Finally MSC Flaminia arrived and docked in German port. Investigation is expected to be over within a week.
read news on BBC here
Tag: Container ship
Basic responsibilties of Shippers and Carriers
Basic responsibilities of Shippers and Carriers for compliance with IMDG Code
Segregation of Containers on board ships
Containers carrying Dangerous Goods must be segregated from each other in accordance with section 7.2.3 of IMDG Code
Container space means a distance of not less than 6 m fore and aft or not less than 2.4 m athwartships.
Section 7.2.3.3 is applicable for Hatchless container ships, below is the segregation requirement on hatchless container ships.
SOLAS Chapter II-2 & IMDG Code
SOLAS Chapter II-2 Regulation 19 is about Carriage of Dangerous Goods. The purpose of this regulation is to provide additional safety measures in order to address the fire safety objectives for ships carrying dangerous goods.
Due to changes in IMDG Code the said chapter of SOLAS also underwent certain changes.
These changes are made by Maritime Safety Committee RESOLUTION MSC.269(85) and came into effect from 1st Jan 2011.
Applicable to :
- New Ships – keel laid on or after 1st Jan 2011
- Existing ships must comply to the changes during the first renewal survey after 1st Jan 2011
- Cargo ships of 500 GRT or more and passenger ships constructed on or after 1st Sept 1984
- Cargo ships of less than 500 GRT constructed on or after 1st Feb 1992
- Class 2.3 now divided into 2.3 and 2.3 with subsidiary risk 2.1
- Lower flashpoint range for flammable liquids changed from ≤ 23°C to FP < 23°C
- Upper limit of flashpoint is changed from FP 61°C to FP 60°C
- Class 4.3 is divided into 4.3 Solids and 4.3 Liquids
- Class 8 having a flashpoint FP ≥ 23°C and subsidiary risk of 6.1 need an additional bilge system as per regulation II-2/19.3.5
- Class 9 which may emit flammable gas – electrical equipment must be of certified safe type of at least IIB T4, IP55.
The Document of compliance for the carriage of dangerous goods as per regulation II-2/19.4 of the SOLAS Convention will be replaced for existing ships during next class renewal.
Table 19.3 is replaced by the following table:
Notes below
11 When .mechanically-ventilated spaces. are required by the IMDG Code.
12 Stow 3 m horizontally away from the machinery space boundaries in all cases.
13 Refer to the IMDG Code.
14 As appropriate for the goods to be carried.
15 FP means flashpoint.
16 Under the provisions of the IMDG Code, stowage of class 5.2 dangerous goods under deck or
in enclosed ro-ro spaces is prohibited.
17 Only applicable to dangerous goods evolving flammable vapour listed in the IMDG Code.
18 Only applicable to dangerous goods having a flashpoint less than 23ºC listed in
the IMDG Code.
19 Only applicable to dangerous goods having a subsidiary risk class 6.1.
20 Under the provisions of the IMDG Code, stowage of class 2.3 having subsidiary risk class 2.1
under deck or in enclosed ro-ro spaces is prohibited.
21 Under the provisions of the IMDG Code, stowage of class 4.3 liquids having a flashpoint less
than 23ºC under deck or in enclosed ro-ro spaces is prohibited.
Related articles
Flashpoint
Before going into the physics of flashpoint we must know that flashpoint is a very important point in determining stowage of flammable liquids on board vessels. Document of Compliance specifies the holds for carriage of flammable liquids on the basis of flashpoint.
IMDG Code defines flashpoint as the lowest temperature of a liquid at which its vapour forms an ignitable mixture with air.
Wikipedia: The flash point of a volatile material is the lowest temperature at which it can vaporize to form an ignitable mixture in air. Measuring a flash point requires an ignition source. At the flash point, the vapor may cease to burn when the source of ignition is removed.
Let us see two examples of flashpoint
Petrol: -43 Deg C
Diesel: > 62 Deg C
If we light a match and bring it on the surface of petrol (DO NOT TRY IT) the vapours will flash but if same match is brought above diesel it won’t flash unless if diesel is heated at or above its flash point.
This shows that as long as the temperature of a liquid is below its flashpoint it will not have flammable hazard.
To determine the flash point there are various equipments. The liquid to be tested will be kept in a receptacle well below the expected flashpoint and heated slowly while bringing an open flame above its surface the lowest temperature the flash takes place is flashpoint. There are main two differences in this test, open-cup and closed cup. Where ever in IMDG Code a flashpoint is mentioned for any substance the figure is closed-cup.
Consignments of dangerous goods which have flashpoint at or below 60 deg C need to contain the flash point in closed-cup on the declaration.
Stowage Categories
Positioning of dangerous goods containers on board vessels are categorised by ‘stowage categories’ to ensure safety. Many points are considered by IMDG Code for safe carriage of dangerous goods by sea-going vessels.
On ships there are two different types of stowage (1) On deck and (2) Under Deck. When we look at a container vessel all those containers we see outside are stowed on deck. The containers stowed below the hatch covers are under-deck stowed units.
For other than class 1 ( explosives ) ships are divided into two groups for this purpose
1) 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;
2) other passenger ships in which the limiting number of passengers transported is
exceeded.
For every dangerous goods listed in IMDG Code Dangerous Goods List column 16 specifies stowage requirement. This is indicated by Category A, B , C, D or E.
On Deck only stowage is always prescribed for cases where:
.1 constant supervision is required; or
.2 accessibility is particularly required; or
.3 there is a substantial risk of formation of explosive gas mixtures, development of
highly toxic vapours, or unobserved corrosion of the ship
Below is the entry for UN 2076 Class 6.1 CRESOLS, LIQUID, you can see in column 16 it is written Category B. Substances, Materials or Articles assigned with stowage Category B can be loaded on deck or under deck on a cargo ship but on a passenger ship where limitng number of passengers are exceeded Category B must be loaded on deck only!
Stowage Categories for Goods other than Class 1 (Explosives)
| Stowage category A | |
| 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 | ON DECK OR UNDER DECK |
| Other passenger ships in which the limiting number of passengers transported is exceeded | ON DECK OR UNDER DECK |
| Stowage category B | |
| 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 | ON DECK OR UNDER DECK |
| Other passenger ships in which the limiting number of passengers transported is exceeded | ON DECK ONLY |
| Stowage category C | |
| 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 | ON DECK ONLY |
| Other passenger ships in which the limiting number of passengers transported is exceeded | ON DECK ONLY |
| Stowage category D | |
| 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 | ON DECK ONLY |
| Other passenger ships in which the limiting number of passengers transported is exceeded | PROHIBITED |
| Stowage category E | |
| 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 | ON DECK OR UNDER DECK |
| Other passenger ships in which the limiting number of passengers transported is exceeded | PROHIBITED |
You may refer IMDG Code 35th Amendment Chapter 7.1 for full details of stowage requirements including those for Class 1 ( Explosives ).
IMDG Code Compliance Centre 