IMDG Code
This page introduces some major requirements in using the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code.
What is the IMDG Code?
The IMO’s Maritime Safety Committee adopted the IMDG Code with MSC.122 (75). This resolution set out the mandatory requirements for the safe carriage of dangerous goods and harmful substances in packaged form.
The Code became mandatory in 2004 when it was incorporated by reference within SOLAS.
The key purpose of the IMDG Code is to facilitate the safe, pollution-free and unhindered multimodal transport of dangerous goods.
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The IMDG Code 2020 Edition (Amendment 40-20) 2 volume book and IMDG Code Supplement 2020 https://t.co/WQuapkkFXs pic.twitter.com/qhudec3Eo0
— TraficoADR (@TraficoADR) November 4, 2020
Which instruments regulate the carriage of dangerous goods and harmful substances?
The specific requirements for the safe carriage of dangerous goods are contained in the IMDG Code.
However, these requirements have been expanded upon and harmonised by regulations in the following instruments:
- SOLAS II/2 covers the special construction, mandatory equipment and fire-fighting arrangements of ships (with keel laying date after 1 July 2002) required to carry dangerous goods in packaged form. These requirements apply to cargo or passenger ships built on or after 1st July 2002.
- SOLAS VII/3 requires that the carriage of dangerous goods in packaged form by ships is prohibited unless in compliance with the IMDG Code.
- MARPOL Annex III/1 prohibits the carriage of dangerous goods which are harmful substances (or marine pollutants), except in compliance with Annex III.
These provisions apply to all ships that carry marine pollutants, irrespective of ship size or type.
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To which ships does the IMDG Code apply?
SOLAS Chapter VII/A concerning the carriage of dangerous goods in packaged form applies to all ships carrying dangerous goods, including ships less than 500gt.
It does not apply to ship's stores and equipment.
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What are dangerous goods (DGs)?
Dangerous goods are substances, materials and articles listed in the IMDG Code.
Materials are matter and, as such, have mass and volume. Radioactive material, for example, means any material containing radionuclides. As the category is broad, it does not matter in what form the matter is in, only that it contains radionuclides.
Substances are materials which have been refined to have a uniform composition (solid liquid or gas) and so contain only one element or compound. Purification has been undertaken to achieve a desired chemical or physical quality or characteristic, such as for oxidising substances.
Articles are items which contain one or more substances.
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What are harmful substances?
Harmful substances are those substances or articles which are:
- identified as marine pollutants (using the symbol P under the MP column) in the Dangerous Goods List, or
- according to the Criteria for the identification of harmful substances in the packaged form found in the Appendix to Annex III.
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What are marine pollutants?
Marine pollutants are substances, materials or articles which, due to their chemical properties, are hazardous to the aquatic environment. The four characterisations of these properties are:
- Acute aquatic toxicity (after only short-term exposure)
- Chronic aquatic toxicity (after long-term exposure over the life cycle of an organism)
- Potential for or actual bioaccumulation
- Degradation (biotic or abiotic) for organic chemicals
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How is the IMDG Code set up?
The IMDG Code comprises seven parts, given in two volumes and one supplement. They are:
Volume 1 contains the many special provisions required for the safe carriage of DGs
Volume 2 contains a list of DGs with generic and N.O.S. proper shipping names
The supplement contains EmS (on DG fires and emergency spillages) and the MFAG (medical first aid guide for incidents involving DGs).
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What is contained within the IMDG Code?
The IMDG Code contains mandatory requirements to ensure that dangerous goods are safely and correctly shipped by sea. This includes the requirements that DGs have:
- Classified appropriately and identified clearly
- Packed according to minimum established standards
- Marked and placarded according to agreed international standards
- Documented and listed appropriately
- Stowed on board the vessel correctly
- Segregated from other goods with which they may react dangerously
The code also contains appropriate responses to dangerous goods, emergencies, and security-related incidents.
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How often is the IMDG Code updated and amended?
To ensure that the IMDG Code reflects the latest industry practices, technological developments and changes to the chemical classifications in the UN Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods (UN Orange Book), the IMDG Code is amended in a two-year publishing cycle as follows:
- 2022 amendment (41-22) published, and during 2023 both this and the previous edition (40-20) are valid
- 2024: amendment 41-22 becomes only valid edition
- 2025: new amendment (42-24) published, and both this and the 41-22 edition are valid
- 2026: amendment 41-22 becomes only valid edition
- This two-year cycle repeats.
