IMDG code

Safe Stowage and Carriage of Packaged Dangerous Goods

Packaged Dangerous Goods

Post containerization: increase in the amount of dangerous goods in packaged form being transported by sea International rules require the shipper and the carrier to:
Properly pack, load, stow and carry dangerous goods. Provide appropriate documentation and information for their safe carriage. Lack of care can lead to.

IMDG Code
International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code Primary code regulating the carriage of packaged dangerous goods by sea SOLAS (Chapter 7) and MARPOL Annex 3 make it mandatory UK MS (Dangerous Goods & Marine Pollutants ) Regs 1997 make it mandatory on UK vessels

IMDG Code
Consists of two volumes and one supplement
The two volumes are divided into seven parts

IMDG Code
Volume 1 contains sections on:
general provisions, definitions and training classification packing and tank provisions consignment procedures construction and testing of packaging, IBCs, large packaging, portable tanks and road tank vehicles Transport operations

IMDG Code
Volume 2 contains :
The Dangerous Goods List Limited Quantities exceptions The index Appendices

IMDG Code
The Supplement contains :
Emergency Procedures Medical first aid guide (MFAG) Reporting Procedures Packing Cargo Transport units Safe use of pesticides INF code (now mandatory) Appendix

Hazard Classes
All dangerous goods are divided into Hazard Classes These categorise the dangerous goods into 9 classes depending on their physical and chemical properties. E.g. Class 1 is Explosives, Class 6 infectious substances etc.

IMDG HAZARD CLASS PLACARDS

Documentation
Prior loading, the shipper of dangerous goods should provide: A dangerous goods declaration (DG note) And if in a freight container or vehicle, a signed container or vehicle packing certificate. Without the above the goods cannot be loaded on board.

Contents of a Dangerous Goods Declaration

A Dangerous Goods declaration must contain: Proper Shipping Name UN Number Hazard Class Subsidiary Risk (if any) Packaging group No. of packages Weight in kilograms Marine Pollutant (if applicable) Flashpoint (if applicable) Any other info required by the code

Stowage and Segregation

The requirements of stowage and segregation are dealt with in Volume 1, Chapter 7.1 and 7.2 of the code Each substance listed in the Dangerous goods list (DGL) (Part 2 Vol 2) will be allocated a stowage category. Class 1 Goods are allocated a numerical stowage category between 01 and 15 Other classes are categorised A,B,C,D or E

Stowage
The stowage requirements may be:
On deck or under deck On deck only Prohibited

This depends on the category allocated to the substance (01 to 15 or A to E) and the number of passengers carried (if a passenger ship) There may be additional stowage requirements for individual goods noted in the DGL itself.

Segregation
Segregation requirements between dangerous goods on the same ship are laid out in tabular form in Chapter 7.2 of the code There are different tables for segregation on board container ships, open hatch container ships , Ro-Ro ships and general cargo ships

SEGREGATION TABLE FOR A RO-RO VESSEL

Emergency Procedures
The EmS guide in the Supplement lists emergency procedures for fire and spillage. General guide lines for fire and spillage are followed by schedules for dealing with fire or spillage on board ships.

Emergency Procedures
The Dangerous goods list (DGL) in volume 2 lists the fire and spillage codes for individual UN numbers. The fire codes are in the form F-(A to J) and the spillage codes are S - (A to Z) In an emergency, look up the appropriate schedule corresponding with the code in the supplement.

Medical Emergencies
Carriage of dangerous goods involves risk of exposure to harmful substances. The Medical First Aid Guide (MFAG) in the supplement to the code is to be consulted for actions following a medical emergency. A flowchart lists tables to be consulted depending on the symptoms shown by the causality.

To summarise...
IMDG code is the mandatory code that deals with the carriage of dangerous goods at sea. Shipper is legally obliged to provide a DG note and a Container/vehicle packing certificate (if applicable) prior loading any DG Ships officers are required to use this information and plan the stowage and segregation as per the code. The supplement is to be consulted for emergencies involving dangerous goods