It may be possible for voluntary compliance with the amended International Maritime Solid Bulk Cargoes Code (IMSBC) from January this year (provided that this is allowed by the relevant national governments); meanwhile global mandatory compliance is due from December this year.
The IMSBC was adopted on 04 December 2008 to provide a mandatory standard for the carriage of solid bulk cargoes by sea. It entered into force on 01 January 2011.
According to the International Maritime Organization circular, MSC 268(85), “the prime hazards associated with the shipment of solid bulk cargoes are those relating to structural damage due to improper cargo distribution, loss or reduction of stability during a voyage and chemical reactions of cargoes. Therefore the primary aim of this Code is to facilitate the safe stowage and shipment of solid bulk cargoes by providing information on the dangers associated with the shipment of certain types of solid bulk cargoes and instructions on the procedures to be adopted”.
There have been numerous changes to various individual schedules for solid bulk cargoes.
A series of changes have been made in relation to cargoes that may liquefy or undergo dynamic separation.
Of note is that there have been extensive changes in relation to the rules on ammonium nitrate based fertilizers. Fertilizers commonly falling into the amended schedule include calcium ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulphate nitrate, and ammonium nitrate with other sulphates.
A new category of ammonium nitrate fertilizers has been created to capture cargoes that are not harmless but are not so dangerous as to be classified as dangerous goods.
Shippers have to declare the ammonium nitrate content and the chloride content of the fertilizer.
There are also new rules on superphosphates and leach residue containing lead.
The rules (accessed here) are lengthy and detailed, consultation with experts may be advisable.
