IMDG International Maritime Dangerous Goods 

IMDG International Maritime Dangerous Goods 

Goods

The International Maritime Dangerous Goods  

IMDG

Dangerous goods are substances or items with physical and chemical properties that can pose potential risks to human health and safety or to infrastructure if not properly managed. The classification of dangerous goods is determined by the United Nations’ model regulations, which allocate and classify each substance based on its level of hazard.

Here are the nine classes of dangerous goods, determined by the nature of the hazard they represent:

  1. Explosives
  2. Compressed Gases
  3. Flammable Liquids
  4. Flammable Solids
  5. Oxidizing Substances and Organic Peroxides
  6. Toxic and Infectious Substances
  7. Radioactive Materials
  8. Corrosive Substances
  9. Miscellaneous Dangerous Goods

1-Explosives

These are materials that explode rapidly—products that have the ability to ignite or explode quickly during a chemical reaction. They are extremely dangerous because they contain particles designed to change their state rapidly, often from a solid to a very hot gas. There are 6 types of explosives, related to the product’s reaction when initiated.

  • Materials that pose a risk of mass explosion.
  • Materials that present risks but are not as hazardous as a mass explosion.
  • Materials that pose a fire hazard and either a minor explosion risk or both.
  • Materials that pose little risk; only minor risk of ignition during transportation and side effects.
  • Very insensitive materials with mass explosion hazard.
  • Very insensitive materials with no mass explosion hazard.

Examples of explosives include fireworks, flares, and detonators.

2-Compressed Gases

These include compressed gases, liquefied gases, refrigerated gases, and mixtures of gases with other vapors. Often flammable, these gases can also be toxic or corrosive. They are hazardous because they can react chemically with oxygen.

They are divided into three categories:

  • Flammable gases
  • Non-flammable, non-toxic gases
  • Toxic gases

3-Flammable Liquids

A flammable liquid is defined as a liquid, or a mixture of liquids, or liquids containing solids that require a much lower temperature to ignite than others. These temperatures are low enough to pose a significant risk of ignition during transportation. Flammable liquids are highly dangerous to handle and transport due to their volatility and combustibility. They are commonly used as fuels in internal combustion engines for vehicles and aircraft, making them a major cargo type for road transport. Many household products also contain flammable liquids, including perfumes and acetone (used in nail polish remover).

4-Flammable Solids

Flammable solids are classified as products that ignite easily and are likely to contribute to fires during transportation. Some goods are self-reactive, while others are prone to self-heating.

There are three sections for hazardous solids:

  • Flammable solids: Burn more easily than regular combustible materials. They can burn fiercely and quickly, and are very dangerous because they can decompose explosively or burn violently, or produce toxic gases.
  • Self-heating materials: These can be solids or liquids and ignite spontaneously upon exposure to oxygen.
  • Dangerous when wet: These react with water to produce flammable gas, which can ignite from the heat of the reaction.

Examples of flammable solids include metal powders and sodium batteries.

5-Oxidizing Substances and Organic Peroxides

These are “oxidizing agents” and “organic peroxides.” They are often highly reactive due to their high oxygen content and can react easily with other combustible or flammable materials, potentially causing fires that are hard to extinguish.

  • Oxidizing agents: Also known as oxidizers, they can cause or enhance combustion in chemical reactions. They are not necessarily flammable themselves, but the oxygen they produce can cause combustion with other materials.
  • Organic peroxides: Their molecular structure makes them highly flammable individually. They are designed to be reactive for industrial purposes, making them unstable and potentially explosive.

Examples include hydrogen peroxide and lead nitrate.

6-Toxic and Infectious Substances

  • Toxic Substances: These can cause death due to their toxic nature. They can cause serious injury or damage to human health if ingested, inhaled, or absorbed through the skin. Some toxic substances can kill in minutes, while others might only cause harm if the dose is large enough.
  • Infectious Substances: These contain microorganisms that cause infectious diseases in humans or animals, known as pathogens.

Examples include medical waste, pathogenic waste, and acids.

7- Radioactive Materials

Radioactive materials contain unstable atoms that spontaneously change their structure in a random manner. They contain “radionuclides,” which are atoms with unstable nuclei. It is this unstable nucleus that releases radioactive energy. As the atom changes, it emits ionizing radiation, which can cause chemical or biological changes. This type of radiation can be hazardous to the human body. Examples include smoke detectors and yellowcake.

8-Corrosives

Corrosive substances are highly reactive materials that cause chemical reactions due to their interaction, leading to the deterioration of other materials when they come into contact. If these substances encounter living tissues, they can cause severe injuries.

Examples include batteries, chlorides, and flux.

9-Miscellaneous Dangerous Goods

This category includes materials that pose hazards not covered by the other categories. Examples include dry ice, genetically modified organisms, engines, seatbelt tighteners, marine pollutants, asbestos, airbag units, and magnetic materials.

 

 

Dangerous Goods and Prohibited Items

Dangerous materials are categorized based on their physical or chemical properties, which may pose risks such as fires or explosions. Their classification is primarily driven by potential health impacts.

In contrast, prohibited items are those that customs authorities will seize. Importing or exporting these items is forbidden due to concerns related to health, the environment, and security. Examples include illegal drugs, raw diamonds, and offensive weapons.

