The manual documentation process on Evergreen
Evergreen shipments generate four document types beyond SI and BL that ops teams must produce and submit on carrier-specific deadlines.
- 01
Calculate VGM
Determine verified gross mass using SOLAS Method 1 (weigh packed container) or Method 2 (sum of cargo, packaging, dunnage, tare). Declaration must include numerical weight, unit, and declaring party.
- 02
Submit VGM through preferred channel
ShipmentLink web portal or mobile app (primary), INTTRA eVGM using the standard SMDG VERMAS message, direct DCSA VGM API via ShipmentLink Developer Portal, or country-office email fallback (UK example: VGM@evergreen-marine.co.uk). Evergreen publishes a consolidated VGM Submission Guide PDF on shipmentlink.com as operational reference. VGM must be submitted before the terminal VGM cut-off.
Pain pointVGM cut-offs are per-terminal and per-service. Missing the cut-off triggers 'No VGM, No Gate-in' and the container is not loaded. Evergreen does not publish a global VGM cut-off standard. VGM submission or late-VGM fees by origin port are not confirmed in public tariffs; fee schedules sit behind ShipmentLink login and vary by country.
- 03
Flag DG at booking stage
Populate the DG flag during booking on ShipmentLink or the local booking channel. Enter IMO class, UN number, and per-container DG details. Whether ShipmentLink exposes a dedicated DG checkbox in the booking form or requires a separate submission is not confirmed in public sources.
- 04
Submit DG declaration under IMDG Amendment 42-24
Submit the DG declaration with UN number, IMDG class, packing group, and proper shipping name per the applicable IMDG Code amendment. Amendment 42-24 mandatory from 1 January 2026 (Evergreen follows the IMO standard date; no early enforcement announcement). Key changes: carbon products fully regulated (no exemptions), sodium ion batteries added as Class 9, lithium battery test documentation required upstream.
Pain pointEvergreen does not publish a global DG approval SLA, a carrier-level DG misdeclaration penalty (equivalent to COSCO's USD 20,000 within-two-working-days structure), or a restricted-commodities list beyond standard IMDG classifications. None of the three is confirmed in public sources. Initiate DG classification at booking stage, not documentation stage, to avoid late-stage approval surprises.
- 05
Prepare advance manifest data
For US-bound: AMS 24-hour rule via Evergreen Shipping Agency (America) — ESA America. Manifest data filed 24 hours before cargo loaded at the foreign port. ISF ('10+2') filed by the importer on the same timeline. CBP auto-rejects vague descriptions (no FAK, general cargo, parts, or samples) since 27 September 2025. For Canada-bound: ACI 24–96 hour filing window before arrival or loading (timeline depends on shipment type and voyage duration). For EU-bound: ICS2 F10/F12/F13 filing types with 'No MRN, No Load' enforcement. F12/F13 filings require supplementary declarant EORI numbers when buyer/seller details are omitted. Evergreen approved a delayed ICS2 Release 3 go-live from the 3 June 2024 general industry live date; Release 3 has been live from 15 October 2024.
- 06
Handle ICS2 'No MRN, No Load'
Without a valid Movement Reference Number from EU Customs, Evergreen will not load the cargo. Whether Evergreen charges a carrier-side ENS surcharge (equivalent to ONE's USD 35/BL ESD) or a Manifest Submission Fee on house BLs (equivalent to Maersk's USD 50/house BL) is not confirmed in public sources.
- 07
Monitor arrival notice generation
Evergreen's arrival notice timeline for US-bound cargo is not confirmed in public sources. Do not port COSCO's first AN 5–7 days / second AN 2 days pattern. Delivery method (email, ShipmentLink portal, EDI) and consistency across destination ports are not confirmed in public sources.
- 08
Generate pre-alert to consignee
Once an arrival notice is received, parse it for vessel/voyage, ETA, container numbers, and outstanding charges. Generate a branded pre-alert and initiate customs clearance preparation.
Where Evergreen documentation errors happen
Common documentation failure patterns on Evergreen, drawn from documented carrier workflows and adapted to Evergreen-specific operational characteristics.
Missed VGM cut-off
CommonPer-terminal deadline passed; container denied loading under 'No VGM, No Gate-in'. Remediation: monitor per-terminal VGM cut-off from booking confirmation and submit well before the window closes. Reference the ShipmentLink VGM Submission Guide PDF for channel-specific submission patterns.
