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Class News No. 37/2016

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01 December 2016

Statutory Alert: Amendment 38-16 to the IMDG Code

Applicability: All shipowners, operators and shippers involved in transporting
dangerous goods

Amendment 38-16 to the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code will
enter into force on 1 January 2018, with voluntary application from 1 January
2017, and includes many technical and editorial changes to the Codes operational
requirements.
The amendments will not affect the dangerous goods certification issued by Lloyds
Register, which is related to SOLAS regulation II-2/19.
The amendments to the Code include:
Part 1: New and amended definitions, as well as updated references to training
instruments.
Part 2: Updates to the classification of substances and new sections defining gases,
flammable liquids, toxic substances, and corrosives that are not accepted for
transport.
Part 3: Various updates to the Dangerous Goods List and the Special Provisions
(SP). Among others, engines and vehicles have been separated; UN3166 now
covers only vehicle entries, and engines now fall under new UN entries, with the
relevant SPs also amended.
Part 4: New and amended packing instructions, along with the incorporation of new
applicable ISO standards.
Part 5: Revised marking, placarding and transportation documentation requirements.
Part 6: New ISO standards have been incorporated into the applicable design,

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construction and initial inspection and test criteria of UN pressure receptacles and
multiple-element gas containers.
Part 7: A new Stowage Code (SW29) for engines or machinery containing specific
fuels and a new note in Definitions explaining that cargo holds cannot be interpreted
as closed cargo transport units.
For more details on the amendments, please see IMO Resolution MSC.406(96).
What should shipowners, operators and shippers do now?
Owners and operators of ships intending to carry packaged dangerous goods
cargoes will have to implement the new requirements by 1 January 2018, and are
encouraged to consider their early implementation from 1 January 2017.
Updates to relevant IMO instruments
Issued earlier this year, MSC.1/Circ.1520 Guidelines on consolidated IMO provisions
for the safe carriage of dangerous goods in packaged form by sea consolidates
existing training provisions for all personnel involved in the transport chain, which
includes ships carrying dangerous goods in packaged form by sea.
The Dangerous Goods Manifest (FAL Form 7) found in the IMO Facilitation of
International Maritime Traffic (FAL) Convention, a way for ships to achieve
compliance with the relevant requirement under SOLAS Chapter VII, MARPOL
Annex III and the IMDG Code, was revised this year in order to align with the IMDG
Code consignment documentation requirements. The revision will enter into force on
1 January 2018.

For further information

Speak to one of our experts at your local Lloyds Register Group office or contact:
dangoods@lr.org

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9/12/2016