While it is possible to ship hazardous materials, compliance with the United Nations Model Regulations and obtaining the necessary permits is essential for safe transport.

How do you know if the goods you are shipping are dangerous?

The international transportation of dangerous goods is regulated through agreements, directives, and European regulations. If you are involved in any part of the dangerous goods transport process (including handling and packaging), you will need to classify them according to the UN classification system.

You can determine if your shipments are dangerous goods by referring to the United Nations list of dangerous goods or by checking if they have a Safety Data Sheet (SDS). You can also refer to transport regulations set by bodies such as the International Air Transport Association (IATA), ADR (for European road transport), the International Rail Transport Dangerous Goods Regulations, and the International Maritime Organization (IMO). They can all provide guidance on how to handle and transport dangerous goods.

The UN Model Regulations for Dangerous Goods can also offer advice on how to pack dangerous goods. When packing shipments, you should consider the packing group, write the shipment name in uppercase letters, use hazard class labels, include the UN identification number, display the UN approval mark, and include orientation labels (for liquids). Packages must either have a Dangerous Goods Note or a Dangerous Goods Declaration and be able to withstand exposure to open weather. All labels should be displayed against a contrasting background color. Typically, the Dangerous Goods Note is completed by the shipper with qualified personnel within the company. This note provides the receiving authority with accurate information about the goods so they can be handled safely and legally.

Dangerous Goods Note and Declaration for Dangerous Goods

The shipper is responsible for the safe transport of dangerous goods to their destination. All goods must be correctly declared, packaged, and labeled with the correct documentation for the country of origin, transit, and destination. Dangerous goods shipments must either include a Dangerous Goods Note (DGN) or a Dangerous Goods Declaration (for air transport) that is completed. This will include information about the nature and quantity of the goods and other handling information.

What does a Dangerous Goods Note do?

A Dangerous Goods Note (DGN) is a transport document that provides details about the shipment contents to carriers, receiving authorities, and freight forwarders. It is a crucial part of shipping dangerous goods as it explains how to handle and package them safely. The same standard document can be used for all dangerous goods shipments, even if they are headed to different ports or internal container depots (ICDs). The Dangerous Goods Note is used when transporting goods by any form of transport other than air. For air transport, an IATA Dangerous Goods Declaration is used instead.

It is very important to use a Dangerous Goods Note, as the receiving authority needs complete and accurate information about the dangerous goods to handle them safely and legally. Using the DGN ensures that everyone who comes into contact with your goods has sufficient information at each stage of the journey. Ignoring regulations is a criminal offense, but more importantly, improper handling of dangerous goods can cause severe and destructive harm to human health and infrastructure.

What is the legislation regarding dangerous goods?

The Petroleum Act of 1879 was the first legislation addressing the need to control dangerous goods. The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 introduced proposals for a set of regulations addressing issues such as the classification, packaging, and labeling of hazardous materials. Many regulations and legislations have been repealed and replaced over the years, but it is important to understand the latest laws.

Other important legislation includes:

  • ADR (European Road Transport of Dangerous Goods): Applies to all road transport journeys. These regulations are enforced by various authorities, including the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR). The Department for Transport (DfT) also works with the police and the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) to manage these rules.
  • RID (Railway Transport of Dangerous Goods): Applies to all rail transport journeys. The Office of Rail Regulation (ORR), HSE, ONR, and DfT are responsible for enforcing rail transport regulations.
  • IMDG (International Maritime Dangerous Goods): Includes both domestic and international sea transport. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) is responsible for compliance issues related to sea transport.
  • IATA (International Air Transport Association) Dangerous Goods Regulations: Covers all air shipments, both domestic and international. Compliance for air transport is monitored by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
  • Tunnel Regulations: For roads and railways. These are now included in ADR and RID.

Import and Export Licenses:

Customs clearance procedures are supported by the Customs Duty Office. This system is designed to prevent the entry of illegal and prohibited materials into the country, as well as to determine the amount of duties to be paid when importing tax-exempt foods under local law. Due to these regulations, you need an import or export license when transporting dangerous goods. The potential use of the item and the destination or source will determine the licensing requirements. Different licenses apply based on the nature of the dangerous goods.

It may be challenging to determine if the goods you are exporting require a license. You can check online through the UK Strategic Export Control Lists, which list all items requiring a license. You can apply for a license electronically via the SPIRE online system. When applying, you will need technical specifications and end-user undertakings for your goods.

Types of Licenses:

There are various types of licenses you can use to export your goods. For example:

  • Open General Export Licenses (OGELs): These licenses are available for less restricted exports to less restricted destinations. OGELs are pre-published licenses with specific terms and conditions that you must adhere to. There are currently over 40 OGELs available covering a wide range of circumstances. For example, some are for military goods, while others are for dual-use items. If you regularly export controlled items, holding an OGEL is incredibly beneficial as it can save time and money.
  • Standard Individual Export Licenses (SIELs): If your goods, technology, or destination are not covered by an OGEL, you will need to apply for a Standard Individual Export License (SIEL).
  • Open Individual Export Licenses (OIELs): This type of license is designed for long-term contracts, projects, and recurring business.

In conclusion, this article provides an overview of the regulations and procedures for shipping and transporting dangerous goods. Further articles related to the shipping and handling of hazardous materials will be provided by BIS. Thank you for following along.

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