookings on Ocean Alliance partner-operated services, agents flag any additional partner carrier DG restrictions that could block loading despite CMA CGM DCO acceptance.
Agents prepare and validate master BL data for CMA CGM's carrier-side manifest filing. House BL data gaps are flagged to the forwarder's NVOCC desk so they can file directly to CBP, CBSA, or ICS2 before the applicable deadline. ICS2 data elements are populated in the correct dedicated fields or BL Remarks prefix format per CMA CGM's guidance.
For import shipments, agents monitor the My CMA CGM document dashboard for arrival notice publication, parse vessel/voyage, ETA, container list, and outstanding charges, and generate the forwarder's branded pre-alert to the end consignee.
Agents verify consistency across all documentation: VGM matches SI gross weight, DG declaration matches booking hazard flags, manifest data matches BL details, and pre-alert content matches BL party and cargo information. Mismatches are caught before submission.
Every submission is logged with channel (My CMA CGM, EDI, INTTRA, API, email), timestamp, submitter identity, and CMA CGM acknowledgement reference. For VGM and DG — where regulatory liability is real — the audit trail provides evidence of compliance.
CMA CGM documentation fees and deadlines
Published fee and deadline data across documented geographies. Dashes indicate data not yet located in public documentation.
| Item | Fee / Deadline | Geography | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manual VGM submission | $25/container | Canada | CMA CGM Canada VGM advisory |
| Manual VGM submission | EUR 50/container | Germany | CMA CGM Germany local charges PDF |
| VGM amendment after cut-off | $100/container | Canada | CMA CGM Canada VGM advisory |
| VGM amendment after cut-off | EUR 110/container | Germany | CMA CGM Germany local charges PDF |
| VGM cut-off | 10h before ETA | Port Kelang | CMA CGM port advisory |
| VGM cut-off | 6h before ETA | Penang | CMA CGM port advisory |
| VGM cut-off | 24h before physical closing | France / Mayotte / Reunion | CMA CGM France advisory |
| DG approval SLA | None published | Global | CMA CGM DG product page |
| DG offices | Marseille, Le Havre, Norfolk, Hong Kong, Melbourne | Global | CMA CGM DG product page |
TMS compatibility for CMA CGM documentation
Expedion agents manage CMA CGM documentation workflows from within your existing TMS. For CargoWise users, agents submit VGM and DG data via the eAdaptor API (EDI) and pull arrival notice data through the integration layer. For GoFreight and Magaya, agents use the respective REST and Open APIs for VGM submission, DG data exchange, and manifest data preparation.
Full TMS compatibility details are on the CMA CGM overview page.
Related pages
CMA CGM carrier pages: Overview · Booking · Shipping instructions · Bill of lading · Tracking & visibility
Documentation across carriers: Maersk documentation · MSC documentation · Hapag-Lloyd documentation · ONE documentation · COSCO documentation · Evergreen documentation
Solutions: Documentation automation
Glossary: VGM · Dangerous Goods · ICS2
Frequently asked questions
What VGM submission channels does CMA CGM support?
CMA CGM accepts VGM through the My CMA CGM eVGM service (dashboard view with active verification), EDI (VERMAS format via direct EDI, INTTRA, Infor Nexus, or CargoSmart), and manual email or fax. Manual submission triggers a fee — $25/container in Canada, EUR 50/container in Germany. CMA CGM strongly recommends electronic submission. Expedion agents route all VGM through digital channels to avoid the manual fee.
What is the manual VGM fee on CMA CGM?
Manual (non-electronic) VGM submission costs $25 per container in Canada and EUR 50 per container in Germany. VGM amendments after the port-specific cut-off cost $100 per container in Canada and EUR 110 per container in Germany, plus any related terminal costs. Fees are per-country — other geographies may apply different schedules.
Does CMA CGM publish a DG approval SLA?
No. CMA CGM does not publish a DG approval turnaround time commitment. DG bookings are reviewed by Dangerous Cargo Offices in five global locations: Marseille, Le Havre, Norfolk, Hong Kong, and Melbourne. Unlike Maersk's published 4-working-hour Case Management SLA, there is no equivalent time commitment on CMA CGM. Expedion agents track DCO acceptance status proactively and escalate when turnaround exceeds expected norms.
How many DCOs does CMA CGM operate?
CMA CGM operates five Dangerous Cargo Offices globally: Marseille, Le Havre, Norfolk, Hong Kong, and Melbourne. All DG bookings under a CMA CGM BL must receive DCO acceptance and an issued acceptance number before any dangerous goods can be loaded on CMA CGM vessels, chartered vessels, or Ocean Alliance partner vessels.
How does CMA CGM handle ICS2 advance manifest data?
CMA CGM updated its eBusiness channels to support ICS2 data submission. Dedicated ICS2 fields became available on the SI web interface from 9 November 2024. For data elements where dedicated fields are still pending, CMA CGM instructs forwarders to enter the required information in the BL Remarks section using specified prefixes. EDI channel partners received updated specifications. CMA CGM supports both self-declaration (supplementary declarant with EORI) and carrier-filed paths for EU, Norway, Northern Ireland, and Switzerland-bound cargo.
What triggers a VGM amendment fee on CMA CGM?
A VGM amendment fee is triggered when a VGM correction is submitted after the port-specific cut-off deadline. Fees are $100 per container in Canada and EUR 110 per container in Germany, plus any related terminal costs. Cut-offs vary by port — Port Kelang requires VGM 10 hours before ETA, Penang 6 hours, and France/Mayotte/Reunion 24 hours before physical closing. Expedion agents submit accurate VGM well before cut-off and reconcile against SI gross weight to minimize the need for amendments.
How does Expedion handle DG bookings on Ocean Alliance partner vessels?
When a CMA CGM-booked DG shipment routes on a COSCO, OOCL, or Evergreen vessel under the Ocean Alliance, the partner carrier may impose additional DG restrictions beyond CMA CGM's own policy. Expedion agents flag any partner carrier DG restrictions for bookings on alliance-operated services, ensuring that DCO acceptance from CMA CGM is not the only DG compliance check. The operating carrier's DG policy is verified before the booking proceeds to equipment release.