Perfumes having a flashpoint 60 Deg Celsius or below are considered dangerous goods of class 3 flammable liquid. 

Unless consigned as limited quantities perfumes must not be loaded in the same container with dangerous goods of classes 1, 2, 4.2, 4.3, 5, 6.2, 7, desensitized explosives and many other goods which may explode when involved in fire.

Stowage on board ships

On cargo ships or passenger ships carrying a number of passengers limited to not more than 25 or to 1 passenger per 3 m of overall length, whichever is the greater number perfume packages may be loaded on deck or under deck.

On other passenger ships perfumes having flashpoint below 23 Deg C is permitted on deck only.

Reefers

For quality control perfumes may be packed in reefer containers.

Perfumes having a flashpoint of 23 Deg Celsius or below when packed in a reefer container the goods must be precooled and packed into the reefer with set temperature at least 10 Deg Celsius below the flashpoint unless reefer is equipped with explosion proof electrical fittings.

During the voyage if reefer malfunctions and the temperature increases the Master of the vessel will disconnect the reefer from power supply and will not reconnect if the reefer temperature has reached less than 10 degree of the flashpoint.

Classification

IMDG Code entry UN 1266, PERFUMERY PRODUCTS, Class 3 is used for consignments of cosmetic products which are flammable liquids including perfumes and nail polish. Some shippers classify nail polish under UN 1263 PAINT.

Declaration

Dangerous Goods declaration must include flashpoint in Deg Celsius closed cup. Flashpoint determines stowage location on board ships.

If not correctly classified, consigned and accompanied by dangerous goods declaration then the goods if involved in an incident may result in loss of lives at sea.

Then shipper may have to say….

Here’s the smell of the blood still; all the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand!

Lady Macbeth- The Tragedy of Macbeth by William Shakespeare