 This Annex came into force internationally on 1July 1992.

It contains regulations which include

requirements on packaging, marking, labelling, documentation, stowage and quantity
limitations

 "harmful substances" are those substances which are identified as marine pollutants in the
International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code (IMDG Code).

 ”packaged form'' is defined as the forms of containment specified for harmful substances in the
IMDG Code.

 empty packagings which have been used previously for the carriage of harmful substances shall
themselves be treated as harmful substances unless adequate precautions have been taken to
ensure that they contain no residue that is harmful to the marine environment.

 The requirements of this Annex do not apply to ship's stores and equipment.

PREVENTING POLLUTION BY HARMFUL SUBSTANCES (in packaged form)

1. Application

• to all ships carrying harmful substances in packaged form, or in

freight containers, portable tanks or road and rail tank wagons

where:

"harmful substances” are the substances which are identified

as marine pollutants in the International Maritime Dangerous

Goods Code (IMDG Code). *

“packaged form” is defined as the forms of containment

specified for harmful substances in the IMDG Code.

* Refer to the IMDG Code adopted by the IMO by resolution

MSC.122(75), as amended by the Maritime Safety Committee.

The Marpol Annex III has been revised to harmonize the regulations

with the criteria for defining marine pollutants which have been adopted

by the UN Transport of Dangerous Goods (TDG) Sub-Committee.

PREVENTING POLLUTION BY HARMFUL SUBSTANCES

1. Application cont.

carrying harmful substances is prohibited, except in accordance with the provisions of the attached
regulations

• governments are obliged to issue detailed requirements on packing, marking, labelling,

documentation, stowage, quantity limitations and exceptions for preventing or minimizing

pollution of the marine environment by harmful substances.

PREVENTING POLLUTION BY HARMFUL SUBSTANCES

1. Application cont.

• empty packaging which were used previously for harmful substances shall themselves be treated as
harmful substances unless suitable precautions are taken to ensure that they contain no harmful
residue.

• the requirements of this Annex do not apply to ship’s stores and equipment.
PREVENTING POLLUTION BY HARMFUL SUBSTANCES

2. Packing, marking and labelling

• Packages shall be adequate to minimize the hazard to the

marine environment, having regard to their specific contents.

• Packages containing a harmful substance shall be

durably marked with the correct technical name

(trade names alone shall not be used) and,

durably marked or labelled to indicate that

the substance is a Marine Pollutant.

Such identification shall be supplemented

where possible by any other means, for example,

by use of the relevant United Nations number.

PREVENTING POLLUTION BY HARMFUL SUBSTANCES

2. Packing, marking and labelling cont

• The method of marking the correct technical name and

of affixing labels on packages containing a harmful substance

shall be identifiable on packages surviving at least three months’

immersion in the sea. In considering suitable marking and

labelling, the durability of the materials used and of the surface

of the package shall be taken into account.

• Packages containing small quantities of harmful

substances may be exempted from the marking

requirements.

 Packing Group I (which carries the code X in the certification mark) is for goods presenting
high danger - one of the tests packagings must pass is a drop test from at least 1.8 meters

 Packing Group II (code Y) is for medium danger and packagings must pass a drop test from at
least 1.2 meters

 Packing Group III (code Z) is for low danger and packagings must pass a drop test from at least
0.8 meters

Dangerous goods’ are materials or items with hazardous properties which, if not properly
controlled, present a potential hazard to human health and safety, infrastructure and/ or their
means of transport.

1 Explosives

2 Gases

3 Flammable Liquids

4 Flammable Solids

5 Oxidizing Substances

6 Toxic & Infectious Substances

 7 Radioactive Material

8 Corrosives

9 Miscellaneous Dangerous Goods

CLASS 1 – EXPLOSIVES

Explosives are materials or items which have the ability to rapidly conflagrate or detonate as a
consequence of chemical reaction.

