This article will provides a brief overview of the IMDG code structure and requirements...
The
objective of the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code is to:
Enhance the safe transport of dangerous goods
Protect the marine environment
Facilitate the free unrestricted movement of
dangerous goods
The International Maritime Organization (IMO)
The
IMO is a United Nations specialized agency which has developed international
legislation dealing with two key issues for the maritime industry:
The safety of life at sea
Prevention of pollution from ships
The
IMO has developed two international conventions to address these issues:
The
SOLAS Convention (covering safety of life at sea)
The
MARPOL Convention (covering pollution prevention)
To supplement the principles laid
down in the SOLAS and MARPOL Conventions, the IMO developed the International
Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code.
The IMDG code contains detailed
technical specifications to enable dangerous goods to be transported safely by
sea.
The IMDG Code became mandatory for
adoption by SOLAS signatory states from 1st January 2004.
The
IMDG Code is based on an internationally agreed system which:
Groups dangerous goods together based on the
hazards they present in transport (classification).
Contains the dangerous goods in packagings/tanks which are of appropriate strength and which will prevent
the goods escaping.
Uses hazard warning labels and other
identifying marks to identify dangerous goods in transport.
Requires standard documentation to be
provided when
dangerous goods are being transported.
Lays down principles for ensuring that
dangerous goods which will react dangerously together are kept apart.
Lays down principles for where to place
dangerous goods on
board ship to ensure safe transport.
Provides emergency response advice for
dangerous goodsinvolved in a fire or spillage on board ship.
Updating
the IMDG Code
The
IMDG Code is evolving and is updated every two years to take account of:
New dangerous goods which have to be
included.
New technology and methods of working with or
handling dangerous goods.
Safety concerns which arise as a result of experience.
IMDG
Code Classification System
The purpose of the IMDG Code’s
classification system is:
To distinguish between goods which are
considered to be dangerous for transport and those
which are not.
To identify the dangers which are presented
by dangerous goods in transport.
To ensure that the correct measure are taken
to enable these goods to be transported safely
without risk to persons or property.
Dangerous goods are classified into
9 classes according to properties. The
way in which different classes of dangerous goods are handled in transport will
depend upon these properties and hazards, for example:
The type of packaging that can be used.
What classes of dangerous goods can be
transported together in freight containers.
Where the goods can be stored within the port
and on the ship.
The 9
classes:
Class
1 Explosives
Class
2 Gases
Class
3 Flammable
liquids
Class
4 Flammable
solids
Class
5 Oxidizing
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
These
9 hazard classes have been established internationally by a United Nations (UN)
committee to ensure that all modes of transport (road, rail, air and sea)
classify dangerous goods in the same way.
Dangerous Goods labels.
