IMDG Code or International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code is accepted by MSC ( Maritime Safety Committee) as an international guideline to the safe transportation or shipment of

dangerous goods Dangerous goods are substances that are a risk to health, safety, property or the environment during transport. Certain dangerous goods that pose risks even when not being transported are known as hazardous materials ( syllabically abbreviate ...

or hazardous materials by water on vessel. IMDG Code is intended to protect crew members and to prevent

marine pollution Marine pollution occurs when substances used or spread by humans, such as industrial waste, industrial, agricultural pollution, agricultural, and municipal solid waste, residential waste; particle (ecology), particles; noise; excess carbon dioxi ...

in the safe transportation of hazardous materials by vessel. From its initial adoption in 1965 to 2004, the IMDG Code was recommendations for the safe transport of dangerous goods. Following a 2002 resolution, most sections of the IMDG Code became mandatory under the

International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea The International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) is an international maritime treaty which sets out minimum safety standards in the construction, equipment and operation of merchant ships. The International Maritime Organiza ...

(SOLAS) from 1 January 2004.

Format

Since 1998, editions of the IMDG Code are published in two volumes, with an additional supplemental volume. Volume 1 contains Parts 1-2 and 4-7. Volume 2 contains Part 3. * Part 1 - General Provisions, Definitions and Training * Part 2 - Classification * Part 3 - Dangerous Goods List and Limited Quantity Exceptions * Part 4 - Packing and Tank Provisions * Part 5 - Consignment Procedures * Part 6 - Construction and Testing of Packages, Intermediate Bulk Containers (IBCs), Large Packagings, Portable Tanks, Multiple-Element Gas Containers (MEGCs) and Road Tank Vehicles * Part 7 Provisions Concerning Transport Operations The decision to reformat the IMDG Code was made in 1996, as part of an effort to improve readability and user friendlessness of the document, and make the formatting similar to the UN Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods ("Orange Book"). The Code classifieds dangerous goods according to a variety of classes. For example, IMDG Class 7 cargoes are

radioactive Radioactive decay (also known as nuclear decay, radioactivity, radioactive disintegration, or nuclear disintegration) is the process by which an unstable atomic nucleus loses energy by radiation. A material containing unstable nuclei is conside ...

and

nuclear power Nuclear power is the use of nuclear reactions to produce electricity. Nuclear power can be obtained from nuclear fission, nuclear decay and nuclear fusion reactions. Presently, the vast majority of electricity from nuclear power is produced by ...

cargoes/fuels, including waste products that are governed in accordance with the associated INF Code.

Basis for national regulations

It is recommended to governments for adoption or for use as the basis for national regulations and is mandatory in conjunction with the obligations of the members of the United Nations under the

(SOLAS) and the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (

MARPOL 73/78 The International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973 as modified by the Protocol of 1978, or "MARPOL 73/78" (short for "marine pollution") is one of the most important international marine environmental conventions. It ...

). It is intended for use not only by the mariner but also by all those involved in industries and services connected with

shipping Freight transport, also referred to as freight forwarding, is the physical process of transporting commodities and merchandise goods and cargo. The term shipping originally referred to transport by sea but in American English, it has been ...

. Contains advice on terminology, packaging, labeling, placarding, markings, stowage, segregation, handling, and emergency response. The HNS Convention covers hazardous and noxious substances that are included in the IMDG code. In Viet Nam according to Clause 2, Article 3 of Decree 34/2024/ND-CP, dangerous goods (dangerous goods) are goods containing dangerous substances that when transported on roads or inland waterways have the potential to cause harm to life, human health, environment, safety and national security.

Updates

The Code is updated and maintained by a sub-Committee of the

International Maritime Organization The International Maritime Organization (IMO; ; ) is a List of specialized agencies of the United Nations, specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for regulating maritime transport. The IMO was established following agreement at a ...

, the Sub-Committee on Carriage of Cargoes and Containers (CCC), every 2 years. Prior to 2013 the Carriage of Dangerous Goods, Solid Cargoes and Containers (DSC) sub-committee had responsibility for the Code. IMDG Code updates occur every even numbered year, with the following odd numbered year as a transition period where compliance can be with either the prior regulations or the upcoming regulations. On 1 January of the following even numbered year, compliance with the new regulations becomes mandatory. An exception to this pattern occurred in 2022. Due to delays related to the

COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic (also known as the coronavirus pandemic and COVID pandemic), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), began with an disease outbreak, outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, in December ...

, the mandatory compliance date for the 2020 Edition of the IMDG Code was delayed to 1 June 2022. For example, 2022 Edition with Amendments 41-22, could be used voluntarily starting on 1 January 2023; became mandatory on 1 January 2024 until 31 December 2024. On 1 January 2025, either the 2022 Edition or the 2024 Edition, with Amendment 42-24 could be used. On 1 January 2026, the 2024 Edition becomes mandatory, with the 2022 Edition no longer being acceptable for compliance.

Bibliography

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References

External links

IMO Website: IMDG Code

IMO: Carriage of chemicals by ship

The codes as an Open Knowledge foundation datasetFree IMDG Code resources including free introduction and summary of recent changes
{{Authority control Water transport Chemical safety International Maritime Organization Law of the sea