International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code

Upcoming changes to The International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code


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what you need to know about imdg code 2012 36th-amendment

The International Maritime Organization has made our lives a little easier with their revisions to the International Maritime Goods Code. First, we have to learn a little more about what the new revisions to IMO regulations entail. You can start implementing Amendment 37-14 January 1, 2015 or if you’d like more time to practice, you have until January 1, 2016 before it becomes mandatory. Either way, you will need a guide to help ease you through Amendment 37-14 into full, comfortable application. Lucky for you, the revised International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code is available in any format you prefer. You can either download the IMDG Code online, in PDF format, order a paperback book or order your own hardcover book to keep.


What Are IMO Regulations?


Before we get into the new IMO regulations, you may want to know more about the IMO itself. In 1960, the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code was developed by the Safety of Life at Sea Conference. The Safety of Life at Sea Conference suggested that a uniform international code ought to be developed for the transport of dangerous goods by sea. This code would cover packing technique, container traffic and container stowage, as well as special attention to separating substances that are incompatible. A Maritime Safety Committee was appointed where they developed an international code in 1961. The committee collaborated with the United Nations Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Good who, in 1956, had implemented minimum requirements for the transport of dangerous goods in any means of transport.

2015 is not the first time changes have been made. In fact, since the fourth IMO Assembly adopted the code in 1956, the IMDG Code has experienced many revisions in order to attend to the volatile needs of the industry. Amendments are made every two years and made effective two years after that.

The International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code is broken up into classes. As you will find in International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code Paperback Book, provisions for each class or division are mapped out for your comprehension. If you would like to know more about a specific dangerous good, each product can be found in the Dangerous Goods List which includes the goods requirements and class. Substances (which include solutions and mixtures) have nine classes total, some with subdivisions. The classes are based on the hazard they present. Quite a few of these substances are considered marine pollutants.

 

The International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code 2014 Edition


When changes are made, it can be a struggle to get back into a routine. The key to success is knowing exactly what to expect. In order to fully comprehend the new IMO regulations, you must acquire the new IMDG book. Until then, here is a short synopsis of the upcoming changes and what you can do to easily implement them.

Lucky for us, the 2015 revisions don’t have quite as many revisions as the past. There are six major revisions in all and none of them are mandatory until 2016. The first revision is that lamps and light bulbs will no longer be considered dangerous goods. Secondly, Class 7 radioactive substances have undergone significant revisions. Additions have been made to shipping descriptions and packaging instructions for adsorbed gases. Classifying viscous flammable liquids has undergone deeper clarification as well as the design and dimensions of marks including marine pollutant and quantity markings. Lastly, the lettering of the mark OVERPACK must be 12 mm high.

In Chapter 3.2 of the Dangerous Goods List, column 16 (Stowage and segregation) will be divided into two. The end result will be column 16a, stowage and column 16b, segregation. If you need the appropriate codes for storage and segregation, they will be assigned within each shipping description (which can be found in Chapter 7.2).

As for shipping descriptions, there are plenty of revisions to go over. The most important one is to do with the automotive industry which changes the names of Airbag Modules, Airbag Inflators and Seat-Belt Pretensioners to Safety Devices. As for IMO regulations, the 2015 revisions include asbestos now being shipped under the names Asbestos, Amphibole and Asbestos, Chrysotile. The Capacitors shipping description will be split into Capacitor, Electric Double Layer (UN3499) and Capacitor, Asymmetric (UN3508). Packing Discarded, Empty, Unclean, UN3509 has a new entry. The entry doesn’t apply for any normal sea shipments just so long as the packaging has been prepared for transport. If you need more details as to what the requirements for transport are, refer to section 4.1.1.11. Finally, new shipping names will be assigned to various adsorbed gases from UN3510 to UN3526.

New special provisions have been designed as well. These provisions include special provision 367 which regulates the use of shipping names for paint related materials in shipments that contain paint and paint thinners. In special provision 371, standards will apply to small pressure receptacles with a release device. Special provision 373 further clarifies procedures for shipping neutron radiation detectors which contain non-pressurized boron trifluoride gas. Then, wrapping up the current special provisions, clarifications were designed to the exempted internal combustion engines, fuel cell engines and vehicles with battery powered equipment special provisions 961 and to the non-exempted international combustion engines, fuel cell engines, vehicles and battery-powered equipment special provisions 962.

Even though changes in the IMDG Amendment 37-14 don’t take place right away, any shippers and carriers should take advantage of this transition time so that shipments arrive safely and without interruption.

IMDG Code Publications is currently manufacturing and distributing the IMO IMDG Code 2014 Edition with the amendments 37-14. The newest IMDG Code is a two-volume set and IMDG Code Publications has made available a one-volume supplement that goes into greater detail on techniques to deal with fires and spillage emergencies. The 2014 IMO IMDG code have been published in both English and French, with the English edition available in an electronic PDF download. Download yours today!

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