VGM/SI weight mismatch
CommonVGM declaration does not reconcile with SI gross weight. Mismatch triggers rejection and 'No VGM, No Gate-in' hold. Remediation: cross-check VGM against SI gross weight before submission.
DG approval delay
OccasionalNo published global SLA. Booking at risk if DG classification review is not initiated early. Remediation: initiate DG classification at booking stage, not documentation stage. Escalate to local Evergreen office if the approval timeline threatens the loading window.
DG misdeclaration with no published carrier penalty
OccasionalIncorrect UN number, IMDG class, or proper shipping name discovered post-booking. Evergreen does not publish a carrier-level misdeclaration penalty equivalent to COSCO's USD 20,000 within-two-working-days structure, but regulatory fines from flag-state authorities still apply. Remediation: validate DG declaration against IMDG Amendment 42-24 requirements before submission. Do not assume Evergreen will absorb a misdeclaration cost-free; operator confirmation on Evergreen's recovery policy is required.
ICS2 incomplete filing
CommonMissing or generic cargo description, truncated HS code, or missing EORI numbers on EU-bound cargo. ENS rejected; 'No MRN, No Load' enforcement. Remediation: complete all ICS2 fields in the SI before submission; use F12/F13 self-filing where the forwarder files house-level data.
US CBP auto-rejection on vague descriptions
CommonFAK, general cargo, parts, or samples on a US-bound manifest. CBP ACE system auto-rejects since 27 September 2025. Remediation: populate specific, HS-code-aligned cargo descriptions for every US-bound SI routed through Evergreen Shipping Agency (America).
ACI late filing penalty
OccasionalCanada-bound ACI filed after the 24–96 hour window. CAD 750 late filing penalty; CAD 8,000 for non-submission. Remediation: monitor the ACI window by shipment type and voyage duration; file at the earliest applicable cut-off.
IMT-routed Mediterranean manifest routing
OccasionalICS2 filing for Mediterranean cargo on IMT-operated tonnage (U-class LTIU containers or IMTU prefixes) where the forwarder assumes EMC Taiwan party identifiers. Post-consolidation (31 January 2024), AMS and ICS2 filings may route under EGLV. This is not confirmed in public sources at the per-shipment level. Remediation: carry IMT party identifiers through from booking confirmation into the manifest filing; do not force EGLV identifiers on IMT-confirmed shipments without operator confirmation.
How Expedion agents handle Evergreen documentation
Expedion agents run Evergreen documentation workflows from VGM submission through arrival-notice capture, with channel-aware VGM routing, IMDG 42-24 DG pre-validation, multi-regime advance manifest handling, and IMT party-identifier carry-through handled automatically.
Submit through ShipmentLink web/mobile, INTTRA eVGM (VERMAS), or the direct DCSA VGM API via ShipmentLink Developer Portal. Reserve country-office email (UK VGM@evergreen-marine.co.uk, equivalent country mailboxes elsewhere) for genuine last-resort scenarios. Pull verified gross mass from the weighbridge certificate or shipper declaration.
Track per-terminal VGM deadlines from booking confirmation. Surface missed-cut-off risk before the window closes. Reference the ShipmentLink VGM Submission Guide PDF as the canonical operational source.
Automated cross-check between declared VGM and SI gross weight to catch discrepancies before they trigger 'No VGM, No Gate-in' holds.
Pre-validate DG declaration against IMDG Amendment 42-24 requirements: carbon products (no exemptions), sodium ion batteries (Class 9), lithium battery upstream test documentation. Flag the booking as DG and track approval status through the local Evergreen office. Do not default to COSCO's USD 20,000 misdeclaration penalty framing; Evergreen does not publish an equivalent carrier-level penalty (operator confirmation required).
Given the absence of a published global approval SLA, monitor DG turnaround per origin port and escalate if the approval timeline threatens the booking's loading window.
Handle AMS (US, EGLV SCAC, 24-hour rule via Evergreen Shipping Agency (America), CBP auto-rejection after 27 September 2025), ACI (Canada, 24–96 hour window, CAD 750 / CAD 8,000 penalties), and ICS2 (EU, F10/F12/F13 filing types, 'No MRN / No Load', Release 3 live since 15 October 2024) filing requirements per booking destination.
Enforce six-digit HS code, accurate cargo description, and complete EORI and party-address data for EU-bound cargo. Monitor MRN generation post-filing. Flag 'No MRN / No Load' blocks before they cascade into missed loadings.