Sub-Divisions

Division 1.1: Substances and articles which have a mass explosion hazard

Division 1.2: Substances and articles which have a projection hazard but not a mass explosion hazard

Division 1.3: Substances and articles which have a fire hazard and either a minor blast hazard or a minor
projection hazard or both

Division 1.4: Substances and articles which present no significant hazard; only a small hazard in the
event of ignition or initiation during transport with any effects largely confined to the package

Division 1.5: Very insensitive substances which have a mass explosion hazard

Division 1.6: Extremely insensitive articles which do not have a mass explosion hazard

Commonly Transported Explosives/ Class I

Ammunition/cartridges

Fireworks/pyrotechnics

Flares

Blasting caps / detonators

Fuse

Primers

Explosive charges (blasting, demolition etc)

Detonating cord

Air bag inflators

Igniters

Rockets

TNT / TNT compositions

RDX / RDX compositions

PETN / PETN compositions

CLASS 2 – GASES

Gases are defined by dangerous goods regulations as substances which have a vapour pressure of 300
kPa or greater at 50°c or which are completely gaseous at 20°c at standard atmospheric pressure, and
items containing these substances. The class encompasses compressed gases, liquefied gases, dissolved
gases, refrigerated liquefied gases, mixtures of one or more gases with one or more vapours of
substances of other classes, articles charged with a gas and aerosols.

Sub-Divisions

Division 2.1: Flammable gases

Division 2.2: Non-flammable, non-toxic gases

Division 2.3: Toxic gases

Commonly Transported Gases, Class 2

Aerosols

Compressed air

Hydrocarbon gas-powered devices

Fire extinguishers

Gas cartridges

Fertilizer ammoniating solution

Insecticide gases

Refrigerant gases

Lighters

Acetylene / Oxyacetylene

Carbon dioxide

Helium / helium compounds

Hydrogen / hydrogen compounds

Oxygen / oxygen compounds

Nitrogen / nitrogen compounds

Natural gas , Oil gas , Petroleum gases

Butane, Propane, Ethane, Methane

Dimethyl ether, Propene / propylene, Ethylene

CLASS 3 – FLAMMABLE LIQUIDS

Flammable liquids are defined by dangerous goods regulations as liquids, mixtures of liquids or liquids
containing solids in solution or suspension which give off a flammable vapour (have a flash point) at
temperatures of not more than 60-65°C, liquids offered for transport at temperatures at or above their
flash point or substances transported at elevated temperatures in a liquid state and which give off a
flammable vapour at a temperature at or below the maximum transport temperature.

Sub-Divisions

There are no subdivisions within Class 3, Flammable Liquids.

Commonly Transported Flammable Liquids / Class 3

Acetone / acetone oils

Adhesives

Paints / lacquers / varnishes

Alcohols

Perfumery products

Gasoline / Petrol

Diesel fuel

Aviation fuel

Liquid bio-fuels

Coal tar / coal tar distillates

Petroleum crude oil, Petroleum distillates

Gas oil, Shale oil, Heating oil, Kerosene

Resins, Tars, Turpentine

Carbamate insecticides

Organochlorine pesticides

Organophosphorus pesticides

Copper based pesticides

Esters, Ethers, Ethanol

Benzene, Butanols, Dichloropropenes

Diethyl ether, Isobutanols

Isopropyls, Methanol, Octanes

CLASS 4 – FLAMMABLE SOLIDS; SUBSTANCES LIABLE TO SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION; SUBSTANCES

WHICH EMIT FLAMMABLE GASES WHEN IN CONTACT WITH WATER

Flammable solids are materials which, under conditions encountered in transport, are readily
combustible or may cause or contribute to fire through friction, self-reactive substances which are liable
to undergo a strongly exothermic reaction or solid desensitized explosives. Also included are substances
which are liable to spontaneous heating under normal transport conditions, or to heating up in contact
with air, and are consequently liable to catch fire and substances which emit flammable gases or
become spontaneously flammable when in contact with water.

Sub-Divisions

Division 4.1: Flammable solids

Division 4.2: Substances liable to spontaneous combustion

Division 4.3: Substances which, in contact with water, emit flammable gases

Commonly Transported Flammable Solids; Spontaneous Combustibles; ‘Dangerous When Wet’

Materials/ Class 4

Alkali metals

Metal powders

Aluminium phosphide

Sodium batteries

Sodium cells

Firelighters, Matches

Calcium carbide, Camphor

Carbon, Activated carbon

Celluloid, Cerium

Copra, Seed cake, Oily cotton waste

Desensitized explosives

Oily fabrics, Oily fibres, Ferrocerium

Iron oxide (spent

Iron sponge/direct-reduced iron (spent) 

Metaldehyde, Naphthalene

Nitrocellulose, Phosphorus, Sulphur

CLASS 5 – OXIDIZING SUBSTANCES; ORGANIC PEROXIDES

Oxidizers are defined by dangerous goods regulations as substances which may cause or contribute to
combustion, generally by yielding oxygen as a result of a redox chemical reaction. Organic peroxides are
substances which may be considered derivatives of hydrogen peroxide where one or both hydrogen
atoms of the chemical structure have been replaced by organic radicals.