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What documentation and certificates are ships carrying DGs required to carry?
A ship carrying DGs must carry a statutory certificate called a Dangerous Goods Document of Compliance (DGDoC), as well as documentation concerning the carriage of the particular DG cargo.
All vessels will also carry a copy of the IMDG Code.
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What is DGDoC?
The DGDoC is provided under SOLAS II-2/19.4 as evidence that ships have been surveyed and found compliant with the construction, equipment and firefighting requirements under SOLAS chapter II.
Ships are not required to carry a DGDoC if they carry DGs from classes 6.2 and 7 (infectious and radioactive substances, respectively).
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What documentation is required for the carriage of DGs?
For multimodal transport, each item of cargo containing dangerous goods must be included in:
- dangerous goods declaration
- container packing certificate (which may be incorporated into the above declaration)
- dangerous goods manifest showing the stowage location of all DGs on board
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What information shall be included in the Dangerous Goods Declaration?
Dangerous goods declarations shall contain the following information:
- UN number preceded by the letters “UN”
- Proper shipping name
- Primary hazard class or division
- Subsidiary hazard class, where applicable
- Packing group where applicable
- Total quantity
- Number and kind of package
- Indications of Marine Pollutant where applicable
- Flashpoint if 60°C or less
- In the case of limited quantities, “limited quantity” or “LTD QTY” are marked
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How are dangerous goods categorised within the IMDG Code?
The list of substances, materials and articles within the IMDG Code has been listed using proper shipping names and UN numbers.
The list has been categorised in two major ways. They are:
- to assign these into classes according to their chemical characteristics and properties
- identify substances harmful to the marine environment
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What are the proper shipping names and UN numbers?
DGs are assigned to UN numbers and given proper shipping names according to their hazards.
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What information can be found on the DG List?
The DG List includes information on each assigned UN number as follows:
- Hazard class
- Subsidiary risks
- Packing group
- Packing and tank transport provisions
- EmS
- Segregation and stowage
- Properties and observations
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List nine classes of dangerous goods.
The nine classes of dangerous goods are established within the IMDG Code according to the predominant hazard that they present. They are:
- Class 1: Explosives
- Class 2: Gases
- Class 3: Flammable liquids
- Class 4: Flammable solids and other flammable substances
- Class 5: Oxidising substances and organic peroxides
- Class 6: Toxic and infectious substances
- Class 7: Radioactive material
- Class 8: Corrosive substances
- Class 9: Miscellaneous dangerous substances and articles
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Which party in the transport chain assigns the correct classification to a DG cargo?
The responsibility for correctly assigning the classification to a cargo rests with the shipper or consignor of the cargo or by the competent authority where specified within the IMDG Code.
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What are limited quantities?
Provided that the maximum quantity per inner package does not exceed the amount specified in the IMDG Code and the mass of the complete outer package does not exceed 30kg, DGs may be carried in specified limited quantities.
Limited quantities may be carried in non-UN-approved packaging, as they are of sufficiently low quantities not to present the same hazard.
However, the outer packaging must bear the limited quantity mark and hazard symbols, and the fact that dangerous goods are being shipped must be communicated in a shipping document.
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This #lunchtime read looks at the frequently misunderstood limited quantities. https://t.co/DLEPSThHnq
— TT Club (@TT_Club) August 12, 2020
"DG packed in limited quantities, which meet the criteria of the LQ provisions, largely but not entirely fall outside of the other provisions of ADR and the IMDG Code."
What are excepted quantities?
Excepted quantities refer to the quantities of dangerous goods carried in inner packaging, below which they are excepted from the requirements of the International Maritime Dangerous Goods IMDG Code. This information is provided by the exception codes E0 to E5, which relates to the excepted quantities for each good.
While the dangerous goods hazard symbol is not required, the outer packaging must include an Excepted Quantity mark, and the statement that Dangerous Goods in Excepted Quantities, together with the number of packages shipped, shall be marked in a shipping document.
In any event, the total number of packages carried on any one cargo unit shall not exceed 1000.
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