Detect Italia Marittima (IMT) party identifiers (Trieste address, LTIU/IMTU container prefixes) on Mediterranean bookings and carry them through into AMS, ACI, and ICS2 filings rather than defaulting to EGLV identifiers without confirmation. IMT is an active operating subsidiary; per-shipment SCAC routing post-consolidation is not confirmed in public sources.
Monitor for arrival notice generation on US-bound bookings and reconcile against tracking vessel-arrival milestones. Timelines and delivery methods are unconfirmed for Evergreen; treat arrival notice capture as detection-driven rather than schedule-driven until operator data is available.
Agent capability availability
*The behaviours above describe the Expedion agent spec for Evergreen. Confirm with your Expedion contact which capabilities are live in production today versus on the near-term build roadmap before relying on any specific item.*
Evergreen documentation reference: fees and deadlines
Reference data for ops teams managing Evergreen documentation. Fee figures sit behind ShipmentLink login and are country-specific where applicable; entries marked as gaps require operator confirmation.
| Item | Value | Geography | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| VGM submission channels | ShipmentLink (web + mobile), INTTRA eVGM (VERMAS), DCSA VGM API, country email | Global | ShipmentLink VGM Submission Guide PDF; SMDG VERMAS standard; INTTRA |
| VGM Manual Submission Fee | Not confirmed in published tariffs (behind ShipmentLink login) | Global | Not confirmed |
| VGM cut-off | Per-terminal, per-service; missed cut-off = container not loaded | Global | Evergreen service schedules |
| DG submission | DG flag in booking + DG declaration with UN number, IMDG class, packing group, proper shipping name | Global | Evergreen DG advisory |
| DG approval SLA | Not published | Global | Not confirmed |
| DG misdeclaration penalty (carrier-level) | Not published | Global | Not confirmed; contrast with COSCO USD 20,000 within 2 working days |
| IMDG enforcement | Amendment 42-24 mandatory from 1 January 2026 | Global | IMO / IMDG standard date |
| ICS2 filing types | F10 / F12 / F13 | EU | Evergreen ICS2 implementation (delayed go-live approved; live 15 October 2024) |
| ICS2 enforcement | No MRN / No Load | EU + Norway + Switzerland + NI | Evergreen ICS2 implementation |
| ICS2 carrier-side ENS surcharge | Not confirmed in published tariffs | EU | Not confirmed; contrast with ONE USD 35/BL ESD and Maersk USD 50/house BL |
| AMS deadline (US) | 24 hours before loading at foreign port; filed via Evergreen Shipping Agency (America) | USA | CBP |
| CBP auto-rejection | From 27 September 2025; vague descriptions rejected | USA | CBP trade information notice |
| ACI deadline (Canada) | 24–96 hours before arrival (varies by shipment type) | Canada | CBSA |
| ACI penalties | CAD 750 late filing; CAD 8,000 non-submission | Canada | CBSA |
| Arrival notice timeline | Not confirmed (do not port COSCO's 5–7 day / 2-day pattern) | US destinations | Not confirmed |
| eBL platform | Bolero (primary rail since 1 March 2018); i-B/L branded product distributed via ShipmentLink and GreenX; DCSA BL 3.0 Beta live via ShipmentLink Developer Portal | Global | Evergreen i-B/L; Bolero release; DCSA Developer Portal — see BL page |
TMS compatibility for Evergreen documentation
Expedion agents handle Evergreen documentation workflows from within your existing TMS. CargoWise users exchange data via the eAdaptor API (XML/SOAP), including VERMAS for VGM. Magaya Connect API handles forwarder-side data exchange. GoFreight operates browser-based against ShipmentLink (API roadmap unconfirmed). Logi-Sys routes through EDI via INTTRA. Direct DCSA VGM API integration is available for forwarders that have built against the ShipmentLink Developer Portal.
Full TMS compatibility details are on the Evergreen overview.
Related pages
Evergreen carrier pages: Overview · Booking · Shipping instructions · Bill of lading · Tracking & visibility
Documentation across carriers: Maersk documentation · MSC documentation · CMA CGM documentation · Hapag-Lloyd documentation · ONE documentation · COSCO documentation
Ocean Alliance context: CMA CGM · COSCO · OOCL — OOCL is a wholly-owned COSCO subsidiary with separate IT systems, SCAC (OOLU), and customer portal (MyOOCL).