Sub-Divisions

Division 5.1: Oxidizing substances

Division 5.1: Organic peroxides

Commonly Transported Oxidizers; Organic Peroxides/ Class 5

Chemical oxygen generators

Ammonium nitrate fertilizers

Chlorates

Nitrates, Nitrites

Perchlorates, Permanganates

Persulphates

Aluminium nitrate, Ammonium dichromate

Ammonium nitrate, Ammonium persulphate

Calcium hypochlorite, Calcium nitrate

Calcium peroxide, Hydrogen peroxide

Magnesium peroxide, Lead nitrate

Lithium hypochlorite

Potassium chlorate, Potassium nitrate

Potassium chlorate, Potassium perchlorate

Potassium permanganate

Sodium nitrate, Sodium persulphate

 CLASS 6 – TOXIC SUBSTANCES; INFECTIOUS SUBSTANCES

Toxic substances are those which are liable either to cause death or serious injury or to harm human
health if swallowed, inhaled or by skin contact. Infectious substances are those which are known or can
be reasonably expected to contain pathogens. Dangerous goods regulations define pathogens as
microorganisms, such as bacteria, viruses, rickettsiae, parasites and fungi, or other agents which can
cause disease in humans or animals.
Sub-Divisions

Division 6.1: Toxic substances

Division 6.2: Infectious substances

Commonly Transported Toxic Substances; Infectious Substances/ Class 6

Medical/Biomedical waste, Clinical waste, Biological cultures / samples / specimens, Medical cultures /
samples / specimens

Tear gas substances, Motor fuel anti-knock mixture

Dyes, Carbamate pesticides

Alkaloids, Allyls, Acids

Arsenates, Arsenites, Cyanides

Thiols/ mercaptans, Cresols

Barium compounds

Arsenics / arsenic compounds

Beryllium/ beryllium compounds

Lead compounds, Mercury compounds

Nicotine / nicotine compounds, Selenium compounds

Antimony, Ammonium metavanadate

Adiponitrile, Chloroform, Dichloromethane

Hexachlorophene, Phenol, Resorcinol

CLASS 7 – RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL

Dangerous goods regulations define radioactive material as any material containing radionuclides where
both the activity concentration and the total activity exceeds certain pre-defined values. A radionuclide
is an atom with an unstable nucleus and which consequently is subject to radioactive decay.

Sub-Divisions

There are no subdivisions within Class 7, Radioactive Material.

Commonly Transported Radioactive Material/ Class 7

Radioactive ores

Medical isotopes

Yellowcake

Density gauges

Mixed fission products

Surface contaminated objects

Caesium radionuclides / isotopes

Iridium radionuclides / isotopes

Americium radionuclides / isotopes

Plutonium radionuclides / isotopes

Radium radionuclides / isotopes

Thorium radionuclides / isotopes

Uranium radionuclides / isotopes

Depleted uranium / depleted uranium products

Uranium hexafluoride

Enriched Uranium

CLASS 8 – CORROSIVES

Corrosives are substances which by chemical action degrade or disintegrate other materials upon
contact.

Sub-Divisions

There are no subdivisions within Class 8, Corrosives.

Commonly Transported Corrosives/ Class 8

Acids/acid solutions, Batteries, Battery fluid

Fuel cell cartridges

Dyes

Fire extinguisher charges

Formaldehyde

Flux, Paints

Alkylphenols, Amines

Polyamines

Sulphides, Polysulphides, Chlorides, Chlorosilanes

Bromine, Cyclohexylamine

Phenol / carbolic acid

Hydrofluoric acid, Hydrochloric acid

Sulfuric acid, Nitric acid, Sludge acid

Hydrogen fluoride, Iodine

Morpholine

CLASS 9 – MISCELLANEOUS DANGEROUS GOODS

Miscellaneous dangerous goods are substances and articles which during transport present a danger or
hazard not covered by other classes. This class encompasses, but is not limited to, environmentally
hazardous substances, substances that are transported at elevated temperatures, miscellaneous articles
and substances, genetically modified organisms and micro-organisms and (depending on the method of
transport) magnetized materials and aviation regulated substances.

Sub-Divisions

There are no subdivisions within Class 9, Miscellaneous Dangerous Goods.

