Members are reminded that the
International Solid Bulk Cargoes (IMSBC) Code amendment 03-15 as incorporated
in IMO resolution MSC.393(95) entered into force on 1st January
2017. This amendment is the third to be applied to the Code since it was made
mandatory under the provisions of the SOLAS Convention on 1st January 2011.
Government administrations have had the option of
voluntarily applying amendment 03-15 from 1st January 2016, and may therefore
be largely familiar to Members.
The amendments respond to the need to progressively
update the Code to keep pace with the expansion in trade and developments in
technical knowledge, and may be summarised as follows:
The most substantive changes are contained in Appendix 1
relating to amendments to existing schedules, and the addition of 18 new
schedules for materials carried as bulk cargo. The cargoes added to the Code
are:
- Aluminium Fluoride - Group A
- Amorphous Sodium Silicate Lumps - Group B and MHB
- Boric Acid, classified - Group B cargo and MHB
- Chemical Gypsum - Group A
- Glass Cullet - Group C
- Iron and Steel Slag and its Mixture - Group A
- Iron Ore Fines - Group A
- Iron Oxide Technical – Group A
- Iron Sinter - Group C
- Manganese Component Ferroalloy Slag - Group C
- Manganese Ore Fines - Group A
- Scale Generated from the Iron and Steel Making Process
- Group A
- Spodumene (Upgraded) - Group A
- Wood Pellets Containing Additives and/or Binders -
Group B and MHB.
- Wood Pellets not Containing any Additives and/or
Binders - Group B and MHB.
- Zinc Slag - Group A
- Zircon Kyanite Concentrate - Group A
The addition of new schedules for established bulk
cargoes is most welcome, and greatly assists in resolving uncertainties in
carriage requirements and reducing the potential for disputes between Owners,
Charterers and Shippers.
Notable additions include the schedules for Iron Ore
Fines and Scale Generated from the Iron and Steel Making Process (of which mill
scale is a main component). These Group A cargoes are shipped in large
quantities worldwide, and have been associated with a significant number of
ship casualties and cargo disputes over the years due to liquefaction issues
and unsuitability for safe carriage.
The pre-existing individual schedule for “Wood Pellets”
has been deleted and replaced by the two schedules noted above, differentiated
by whether or not the material contains any additives and/or binders.
The most significant amendment to existing cargo
schedules is probably the replacement schedule for Group C Iron Ore. The
application of the schedule to iron ore cargoes is defined in terms of particle
size and goethite content, and correlates with the new entry for the Group A
cargo Iron Ore Fines.
Significant amendments to the Code have been made for the
purpose of incorporating the requirements of MARPOL Annex V as far as these
regulations apply to the management of solid bulk cargo residues. A new Section
14 has been added to the Code in which relevant text of the “2012 Guidelines
for the implementation of MARPOL Annex V” has been reproduced. As
responsibility for classifying cargoes as harmful to the marine environment
(HME) or non-HME lies with the Shipper, an applicable amendment has been made
to Section 4 of the Code requiring this classification to be included in cargo
information furnished by the Shipper. Furthermore, the “Form for cargo information
for Solid Bulk Cargoes” (paragraph 4.2.3) now must expressly state whether or
not the cargo is HME.
Section 9 has been supplemented in paragraph 9.2.3
“Materials hazardous only in bulk (MHB)”. This requires that a notational
reference is to accompany the MHB designation in the “Class” cell of the
Characteristics table for each individual schedule for cargoes classified as
MHB. A summary of the notational references is included in a table within this
section.
A new Appendix 5 has been added with Bulk Cargo Shipping
Names (BCSN) listed in three languages (English, Spanish and French).
In Appendix 2, a Modified Proctor/Fagerberg test
procedure has been added for use in determining the transportable moisture
limit (TML) of Iron Ore Fines.
In Section 3 “Safety of personnel and ship” a new
requirement for routine on board operational fire safety risk assessments for
cargo handling areas on self-unloading bulk carriers with internally installed
conveyor systems has been added.
Members are also reminded of the additional information
resources contained in the IMSBC Code publication supplement, including the
Code of Practice for the Safe Loading and Unloading of Bulk Carriers (BLU Code
with BLU Manual), recommendations on the safe use of pesticides in ships
applicable to the fumigation of cargo holds [MSC.1/Circ.1264] and revised
recommendations for entering enclosed spaces aboard ships [Resolution
A.1050(27)].
A new version of 'Carrying Solid Bulk Cargoes Safely' can
be downloaded at,
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