Solutions: Documentation automation
Glossary: VGM · Dangerous Goods · ICS2
Frequently asked questions
What VGM submission channels does Evergreen support?
Four: ShipmentLink web portal and mobile app (primary), INTTRA eVGM using the standard SMDG VERMAS message, direct DCSA VGM API via the ShipmentLink Developer Portal (shipmentlink.com/_ec/APIPORTAL_Home), and country-office email fallback (UK example: VGM@evergreen-marine.co.uk; equivalent country mailboxes elsewhere). Evergreen publishes a consolidated VGM Submission Guide PDF on shipmentlink.com as the operational reference. VGM cut-offs are per-terminal and per-service; missed cut-off triggers 'No VGM, No Gate-in' and the container is not loaded.
Does Evergreen charge a VGM submission fee or late VGM fee?
Not confirmed in public sources. Evergreen does not publish a global VGM submission or late-VGM fee schedule. Fee schedules sit behind ShipmentLink login and are country-specific. Whether a manual VGM submission fee applies for non-EDI channels at active origin ports (UK, Germany, Netherlands, Singapore, China, US, Taiwan) is not confirmed in public sources. Expedion agents flag VGM fees as 'fee behind login, reviewer to confirm' rather than guessing the figure.
What is Evergreen's DG misdeclaration penalty?
Not published in public sources. Evergreen does not publish a carrier-level DG misdeclaration penalty equivalent to COSCO's USD 20,000 within-two-working-days 'special handling cost'. Regulatory fines from flag-state authorities still apply. Whether Evergreen recovers a separate misdeclaration cost from the shipper is not confirmed in public sources; operators should confirm with the local Evergreen office. Expedion agents pre-validate DG declarations against IMDG Amendment 42-24 to minimise misdeclaration exposure rather than relying on a published carrier penalty as deterrent.
What changes under IMDG Amendment 42-24 affect Evergreen cargo?
Amendment 42-24 became mandatory from 1 January 2026 (the IMO standard date; Evergreen follows the standard with no early-enforcement announcement). Three changes are most material to Evergreen flows: carbon products are now fully regulated with no exemptions (impacts certain bulk and packaged-goods shipments); sodium ion batteries have been added as Class 9 dangerous goods with their own UN number set; lithium battery test documentation is required upstream, meaning the test report (UN 38.3) must be available at booking and submission stage rather than as a post-loading attestation.
How does Evergreen handle ICS2 advance manifest data given its delayed go-live approval?
Evergreen received national customs authority approval for a delayed ICS2 Release 3 go-live from the 3 June 2024 general industry live date. Release 3 has been live for Evergreen from 15 October 2024. Filing types F10 (complete straight BL with buyer/seller data), F12 (incomplete master BL, carrier only, no house data), and F13 (incomplete straight BL with house-level data) are supported. F12/F13 filings require supplementary declarant EORI numbers when buyer/seller details are omitted. 'No MRN, No Load' enforcement applies: containers without a valid Movement Reference Number are denied loading. Expedion agents enforce six-digit HS code, accurate cargo description, complete EORI, and address data on EU-bound SIs and verify MRN generation post-submission.
Does Evergreen charge a carrier-side ENS surcharge like ONE's USD 35/BL ESD?
Not confirmed in public sources. Whether Evergreen publishes an equivalent to ONE's USD 35/BL ESD (Entry Summary Declaration surcharge) or Maersk's USD 50/house BL ICS2 Manifest Submission Fee is not confirmed in public sources. Evergreen's ENS deadline detail (24 hours prior to loading versus service-specific variation) is also not confirmed in public sources. Expedion agents flag ENS-related fees as 'fee not confirmed in public sources, reviewer to verify' rather than porting another carrier's figure.
How does Italia Marittima affect Mediterranean advance manifest filings under EGLV?
IMT is an active operating subsidiary under the Evergreen Line brand, 100% owned by EMC since 31 January 2024 (via Evergreen Marine Asia's EUR 405 million acquisition of the remaining minority stake). Mediterranean cargo on IMT-operated tonnage may carry Italia Marittima party identifiers (Trieste address) and LTIU or IMTU container prefixes. Whether AMS and ICS2 filings post-consolidation route under EGLV or under a separate IMT-historical SCAC is not confirmed in public sources at the per-shipment level. Expedion agents detect IMT party identifiers on the booking confirmation and carry them through into AMS, ACI, and ICS2 filings rather than defaulting to EGLV identifiers without operator confirmation.