Commonly Transported Miscellaneous Dangerous Goods/ Class 9

Dry ice / cardice / solid carbon dioxide

Expandable polymeric beads / polystyrene beads

Ammonium nitrate fertilizers

Blue asbestos / crocidolite

Lithium ion batteries, Lithium metal batteries

Battery powered equipment, Battery powered vehicles

Fuel cell engines, Internal combustion engines Vehicles

Magnetized material

Dangerous goods in apparatus, Dangerous goods in machinery

Genetically modified organisms, Genetically modified micro-organisms

Chemical kits, First aid kits

Life saving appliances

Air bag modules

Seatbelt pretensioners

Plastics moulding compound

Castor bean plant products

Polychlorinated biphenyls, Polychlorinated terphenyls

Dibromodifluoromethane

Benzaldehyde

Marking and Labeling of packages including IBCs

 A package must be marked with UN Number, Proper Shipping name and technical name when
assigned with special provisions 274 or 318.

 Example” UN 2902 PESTICIDE, LIQUID, TOXIC, N.O.S. (drazoxolon). The letters “UN” shall be at
least 12 mm high, for packagings of 30 ℓ or 30 kg capacity or less at least 6 mm in height.

 IBCs of more than 450 ℓ capacity and large packagings shall be marked on two opposing sides.
Specification of Labels

 In terms of color, symbols, numbers and general format the labels must meet the specifications
mentioned in section 5.2.2.2.2 of IMDG Code.

 Labels shall be in the form of a square set at an angle of 45° (diamond-shaped) with minimum
dimensions of 100 mm by 100 mm

 Shall have a line 5 mm inside the edge and running parallel with it

 The upper half of a label the line shall have the same color as the symbol and in the lower half it
shall have the same color as the figure in the bottom corner

 Shall be displayed on a background of contrasting color, or shall have either a dotted or solid
outer boundary line.

 Color of the label is very important as the color together with the symbols directly communicate
the type of hazard involved. Those who are printing their own label may use PANTONE ®
formula guide for accurate color.

 1.1.5 The duty officer should have information on the quantities, types of package, proper
shipping names (correct technical names), classification, stowage and segregation of the
dangerous goods to be handled

 1.1.6 The duty officer should have information on the special measures to be taken when a
certain dangerous cargo is handled

 1.1.7 Measures to be taken in the event of an incident or accident should be made known and
that any necessary equipment and sufficient crew to operate it should be available

 Loading and unloading operation / Ships hull damage

 Damage to side shell, externally through contact with docksides or tugs and,

 internally from impact by cargo dislodging equipment during discharge, can result in initiating
fractures and/or fatigue of the structure.

 In single side-skin bulk carriers, bulkheads, trunks and ballast tank boundaries, can present
"hard spots" that concentrate forces where the change in construction occurs (e.g. longitudinal
to transverse framing). This may lead to undetected fractures.

 Internal degradation through corrosion may be accelerated through chemical action from
certain cargoes.

 Welds in particular may be subject to "grooving" corrosion, in which the material forming the
weld corrodes at a faster rate than the plating to which it is attached.

 Fatigue failure may result due to loss of cross-sectional area in the plating joints.

 corrosion severe weather conditions

  Damage to bow plating such as is possible through impacts associated with swinging or loosely
stowed anchors may cause an initiating fracture or fatigue in bow shell plating that could lead to
failure and subsequent flooding.

 Internal integrity of forward spaces (that are usually used for ballast and/or stores) is therefore
of vital importance.

 Corrosion degradation will seriously reduce the ability of plating and stiffening to withstand the
forces to which it will be subjected. In larger ships, partially filled forepeak tanks may set up
destructive sloshing forces unless the tank structure is designed for this.

 External forces horizontal and/or vertical - may cause hatch cover dislodgement. The cargo
hatchway, if it loses its protection in this way, is a major access for water ingress and a serious
threat to the integrity of the hull.

 Actions to be taken are laid down in the IMO Emergency Procedures for Ships Carrying
Dangerous Goods (EmS), the IMO Medical First Aid Guide for Use in Accidents Involving
Dangerous Goods (MFAG) and the International Medical Guide for Ships (IMGS)

Volume 1 - (parts 1, 2 and 4-7 of the Code) contains sections on:

 general provisions, definitions, training

 classification

 packing and tank provisions

 consignment procedures

 construction and testing of packagings, IBCs,large packagings, portable tanks and road tank
vehicles

 transport operations

Volume 2 contains:

the Dangerous Goods List (equivalent to the schedules in previous editions of the Code), presented in
tabular format

 limited quantities exceptions

  the Index

 appendices

The Supplement contains the following texts related to the IMDG Code:

 EMS Guide

 Medical First Aid Guide

 Reporting Procedures

 Packing Cargo Transport Units

 Safe Use of Pesticides

 INF Code

 1.1.10 Any incident or accident during the handling of dangerous goods should be reported
immediately to the person in charge of the operation and all cargo operations to be ceased.

 1.1.12 Any doubts about the suitability and integrity of packages should be reported to the
master or chief mate

 1.1.13 Fire precautions which should be taken when carrying dangerous goods

 Emergency actions may differ depending on whether the goods stowed on deck or under deck

 Wash spillages on deck with copious amount of water. Master to bear in mind safety of crew
rather disposal of spilt dangerous cargo overboard.

 Toxic, corrosive and / or flammable vapors in under deck cargo spaces should be dispersed
before undertaking any emergency action. When using mechanical ventilation system, care is
necessary to ensure that flammable vapors are not ignited.

 Entry into holds where any leaks is suspect, Master is to be responsible

 Emergency entry into the hold undertaken by trained crew wearing SCBA and other protective
clothing.

 Careful inspection for structural damage to be carried out after dealing with spillages of
substances corrosive to steel and cryogenic liquids.

Precautions:

1. Dangerous goods shall be loaded, stowed and secured safety and appropriately in accordance with
the nature of the goods. Incompatible goods shall be segregated from one another.

2 Explosives (except ammunition) which present a serious risk shall be stowed in a magazine which
shall be kept securely closed while at sea. Such explosives shall be segregated from detonators.
Electrical apparatus and cables in any compartment in which explosives are carried shall be so designed
and used as to minimize the risk of fire or explosion. Electrical installations in spaces where explosive
goods are stowed shall, unless exclusively explosion-proof fittings are used, be kept voltage-free during
loading, unloading and carriage.

3. Dangerous goods in packaged form which give off dangerous vapours shall be stowed in a
mechanically ventilated space or on deck. Dangerous goods in solid

Form in bulk which give off dangerous vapors shall be stowed in a well ventilated space. When
stowing, necessary consideration shall be taken of the risk of dangerous vapors percolating into
accommodation

spaces.

4 In ships carrying flammable liquids or gases, special

 precautions shall be taken where necessary against fire or explosion.

5 Substances which are liable to spontaneous heating or combustion shall not be carried unless
adequate precautions have been taken to minimize the likelihood of the outbreak of fire.

6 Hydrants, sounding tubes and similar devices, and access to them, shall be kept free and clear of deck
cargo.

7 During loading and unloading of dangerous goods, the necessary precautions shall be taken to prevent
accidents, according to circumstances.

Explain the meaning of the following stowage and segregation requirements for the different types of
ships:

 on deck only

 on deck or under deck

 away from : Effectively segregated so that the incompatible goods cannot interact dangerously
in the event of an accident but may be transported in the same compartment or hold or on
deck, provided a minimum horizontal separation of 3 meters, projected vertically is obtained.

 separated from : In different compartments or holds when stowed under deck. Provided the
intervening deck is resistant to fire and liquid, a vertical separation, i.e. in different
compartments, may be accepted as equivalent to this segregation. For on deck stowage, this
segregation means a separation by a distance of at least 6 meters horizontally.

Explain the meaning of the following stowage and segregation requirements for the different types of
ships:
 on deck only

 on deck or under deck

 away from : Effectively segregated so that the incompatible goods cannot interact dangerously
in the event of an accident but may be transported in the same compartment or hold or on
deck, provided a minimum horizontal separation of 3 meters, projected vertically is obtained.

 separated from : In different compartments or holds when stowed under deck. Provided the
intervening deck is resistant to fire and liquid, a vertical separation, i.e. in different
compartments, may be accepted as equivalent to this segregation. For on deck stowage, this
segregation means a separation by a distance of at least 6 meters horizontally.

 separated by a complete compartment or hold from: Either a vertical or a horizontal separation.

If the intervening decks are not resistant to fire and liquid, then only a longitudinal separation,
i.e. by an intervening complete compartment or hold, is acceptable. For on deck stowage, this
segregation means a separation by a distance of at least 12 meters horizontally. The same
distance has to be applied if one package is stowed on deck, and the other one in an upper
compartment.

 separated longitudinally by an intervening complete compartment or hold: Vertical separation

alone does not meet this requirement. Between a package under deck and one on deck, a
minimum distance of 24 m, including a complete compartment, must be maintained
longitudinally. For on deck stowage, this segregation means a separation by a distance of at
least 24 metres longitudinally.